Vanessa Waite took a driver’s education class this summer and joked that she was going to be able to drive faster than she runs.
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She already has her pedal to the metal in track, where leaning into a left turn is her specialty. The 16-year-old Lake Minneola High starlet ran Florida’s fastest time in the girls 200 meter dash, 23.17 seconds, to win the FHSAA Class 3A state championship as a sophomore. She is the Orlando Sentinel girls track & field Athlete of the Year.
Her state meet performance puts her in Florida’s all-time top 10 for the 200. She ran even faster, 23.03, to place second at the New Balance Nationals meet in Philadelphia several weeks ago but that was wind-aided.
“It’s a big track meet and I really want to win. I know that as a sophomore that will be hard to do,” Waite said before that prestigious meet. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Waite also placed first with a 23.37 time in the postseason Southeast Meet of Champions, which was held at the state meet site at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
She was runner-up in the 100 at the state meet with an 11.57 time and later set a second personal best with an 11.40 prelim performance at the prestigious New Balance meet, where she finished sixth.
Waite has been in the track spotlight since she was an elementary schooler racing for her father’s track club. She set an age group national record with a 23.26 time for the 200 as an eighth grader in 2024, and is now the second fastest sophomore in the country behind Texas state champ Zahria Bernard (23.07).
Waite has long been on the radar for college recruiters, but for now she’s not in any hurry to get to the next level.
“I’m just enjoying high school because I know I won’t get it back,” she said. “I’m still progressing. And I want to enjoy my high school years while I can. I won’t be this age again.”
FHSAA state track and field has 8 Orlando-area champions at UNF
Sentinel Standouts
Arabella Duffell, Lake Nona, Soph.
Was a surprise 4A state champ in the 3,200 with an area-best 10:29.10. She also placed seventh in 1,600 at 4:53.70.
Naima Durandisse, Boone, Sr.
4A runner-up in high jump (5-7¾) joined all-time area top 10 with a 5-8½ clearance in regular season.
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Layla Fuller, Lake Brantley, Sr.
Fourth in 4A with big career best 2:10.96 in state meet. Previous personal best was 2:14.39. Also district champ in 400 hurdles (1:01.92).
Nora Garraughty, Lyman, Jr.
Went 7-0 in pole vault competitions and claimed the 4A state championship with a 11-9½ clearance. Best was 12-3-½.
Jizelle Holland, Montverde Academy, Sr.
2A state runner-up in 400 hurdles (59.84 area and personal best) and 100 hurdles (best of 14.22). Also sixth in triple jump.
DaQuana Howell, Montverde Academy, Fr.
Ninth-grader was 2A state runner-up in 200 (24.08). Ran PR 23.83 to win region title. Finished fifth in state 100.
Nakira Hudson, Montverde Academy, Sr.
South Carolina commit ran PR 53.24 in 400 as 2A champ. Fourth in 200 (23.93) best. Anchored winning 4×400 relay (3:44.69).
Lee Peters, Foundation Academy, Sr.
Tennessee signee was 1A state champ in the 100 (11.76); placed second in the 200 (24.13). Ran 23.58 and state-best 11.35 (both wind-aided).
Adriana Rodriguez, Montverde Academy, Sr.
Was third in Class 2A with 53.88 for 400. Best was 53.62 to win FSU Relays. Also ran 23.85 for 200.
Alondra Rodriguez, Cypress Creek, Sr.
Defending 400 hurdles state champ in placed fourth in 1:00.28. Clocked 59.91 in FSU Relays. Area best 100 hurdles (14.07).
Annabella Tomasic, Bishop Moore, Fr.
Area XC Runner of the Year was 3A champ in 1,600 (4:53.25) and runner-up in 3,200 (best was 10:28.7).
Honorable mention
Olivia Chapman, Oviedo, Sr.
Te’Ariel Harley, Wekiva, Soph.
Korbin Jones, Osceola, Jr.
Jayla Newton, Ocoee, Sr.
Nicole Oliviera, Osceola, Jr.
Kyla Perez, St. Cloud, Sr.
Cheyenne Price, Osceola, Sr.
Saleigh Simpson, Lake Highland Prep, Jr.
Mariah Turner, Innovation, Sr.
Anjelica Wolfe, Montverde, 8th
Layla Williams, Horizon, Fr.
Varsity content editor Buddy Collings can be contacted by email at [email protected].
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