- June 16, 2024
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Matanzas senior Sierra Howard stands in between Bayside's Jordana Nunez (left) and Satellite's Keira Merrick (right) who place first and second, respectively, in the 800 meter run. Howard finishes eighth. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Sierra Howard (right) passes Ashley McKenzie (left) in the 800 meter run at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sierra Howard realizes she finished on podium in eighth with a PR at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
3A State Championship top eight in the 800 meter run (from left to right) - Reece Knowlton, Raquel Edwards, Demetria Henderson, Jordana Nunez, Keira Merrick, Cheyenne Thomas, Abigail Richards and Sierra Howard. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas senior Jordan Youngman gets ready to start the 400 meter hurdles at the 3A State Championship track and field meet held at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' Jordan Youngman takes off in the 400 meter hurdles at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas senior Jordan Youngman jumps the last hurdle in the 400 at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Matanzas 4x400 relay team-Sierra Howard, Jordan Youngman, Gabrielle Duncan and Evanne Miller-are all smiles before the start of the race at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' lead Sierra Howard passes to Jordan Youngman in the girls 4x400 relay at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jordan Youngman (right) passes to Gabrielle Duncan (left) in the girls 4x400 relay at the State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Gabrielle Duncan (right) passes the baton to Matanzas' anchor leg in the girls 4x400 meter relay at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at UNF's Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas' 4x400 anchor Evanne Miller crosses the finish line at the 3A State Championship track and field meet at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville. The Pirates finish 15th with a 4:06.19. Photo by Michele Meyers
Matanzas senior Sierra Howard ran a personal record 2:15.71 in the 800 meters to place eighth at the Class 3A state track and field championships on Friday, May 17 at the Unniversity of North Florida.
Howard broke her PR by 2.53 seconds. She won the District 4-3A title on April 24 with a time of 2:22.81 in the Region 1-3A title on May 8 in 2:18.24.
“It feels amazing (to be on the podium for my team),” she said after receiving her medal on the state podium. “These last few years I’ve been coming to states for the 800 and haven’t been able to get on the podium or haven’t really PR’d. I’m so happy I was able to PR today and place on the podium. I started counting the girls in front of me (during the race) — one, two, three … nine. I’m nine. So I was like, I can just pass the girl in front of me — top eight.”
... I’m so happy I was able to PR today and place on the podium. I started counting the girls in front of me — one, two, three…nine. I’m nine. So I was like, I can just pass the girl in front of me — top eight.
— SIERRA HOWARD
Howard also ran the 4x400-meter relay with Jordan Youngman, Gabrielle Duncan and Evanne Miller. They finished 15th with a time of 4:06.19 after winning at district and regional.
Youngman was 10th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:05.10 which is just shy of her PR. She qualified for state following her second place finishes at the district and region.
This was Howard’s last meet with the Pirates. She graduated with her class on May 22. She will continue running track and cross country for the University of West Florida. The Pensacola school is a member of the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference.
“I wanted to end on a good note,” she said. “I am going to miss my team. This team has been my family the past three years. It’s bittersweet.”
