Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys track and field team: Palatka’s Kedric Wright Jr. just getting warmed up

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Kedric Wright Jr. isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Wright, the Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys track and field athlete of the year from Palatka High School, was electric on the track surface in his junior season, blazing his way to state championships in the 100 and 400 sprints.

Not only was Wright’s feat another checkmark for family tradition, it was further proof that his attention to the sport was the right one. He’s also a very good football player for the Panthers, but Wright thinks that his major gains in track make his future there even brighter.

“Coming into high school, I had a rough time coming into high school, so I knew I had to bounce back,” Wright said. “But then when I got into track, everything started going good. So then when I started hitting the times I started hitting, then I knew I had something special and I had to keep going with it.”

Wright’s father was an outstanding running back and track athlete for the Panthers during his high school years in the early 2000s, so it was only natural that the son follow his path. His older cousin, Ka’Tia Seymour, was one of the best sprinters in the country out of Palatka in 2017 before going on to star at Florida State.

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys track and field athletes of the year

Wright’s sister, Khalia, was also an accomplished track star in high school. When asked about who the best athlete in the family is, Wright doesn’t hesitate.

“At the time, it was Ka’Tia, but now it’s me, definitely,” he said. “He [his father] keeps saying he was faster than me, but I still won’t put him faster than me over the track.”

Track is where the younger Wright sees a future in. He said the 400 is his favorite event among the three sprint distances because there is forgiveness with that length that is more difficult in the shorter races. It’s also a race that Wright could eventually challenge in his career goal of making an Olympics team.

He’s been running since elementary school and thriving, but this season put him on a new arc. Not only was Wright a double state champ, his time in the 400 (46.07) is the state’s best time this year. Wright’s win in the 100 also helped rectify a sore spot from 2025 when a false start ended his championship hopes.

“I was surprised to win the 100, but at the same time, it was like anything can happen,” he said. “So, I just knew I had to go out there and just run my best race.”

Varsity 4 All-News4JAX boys track and field team

Event, Athlete, School, Class

100: Kedric Wright Jr., Palatka, Jr.

State champ whose best time (10.31) came in winning the district meet. Had five wins this year.

200: Owen Kaye, Raines, Sr.

Class 2A state champ in PR of 20.87. Region runner-up. Six wins this season and a runner-up finish.

400: Kedric Wright Jr., Palatka, Jr.

Turned in state-leading time (46.07) to win Class 2A state meet. Dominated this event with eight wins in nine meets and a runner-up in the prestigious Pepsi Florida Relays.

110 hurdles: Iason Williams, Raines, Jr.

Had nine wins this season, including a PR of 14.21 in the Class 2A state meet. District and region champ.

400 hurdles: Iason Williams, Raines, Jr.

Third in Class 2A state meet with a PR of 54.13. Eight wins this year including district, region and Gateway.

800: Miles Wicks, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Had PR of 1:52.91 to finish third in FSU Relays. Three wins this season.

1600: Charles Loftin, Providence, Sr.

Three wins in four races this year. Third in Class 1A state meet. State champ in the 800 (1:55.02). Third at region and fourth at district.

3200: Sean Cunningham, Providence, Jr.

Class 1A state champion. Had three wins and a runner-up finish this season. PR of 9:07.68 in FSU Relays.

Discus: Colin Butler, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Won seven events this year including Class 3A state championship. Region runner-up. PR of 188-7.25 came in winning district.

Javelin: Ladarius Simmons, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

Went 203-8.25 to win the North Florida/South Florida Challenge, one of four wins this year. Fourth in Class 4A state meet.

Shot put: Johdeem Jones, Raines, Jr.

Seven wins this season, including PR of 55-2.5 to win Gateway. District and region champ. Seventh in Class 2A state meet.

High jump: Ja’Khari Jackson, Trinity Christian, Jr.

Had seven wins this season including at Class 1A state championship where he had a PR of 6-11.25. District and region champion, too.

Long jump: Nethan Verger, Orange Park, Sr.

Third at Class 3A state meet. Season-best distance of 24-0.75 came in winning district. Region champ, too.

Triple jump: Jalani Thomas, Fletcher, So.

Had PR of 47-11 in runner-up finish at region. Had five wins this season including Gateway and district. Third in Class 4A state meet.

Pole vault: Ramell Walley, Atlantic Coast, Sr.

Had PR of 15-4.5 in winning Bolles Bulldog Classic. Seven wins this season including district and region. Third in Class 4A state meet.

400 relay: Raines

Season-best time of 40.85 came in state runner-up finish in Class 2A meet.

1600 relay: Raines

Class 2A state champs turned in school record time of 3:11.55 in the Pepsi Florida Relays.

3200 relay: Jackson

Ran a 7:52.52 to finish state runner-up in Class 2A.

Second team

Event, Athlete, School, Class, Notable

100: Owen Kaye, Raines, Sr.

Had PR of 10.36 in season-opening Ellis Elite 16 event. Four wins this season. Fourth in 2A state meet.

200: Kedric Wright Jr., Palatka, Jr.

Turned in best time (21.08) in district championship win. Four wins this season.

400: Jordan Haymon, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

Class 4A state runner-up. Best time (46.88) came in runner-up finish at Bob Hayes meet.

110 hurdles: Jaylen Parks, First Coast, Jr.

Five wins this season. Had a PR of 14.55 in eighth-place finish in Class 4A state meet.

400 hurdles: Zach Lloyd, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

Had PR of 54.62 in seventh-place showing in Class 4A state meet. District champ was one of three wins this year.

800: Brandon Webb, Jackson, Sr.

PR of 1:53.82 in winning Bob Hayes. Six wins this season. Took fourth in Class 2A state meet.

1600: Jackson Lafser, Creekside, Sr.

Had PR of 4:14.54 in eighth-place finish in Class 1A state meet. Won one meet this year.

3200: Rishi Chopra, Nease, Jr.

Had PR of 9:13.11 for seventh-place finish in Class 4A state meet. Region champ and district runner-up.

Discus: Grayson Jackson, Providence, Sr.

Two wins this season. PR of 169-7 came in finishing third in Class 1A state meet.

Javelin: Cashlin Downey, St. Augustine, Jr.

Had two wins this year including PR of 192-2.25 at districts. Took seventh in Class 3A state meet.

Shot put: Colin Butler, Ponte Vedra, Sr.

Won the Creekside Friday Knight Invite with a PR of 51-7.25. District champ and ninth in state.

High jump: Nate Branch, Trinity Christian, Sr.

Along with teammate Jackson, this duo formed the top high jumping duo in the state. Finished runner-up behind Jackson with a 6-9.5 jump at state. Two wins this season. Runner-up at region and district.

Long jump: Dequan Jackson, Palatka, Sr.

PR of 23-10.5 came in winning district meet. Had five wins this season and took fifth in Class 2A state meet.

Triple jump: Sheldon Brown, Palatka, Jr.

Had PR Of 46-4.25 in winning the Don Hall meet. Four wins this year including at district. Took third in Class 2A state meet.

Pole vault: Nathan Williams, Beachside, Sr.

PR of 15-3 came in third-place finish in Class 3A state meet. Had three wins during the season.

400 relay: Oakleaf

Time of 40.95 was good enough for third in Class 3A state meet.

1600 relay: Jackson

Class 2A state runner-up finished with PR of 3:13.42.

3200 relay: Fleming Island

Ran a season-best of 7:53.14 in the Class 3A state meet to finish third.

Honorable mention

Athlete, school, class

Charles Carlson, Nease, Jr.

Elijah Dailey, Tocoi Creek, So.

Pierce Eldridge, Mandarin, Jr.

Kenneth Folkenroth, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

Jacob Froehlich, Tocoi Creek, Sr.

Jordan Haymon, Flagler Palm Coast, Sr.

Khamari Harewood, Oakleaf, Jr.

Jaydyn Haywood, Fletcher, So.

Caden Hedrick, Menendez, Jr.

Daniel Hoff, Bishop Snyder, So.

Josh Howell, Creekside, Sr.

Logan Jacobell, Flagler Palm Coast, Jr.

Jace Kemp, Mandarin, Jr.

Harrison Kozlowski, Providence, Sr.

Aariz Rahman, Stanton, So.

Luke Ross, Ponte Vedra, Jr.

Emmanuel Souffrant, Oakleaf, Jr.

Cole Swesey, St. Augustine, Sr.