* Creekside's Alyson Johnson is one of the top athletes to watch this weekend in Florida
Photo Credit: Nancy Scott/MileSplit
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The Legends of Alachua County Meet will feature a ton of purple and gold this weekend, as Montverde Academy will have a full squad performing at the second annual running of the event in Gainesville.
But that's not all.
There are a selection of top Florida athletes also set to compete, which will make the festivities that more exciting with the spring outdoor season around the corner.
We have highlighted seven athletes below who are worth paying attention to this weekend.
WATCH LIVE: THE LEGENDS OF ALACHUA COUNTY
Begins airing at 12:00 p.m. CST on Saturday
For for information, visit our Legends of Alachua County meet page
7. Henry Stark, Miami Palmer Trinity (FL)
Events: 800m, Mile
Breakdown: Senior season goals. That's what will be on Stark's mind as he heads after PRs in the 800m and mile on Saturday. The Miami area runner has clocked an indoor mile best of 4:20.58 and broke two outdoors last year in the 800m, authoring a 1:59.88. This meet will give him ample opportunity to surge past those performances.
6. Alex Georgiev, Montverde Academy (FL)
Events: Pole Vault
Breakdown: The pole vault discipline is particularly good this year nationally, as three athletes have already crossed the 17-foot threshold and a bevy of athletes are on the cusp. Georgiev cleared 16 feet to end his outdoor season as a junior, hitting 5 meters (16-4), but he has yet to do it indoors. There's no time like the present.
5. Alyson Johnson, St. Johns Creekside (FL)
Events: Mile, 3K
Breakdown: Johnson opened her indoor account last week, registering times of 2:18.93 in the 800m and 4:59.73 in the mile. She's coming off a Florida Class 4A title in cross country and finished her outdoor campaign last year with PRs of 2:15 in the 800m and 4:52.66 in the mile. She's a Florida superstar in the making.
4. Jayvian Greene, Montverde Academy
Events: 60m, 200m, 400m
Breakdown: Greene is one of the country's most versatile sprinters, with top 50 performances in the 200m (21.61), 300m (33.67) and 400m (47.88). That fact won't change this weekend, as the Tennessee signee Greene is entered in three more events. He's Montverde's top boys athlete to watch this year.
3. Jabari Armstrong, Tampa Gaither (FL)
Events: 60mH, 400m
Breakdown: Just a high school junior, Armstrong exited off his sophomore season with a fifth-place finish in the 17-18yo final of the 110mH at the AAU Junior Olympic Games in August, going 14.18 (and 14.07 in the prelims). Armstrong should count among Florida's top threats at the discipline in 2024. This weekend will mark his indoor opener.
2. Madeleine Gear, Tampa Foundation (FL)
Events: 1K
Breakdown: The cousin of HOKA pro Krissy Gear secured two quality openers on Jan. 13 in Arkansas -- her future collegiate home -- hitting 2:18.07 on the clock in the 800m and 5:03.49 in the mile. She's scheduled to chase after the 1K on Sunday and looks to be the favorite.
1. Adaejah Hodge, Montverde Academy (FL)
Events: 60m, 200m, 400m
Breakdown: You can never keep your eyes off Hodge when she's running. And lucky for us, we'll have ample opportunity to see her compete this weekend, as the Georgia recruit is scheduled to hit the track over three events. Right now, Hodge's name isn't U.S. No. 1 in either the 60m, 200m or 400m. That could change come Monday.
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