Spanish River senior posts nation's top 800-meter time

Preston Sangely leads local athletes with dominant performance at Florida Pepsi Relays

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:39pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting runners in an 800-meter race, with their forms broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape to convey the energy and intensity of the event.The cubist deconstruction of an 800-meter race captures the dynamic movement and competition of top high school distance runners.Palm Beach Today

Spanish River senior Preston Sangely ran the fastest 800-meter time in the nation this season, winning the event at the Florida Pepsi Relays on the University of Florida campus. Sangely's local rival, Cardinal Newman senior Joe Licata, took second place, while Sangely's younger brother Casey placed fourth. Other top Palm Beach County performers included Park Vista junior Jeremiah Lysius winning the boys high jump and American Heritage-Delray freshman Jewel Domingue placing highly in multiple events.

Why it matters

The Florida Pepsi Relays is a major high school track and field event that showcases some of the top talent in the state and nation. Sangely's record-setting performance highlights the depth of distance running in Palm Beach County, with several local athletes placing among the best in the country.

The details

Sangely posted a time of 1:49.64 in the 800-meter run, the fastest time in the United States this season. His local rival, Cardinal Newman senior Joe Licata, took second with a personal-best time of 1:51.66, which was the third-best in Florida this year. Sangely's younger brother, Casey, placed fourth with a personal-best time of 1:52.10. Led by the Sangely brothers, the Spanish River 4x800-meter relay team also won their event.

  • The Florida Pepsi Relays took place on Friday, April 3, 2026 on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville.
  • The Palm Beach County track and field championships were held earlier this season, with 36 event winners from the county.

The players

Preston Sangely

A senior at Spanish River High School who ran the nation's fastest 800-meter time this season at the Florida Pepsi Relays.

Joe Licata

A senior at Cardinal Newman High School who placed second in the 800-meter run at the Florida Pepsi Relays with a personal-best time.

Casey Sangely

The younger brother of Preston Sangely who placed fourth in the 800-meter run at the Florida Pepsi Relays with a personal-best time.

Jeremiah Lysius

A junior at Park Vista High School who won the boys high jump event at the Florida Pepsi Relays, clearing 2.04 meters.

Jewel Domingue

A freshman at American Heritage-Delray High School who placed highly in multiple events, including runner-up in the triple jump, third in long jump, and fourth in the 100-meter sprint.

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What they’re saying

“Spanish River and Cardinal Newman weren't the only local schools with top finishers.”

— Eric J. Wallace, Deputy sports editor, The Palm Beach Post

What’s next

The top performers from the Florida Pepsi Relays will look to continue their success at the upcoming state championships, where they will compete against the best high school athletes from across Florida.

The takeaway

The depth of track and field talent in Palm Beach County was on full display at the Florida Pepsi Relays, with local athletes posting some of the fastest times and highest finishes in the nation. This showcases the strength of the county's high school sports programs and the promising futures of these young athletes.