{"id":6489,"date":"2026-07-04T19:36:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T19:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=6489"},"modified":"2026-07-04T19:36:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T19:36:32","slug":"all-area-track-and-field-gateways-maxwell-garcon-is-sentinel-athlete-of-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=6489","title":{"rendered":"All-Area track and field: Gateway\u2019s Maxwell Garcon is Sentinel Athlete of Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Gateway High junior Maxwell Garcon joined an elite club when he soared past the 50-foot mark to win the triple jump championship at the FHSAA Class 3A state meet in May.<\/p>\n

Read more Without Banda, Orlando Pride blanked by Angel City 2-0 in return from break<\/a><\/p>\n

Garcon\u2019s state title was a first in track & field for his Kissimmee school. And his leap, 50 feet \u00be of an inch to be exact, was a monster jump compared to his strong previous best of 48-6\u00bd. But that turned out to be only the beginning of a spectacular ending of the 2026 track & field season for Garcon.<\/p>\n

Three weeks after the state meet in Jacksonville, Garcon traveled to IMG Academy in Bradenton and put on an even bigger show. He bounced out to 50-9\u00be to win the triple at the Under Armour Track & Field National meet. And in the same meet he set an Orlando area record with a winning long jump mark of 25 feet \u00bc of an inch.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came into that meet with an expectation to get to bit PRs (personal records),\u201d said Garcon, who is the Orlando Sentinel track & field Athlete of the Year. \u201cI knew God would give me what I needed to get those big jumps. I was calm, knowing what I was capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n

His wind-legal triple jump is Florida\u2019s best for 2026 and ranks No. 2 nationally among juniors \u2013 trailing only New York state champ Ashton Thomas (50-11\u00be). He is tied for third on the Orlando area all-time list behind former national record holder Andre Scott of Sanford Seminole (53-7\u00bd in 1994) and Colonial\u2019s Armani Wallace (51-2\u00bc in 2015). Garcon matched the 50-9\u00be that Shane Lewis of Deltona hit in 2011.<\/p>\n

Garcon\u2019s stellar long jump eclipsed the previous area record of 25-feet even, set by Kissimmee Osceola\u2019s Carlos Becker in 2016. Garcon is No. 2 on this year\u2019s U.S. list behind Orange Park senior graduate Nethan Verger, who placed third with a 23-11\u00bc mark in the FHSAA 4A finals but later crushed his previous PR with a national best 25-4\u00bd to win at the New Balance Nationals meet.<\/p>\n

Garcon credits Gateway\u2019s coaching staff, headed by Matt Distler and Tane Crossley, for introducing him to try jumping in the 2025 season. His work ethic and drive to improve in two years has changed his trajectory and college plan. .<\/p>\n

He focused mostly on basketball (and academics) through middle school and his sophomore year before learning that his ability to sky above the rim as a 6-foot-3 leaper makes him a bona fide major college prospect in track and field. He averaged 13 points and 7.3 rebounds as a second team all-county basketball player but realizes the jumps are his ticket to a scholarship.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cNow, my main sport is track and field. I did not think it was going to be like this,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

As an International Baccalaureate student with a 3.9 grade point average he is on the right track.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m training for basketball season and I\u2019m also in the weight room to get stronger for track,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll do track in college. And my grades always come first.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sentinel Standouts<\/h4>\n

Aiden Aysun, Oviedo, Sr.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

One of three distance running triplets bound for MIT ran a personal best 4:11.71 in 1,600 meters as the 4A state runner-up.<\/p>\n

Read more Heat adds to strains on areas with data centers, raising the temperature on AI debates<\/a><\/p>\n

Ellijah Cantero, Bishop Moore, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ran 47.57 as 3A state\u00a0 runner-up in 400. Also ran 10.83 in 100 and 21.77 in 200 \u2014 and excelled in relays.<\/p>\n

Duke Carpenter, Geneva School, Jr.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Prime football prospect (6-5, 254 pounds) won the 1A discus state title with a massive personal record (PR) of 190-8\u00bd.<\/p>\n

Jacob Finch, Horizon, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

District, region champ finished fourth with 4:13.80 time in 4A state meet. Bests were 4:12.55 and 1:56.52 for 800.<\/p>\n

Samuel Johnson, Montverde, Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2A triple jump champ was right behind Garcon as No. 2 in the state with wind-legal 50-9\u00bc. He also long-jumped 24-1\u00be.<\/p>\n

Jaiden Manning, Ocoee, Sr.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 4A state champ in 110 hurdles (13.92) motored to No. 5 on the area all-time list with 13.83 at Bob Hayes Invitational.<\/p>\n

Devin Matthews, Ocoee, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

4A state champ in the 400 (47.24). Bettered that with 46.75 victory in postseason. Ran 1:52.20 and 1:52.27 in the 800.<\/p>\n

Miles Outerbridge, Montverde, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Class 2A state runner-up in 100 (10.68) and 200 (21.12) dashes ran personal best 10.39 in New Balance Nationals.<\/p>\n

Taylor Royster, Oviedo, Sr.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

4A state runner-up in long jump, then won AAU Florida qualifier and peaked with 24-1\u00bc for fourth in New Balance Nationals.<\/p>\n

Omaree Baptiste, East River, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ran area-best 1:51.94 in 800. Also ran 22.13, 48.20.<\/p>\n

Malek Wilkerson, Lake Howell, Sr.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Won all nine regular season sprints (100\/200) and placed eighth in 4A state meet 200 (21.33). Ran 10.46 and 21.23 in postseason races.<\/p>\n

Grant Williams, Montverde, Sr.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saved best for last with personal best 14-9 pole vault performance to win Class 2A state championship.<\/p>\n

\n

FHSAA state track and field has 8 Orlando-area champions at UNF<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n