STARTING FRIDAY ON MILESPLIT 24/7: THE FHSAA STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Florida's Class 4A state boys 800m championship turned into a special race a year ago.
Flagler Palm Coast's Jacob Miley, who had finished eighth the previous season, had dedicated his final 800m performance to a fallen friend in April of that year. But he would have to beat defending champion Sukeil Foucha of Piper, who had the fastest time entering the race.
Ultimately, both of these athletes would give those final meters their all.
But Foucha certainly made Miley face an obstacle early, racing out to the front over the beginning 150 meter stretch and coming through the first 200m in 27 seconds.
Miley decided to make a move to the outside on the homestretch, shouldering up with Foucha -- along with a Lucas Caragiulo, who made a surprising move to lead.
The pair was through in 54.5 seconds, a measured first lap.
Then, at 550m, Foucha tried to lose Miley on the backstretch.
Miley went to the outside at 600m, making a bet with his final kick.
Foucha became the chaser, and at one point watched a gap turn into a five meter difference.
But as Miley began to tie up, Foucha answered.
And, well, the finish was one of for the ages, a near dead-even lean at the line.
Boys Class 4A 800m Results
4A BOYS 800 METER RUN FINALSPLACE ATHLETE TEAM RESULT WIND H# 1 Sukeil Foucha 12 Piper HS 1:51.00 1 2 Jacob Miley 12 Flagler Palm Coast HS 1:51.03 1 3 Dominic Acosta-Santoni 11 Newsome HS 1:54.27 1 4 Joab Francois 12 Lake Brantley HS 1:54.68 1 5 Garrett Ricardo 12 Flanagan HS 1:55.14 1 6 Musa Rigaba 12 South Dade HS 1:55.24 1 7 Keegan Simms 12 Miami Southridge HS 1:55.44 1 8 Lucas Caragiulo 11 Sarasota Riverview HS 1:55.65 1
Sukeil Foucha Post-Race State Interview
Jacob Miley Post-Race State Interview
Retrospective: Foucha finished his career with two straight titles in the 800m at the FHSAA State Track and Field Championships before heading off to Virginia State University, a HBCU competing in NCAA Division II athletics. This past indoor season he won two CIAA Indoor Conference Championships in the 800m and mile with times of 1:58.35 and 4:31.31, respectively. Miley, meanwhile, began his career at the University of Florida and secured a top time of 1:52.11 in the 800m at the Gamecock Opener and a 1:21.96 in the 600m at Clemson. He was 10th in the 800m at the SEC Indoor Championships.
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