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Raines, Jackson build track and field speed ahead of FHSAA districts
TL;DR
Raines won its third Gateway Conference boys championship, scoring 126 points, while Jackson secured the girls title. Key performances included Johdeem Jones in shot put and Kelvin Brown in the 100 meters, ahead of the upcoming FHSAA districts.
The Northside is back on top of Jacksonville's track and field scene.
Host Raines brought home its third Gateway Conference boys championship in six years and Jackson repeated on the girls side in the annual track and field meet for Duval County public schools, one final test before the postseason.
For Raines, the wins started early and kept on coming: Johdeem Jones in the shot put (55 feet, 2 1/2 inches), Zalen Martin in the discus (125 feet, 10 inches), Kelvin Brown in the 100 (11.15), Owen Kaye in the 200 (22.15) and the 4x100 relay team. The Vikings scored 126 points, ahead of 93 from Jackson and 79 1/2 from 2025 boys champion Mandarin.
Raines' Iason Williams clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Iason Williams became the Vikings' first athlete to win both the Gateway 110 hurdles (15.09) and 400 hurdles (56.69), and Raheim Roberts entered the school's all-time top five with his winning 6 feet, 2 1/2 inches in the high jump.
For the Jackson girls, late events made the difference to secure 117 points, overtaking Fletcher at 103 and Riverside at 81. Danielle Hagans won the 100 (12.15) and 200 (24.80), Nijah Garnes topped the 400 hurdles (1:04.74), DeAsia Smith leaped 16 feet, 5 inches in the long jump and the Tigers won the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
It's another sign that, once more, Jacksonville will likely be celebrating some champions when the Florida High School Athletic Association meet returns to the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium from May 6-9. National website MileSplit has projected the Raines boys as an early favorite alongside the likes of Cardinal Newman and Montverde Academy for the Class 2A portion of the state meet, back in a four-day format.
Raines boys track has won three prior FHSAA team titles in 1976, 1989 and 1998, all of them under legendary coach James Day.
More feats from the Gateway meet:
Raines' Iason Williams clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Jackson's JaQuan Reed clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Jaida Callahan races in the girls 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Jackson's Danielle Hagans, Jackson's Taylor Thomas and Riverside's Talisse Patterson race in the girls 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Stanton's Aariz Rahman, Mandarin's Jace Kemp and Riverside's Ronald Williams race in the boys 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Stanton's Kylie Meier and Baldwin's Rylie Yoachum race in the girls 1,600 meters during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Fletcher's Eliza Hutton pulls ahead of Mandarin's Alaysa Chipunov to win the girls 1,600-meter run during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Grey Murphy and Atlantic Coast's Quin Roth lead the pack in the boys 1,600 meters during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Westside's girls 4x100-meter relay team completes the first exchange during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Fletcher races to victory in the girls 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Ribault races to the line in the boys 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Raines completes the first exchange on the way to victory in the boys 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Raines' Alani Williams clears a hurdle in the girls 100-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Riverside's Sariah Kee leads the field to victory in the girls 100-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Raines' Iason Williams clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Raines' Iason Williams clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Jackson's JaQuan Reed clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Paxon's Jaida Callahan races in the girls 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Jackson's Danielle Hagans, Jackson's Taylor Thomas and Riverside's Talisse Patterson race in the girls 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Stanton's Aariz Rahman, Mandarin's Jace Kemp and Riverside's Ronald Williams race in the boys 100-meter dash during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Stanton's Kylie Meier and Baldwin's Rylie Yoachum race in the girls 1,600 meters during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Fletcher's Eliza Hutton pulls ahead of Mandarin's Alaysa Chipunov to win the girls 1,600-meter run during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Mandarin's Grey Murphy and Atlantic Coast's Quin Roth lead the pack in the boys 1,600 meters during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Westside's girls 4x100-meter relay team completes the first exchange during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Fletcher races to victory in the girls 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Ribault races to the line in the boys 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Raines completes the first exchange on the way to victory in the boys 4x100-meter relay during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Raines' Alani Williams clears a hurdle in the girls 100-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference track and field championship photos
Riverside's Sariah Kee leads the field to victory in the girls 100-meter hurdles during the Gateway Conference high school track and field championships on April 9, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
- The 400-meter distance belonged to Fletcher. Zyaire Thomas won her third Gateway girls 400 in 55.40, and Jaidyn Haywood took the boys championship in 48.54.
- The meet was a big winner for the Riverside girls, with double victories for Sariah Kee in the 100 hurdles (15.04) and triple jump (37-11) along with Ervina Mundy in the discus (97-10) and shot put (36-1).
- Fletcher's Eliza Hutton achieved a double of her own, winning the 800 (2:20.92) and the 1,600 (5:18.25).
- Baldwin's Henry Harris continued his excellent season in the boys long jump, flying 22 feet, 4 1/2 inches.
- Mandarin wasn't able to repeat its 2025 boys team championship but still excelled in distance events, where Grey Murphy won the 1,600 (4:32.54) and MacKenly Ritz took the 3,200 (10:17.15).
Paxon flag football breaks through
Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) spins away from Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1), Akaylah Hewett (10) and Madilyn Willingham (21) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final.
A two-minute whirlwind made Gateway Conference history for Paxon flag football.
In one minute and 55 seconds, Paxon hit formerly-unbeaten Mandarin for three touchdowns before halftime and captured the Golden Eagles' first Gateway trophy in a 26-0 road shutout.
Now 11-1, perfect except for a 13-0 loss to undefeated Ponte Vedra on March 26, Paxon is dreaming big.
"I really believe that if we're really executing, there's only several teams that can compete with us in the state," Paxon head coach Patrick Logue said.
Paxon struck fast. At 1:55 in the second quarter, Jordyn Moxon powered up the middle to break a 0-0 tie. Fast-forward to the 16.7-second mark, after a Mandarin three-and-out, and Elyanna Perez fired a touchdown pass to Taniya Booker. On the next play, Booker intercepted Mandarin for a pick-six, her second touchdown in 11 1/2 seconds. At 19-0, the Golden Eagles were in command.
"It just comes to me easily," said Booker, who finished with three touchdowns. "Everything that Coach tells us, we just put it in our heads and we go out there and execute."
Fueled by constant pressure off the edge from 21-sack freshman Saniyah Hawkins, described by Logue as a "complete game-changer," Paxon kept Mandarin off balance all game and limited the Mustangs (11-1) to two first downs.
Paxon enters the regular season's final week in a close race with Choctawhatchee for the potential top seed in Region 1-2A, and with it home field advantage for regionals.
"This is a big step toward what we want to do at the state championship," Perez said.
Paxon's Treasure Curry (0) tries to elude Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1) and Kaitlynn Thomas (11) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Elyanna Perez (1) rolls out to pass against Mandarin during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1) tries to stretch for a first down against Paxon's Maeghan Hicks (10) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Cameron Latsko (0) throws a pass under pressure from Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) makes a cut on a punt return during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Sanaa McKenzie (3) makes a flag pull on Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Taniya Booker (5) looks for running room against Mandarin's Madelyn Maneja (9) and Kaitlynn Thomas (11) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Cameron Latsko prepares to pass during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Mandarin's Berkley Foster (4) runs upfield as Paxon's Janesa Everett (8) pursues during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Taniya Booker (5) celebrates her interception return touchdown with teammates during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. The interception gave Paxon a 19-0 lead on the way to a 26-0 victory at Mandarin. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon quarterback Elyanna Perez (1) passes under pressure from Mandarin's Jada Chasten (44) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) spins away from Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1), Akaylah Hewett (10) and Madilyn Willingham (21) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Paxon players and coaches celebrate their 26-0 victory over Mandarin in the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Treasure Curry (0) tries to elude Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1) and Kaitlynn Thomas (11) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Treasure Curry (0) tries to elude Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1) and Kaitlynn Thomas (11) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Elyanna Perez (1) rolls out to pass against Mandarin during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1) tries to stretch for a first down against Paxon's Maeghan Hicks (10) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Mandarin's Cameron Latsko (0) throws a pass under pressure from Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) makes a cut on a punt return during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Mandarin's Sanaa McKenzie (3) makes a flag pull on Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Taniya Booker (5) looks for running room against Mandarin's Madelyn Maneja (9) and Kaitlynn Thomas (11) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Mandarin's Cameron Latsko prepares to pass during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Mandarin's Berkley Foster (4) runs upfield as Paxon's Janesa Everett (8) pursues during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Taniya Booker (5) celebrates her interception return touchdown with teammates during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. The interception gave Paxon a 19-0 lead on the way to a 26-0 victory at Mandarin. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon quarterback Elyanna Perez (1) passes under pressure from Mandarin's Jada Chasten (44) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon's Saniyah Hawkins (2) spins away from Mandarin's Olivia Gamble (1), Akaylah Hewett (10) and Madilyn Willingham (21) during the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
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Gateway Conference flag football final, Paxon vs. Mandarin: Photos
Paxon players and coaches celebrate their 26-0 victory over Mandarin in the Gateway Conference high school flag football final on April 10, 2026. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]
Rare tie for Sharks, Flashes
Trivia time: Who won the final regular season baseball game of 2026 in St. Johns County?
(Roll Final Jeopardy music…)
The answer: nobody.
St. Joseph and Ponte Vedra played to a rare 6-6 tie in the regular season finale on April 10, following an unusual sequence of events that left the Flashes at 18-5-1 and the Sharks at 15-9-1.
St. Joseph led 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning when lights failed at Ponte Vedra's field. Eventually, the lights came back on, and Ponte Vedra rallied to knot the scores at 6-6, with a ball off the bat of Evan Rubocki plating the tying run.
After the inning ended, with extras looming, the game was called at 6-6. That averted the prospect of a long extra-inning matchup that could have depleted the pitching staff of both teams ahead of FHSAA districts.
The tie is believed to be the first on record for Ponte Vedra baseball, which began play in 2008-09.
Gateway finals balanced in 2025-26
With only softball left to go, the Gateway Conference is near the end of one of its most balanced recent seasons.
In all, eight different schools have lifted Gateway trophies, following the successes for Raines, Jackson and Paxon during the past week's action.
The roll call: Baldwin (baseball), Fletcher (boys golf, boys swimming, girls swimming, wrestling), Jackson (boys basketball, girls basketball, girls track), Mandarin (boys cross country, girls weightlifting), Paxon (flag football), Raines (football, boys track), Stanton (bowling, girls golf, boys tennis, girls tennis) and Wolfson (girls cross country, volleyball, boys soccer, girls soccer).
April 16 is the championship date for softball, a sport won by Baldwin for five consecutive years.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Raines, Jackson win Gateway Conference high school track meet
Q&A
What were the results of the Gateway Conference track and field championships in Jacksonville?
Raines won the boys championship with 126 points, while Jackson won the girls championship, finishing ahead of other competitors.
Who were the standout athletes at the Gateway Conference track and field meet?
Standout athletes included Johdeem Jones in shot put, Zalen Martin in discus, and Kelvin Brown in the 100 meters.
How many championships has Raines won in the Gateway Conference?
Raines has won three Gateway Conference boys championships in the last six years.
What is the significance of the Gateway Conference meet for the teams?
The Gateway Conference meet serves as a final test for teams before the postseason FHSAA districts.
