GAINESVILLE (June 2) – Sophomore Tyrese Cooper of American High School and senior Symone Mason of Miami Southridge High School have been named the 2017 Florida Dairy Farmers Mr. Track and Field and Miss Track and Field following a final round of voting by a statewide panel of high school track and field coaches and media representatives.
Cooper, who in 2016 became the first freshman to win the Mr. Track award, became a repeat winner of the award after running the fastest times in all classes in sweeping the boys’ Class 3A state titles in the 200 meters (21.13) and 400 meters (45.51) and running the second-best time overall (10.63) in finishing second in the 100 meters. His 400-meter time set a national high school record and he also set the national indoor record of 32.87 in the 300 meters this season.
Cooper, who was earlier named the Class 3A boys’ track-athlete-of-the-year, won this year’s Mr. Track award with 92 points finishing ahead of Class 4A track athlete-of-the-year Jamal Walton of Miramar (75), Class 2A award winner Tyson Campbell of American Heritage (44) and Class 1A award winner Alex Shields of The First Academy (34).
Mason swept the girls’ Class 4A 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter titles at this year’s state meet. The University of Miami signee posted the nation’s fastest 100 meters (11.24) and second fastest 200 and 400 meter times this season in establishing herself as the country’s top prep sprinter.
Mason, who was earlier named Class 4A girls’ track-athlete-of-the-year, won this year’s Miss Track award with 86 points, finishing ahead of Class 2A track athlete-of-the-year and 2016 Miss Track winner Caitlin Collier of The Bolles School (75), Class 1A award winner Grace Blair of Oak Hall School (27) and Class 3A award winner Kristlin Gear of Fort Myers (24).
The Florida Dairy Farmers Sports Awards program exemplifies Florida Dairy Farmers’ commitment to the state’s youth. This is the 25th year of these unique awards as we honor the state’s top athletes and coaches in an all-time high 30 sanctioned and recognized FHSAA sports. The program also emphasizes to young people the importance of keeping dairy products a primary part of their diet in their overall nutrition plan.
2017 FINAL VOTING RESULTS: (Points awarded on a 10-7-5 basis)
Athlete Total Points 1st-Place Votes
Tyrese Cooper, American 92 8
Jamal Walton, Miramar 75 3
Tyson Campbell, American Heritage 44 0
Alex Shields, The First Academy 34 0
Athlete Total Points 1st-Place Votes
Symone Mason, Southridge 86 6
Caitlin Collier, The Bolles School 75 4
Grace Blair, Oak Hall School 27 0
Kristlin Gear, Fort Myers 24 0
