At the end of each season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area teams to honor the best athletes in every sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee County schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data, combined with our research, led to the selection of the All-Area team.

TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Riley Michaud

Join the discussion → Share your thoughts!

Read more from our local writers → Rise & Shine! It is Liberty Time! - Paul Urben

School: Parrish Community

Year: Junior

Highlights: Michaud placed first in the triple jump at the Manatee County, district, and regional meets and then set a personal record in winning the Class 4A Track & Field State Championship with a 14.91-meter mark. Riley is the first Parrish track & field athlete to win a state title.

FIRST TEAM

Alex Bates

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: The pole vaulter was consistent, hitting 4.35 meters at the district, regional, and Class 4A meets, taking first, second, and fourth, respectively.

Jacob Calley

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: Calley won the Sarasota County meet in the high jump, was second at the district and regional meets, with a PR of 1.97 meters at the regional, and placed 14th at state.

Ronin Dangler

School: Manatee

Year: Senior

Highlights: Dangler won the Manatee County and District 3A-10 shot put titles, placed third at regional, and 14th at state.

Jacob Delaney

School: Venice

Year: Senior

Highlights: The javelin thrower took second at the Sarasota County and district meets, fourth at regionals, and 10th at the Class 4A meet.

Kevin Gyurka

School: Out-of-Door Academy

Year: Senior

Highlights: Gyurka won the 800 and 1600 Sarasota County races, taking first at district, second at regional, and fourth at state in the 1600. He was also third at district, won a regional title, and was fourth at state in the 800.

Paxon Hermann

School: Out-of-Door Academy

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Hermann won the Sarasota County pole vault with a personal best 13-9.25 meter jump, and also won the district title, was third at regional, and sixth at state. He added third at district and regional in the high jump and 10th at state. He also made state in the triple jump.

Connell Jackson

School: Cardinal Mooney

Year: Junior

Highlights: Jackson won district and regional 100-meter titles before placing ninth at state. He ran a personal record 10.84 seconds at districts. He also ran a leg on the 4×100 relay that took seventh in Class 2A.

Candler Johnson

School: Manatee

Year: Junior

Highlights: Johnson won the long jump in the Manatee County and district meets, was second in the region, and in the Class 3A meet. He was second in Florida with a 7.57-meter best. He was also second in the 100-meter race at the county and district meets, fifth at regional, and 12th at state.

Cooper Johnson

School: Venice

Year: Sophomore

Highlights: Johnson ran the 16th fastest 100-meter time in the state at 10.47 seconds. He won the Sarasota County meet and regional titles, took second at districts, and 17th at state.

Maleek Lee

School: Booker

Year: Junior

Highlights: The Sarasota County discus champion placed second in the district, fourth in regional, and threw a personal-record 158-4.75 meters to take third in Class 2A.

Jaylen Lindsey

School: Southeast

Year: Junior

Highlights: The long jumper placed second in Manatee County and district with a personal record 7.28 meters, which was good for 11th best overall in Florida, was third in the region, and placed sixth in Class 3A.

Timmy Mercer

School: Bradenton Christian

Year: Junior

Highlights: He was the SSAA state champion in high jump, long jump, and 400-meter hurdles. He was the FHSAA district champion in the long jump and 400-meter hurdles, second in the regional in the 400 hurdles, and seventh in the long jump, and fourth in Class 1A in the hurdles and 12th overall in long jump.

Anthony Miller

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: The javelin thrower placed sixth in Class 4A after winning the Sarasota County, district, and regional titles. His season best of 201-0.5 meters was fourth best in Florida.

Jacobey Mobley

School: Booker

Year: Senior

Highlights: The 400-meter runner won the Sarasota County title, took second at districts, third in the region and sixth in Class 2A.

Luke Robbins

School: Riverview

Year: Senior

Highlights: Robbins was third at the Sarasota County meet in the high jump, won the district title, was fourth at regional, and placed eighth in Class 4A.

Tyler Starling

School: Palmetto

Year: Senior

Highlights: Starling won district and regional 110-meter hurdle titles before placing third at the Class 4A meet. He set personal bests at the District 4A-11 meet with a 13.90, fifth best in Florida, in the 110, and 54.30 seconds, 16th best in Florida, in winning the 400 hurdles.

SECOND TEAM

Frederick Andrew, Parrish Community

Brian Beckerleg, Manatee

Julius Evans, Venice

Nolan Heaney, Venice

Evan Howes, North Port

Viktor Monoki, Sarasota

Derwins Simeus, Parrish Community

Liam St. John, Lakewood Ranch

HONORABLE MENTION

Cardinal Mooney: Connail Jackson, Mason Jordan

Manatee: Carter Eurice, Jayden Lewis