People come to Florida for the sunshine and wide beaches, and they are often surprised by the vast differences from town to town. From pastel-painted bungalows in the Keys to Italian-inspired downtowns and laid-back islands in the Gulf where dolphins outnumber chain restaurants, every destination in the Sunshine State has a personality all its own. […]
People come to Florida for the sunshine and wide beaches, and they are often surprised by the vast differences from town to town. From pastel-painted bungalows in the Keys to Italian-inspired downtowns and laid-back islands in the Gulf where dolphins outnumber chain restaurants, every destination in the Sunshine State has a personality all its own. To help you narrow down your options, here are 12 of Florida’s best beach towns.
The galactic core of the milky way sets over New Smyrna Beach, Florida. JMarro/Shutterstock
1. New Smyrna Beach
Best for catching a wave
Island time rules New Smyrna Beach, an adorably funky town with a deep-rooted surf scene. No high rises here, but NSB is home to 175-foot Ponce Inlet Lighthouse, the state’s tallest. Flagler Avenue, lined with indie surf shops and seafood joints, leads straight to the sand. Find the best waves in the inlet and near the jetty, but be aware that you can drive on the beach in Volusia County. For a more idyllic atmosphere – and wildlife galore, including manatees and leatherback sea turtles – bring your board to the undeveloped Canaveral National Seashore.
Vibes: A funky, small-town surf haven where no shirt, no shoes is no problem.
Best thing to do: Take surf lessons – consistently calm waves make the Space Coast one of the best places to learn in Florida.
Where to stay: The Salty Mermaid Hotel puts you steps from both the beach and Flagler Avenue. Across the causeway, Black Dolphin Inn feels exclusive, with balconies overlooking the Indian River.
Where to eat: Make brunch reservations at The Baker’s Table specifically to try the conch fritters.
Planning tip: The best swells roll in during fall (especially during hurricane season) and winter.
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The sun sets over Venice Beach. Sebastian Duce/Shutterstock
2. Venice
Best for shelling and beachcombing
Featuring pink Mediterranean Revival buildings and a downtown lined with mom-and-pop shops, Venice blends the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast with Italian charm. The real draw, though, lies beneath your feet. Area beaches include Venice Beach, certified a Blue Wave Beach by Clean Beaches Coalition; Brohard Paw Park, the county’s only dog beach; and Caspersen Beach, aka Shark Tooth Beach.
Vibes: Easygoing Gulf Coast charm with a hint of Mediterranean elegance.
Best thing to do: Hunt for fossilized shark teeth in the sand at Caspersen Beach, especially at low tide or after a storm. Stroll down past the crowds to find lots of unbroken, perfectly triangular teeth.
Where to stay: Inn at the Beach puts you directly across the street from Venice Beach and offers guests complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas.
Where to eat: Don’t be put off by the fact that Belki’s Cuban Deli is inside a gas station; the pressed Cubano sandwich is as authentic as it gets.
A ship in the harbor of St Augustine, Florida. Jon Bilous/Shutterstock
3. St Augustine
Best for getting a taste of Europe – without the jet lag
St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the United States, founded by Spanish settlers in 1565. Cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture and centuries-old landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos define its historic core. After wandering the narrow streets, luxuriate on wide, pristine beaches. Spend a day at St Augustine Beach, with sand volleyball, a fishing pier and splash pad. Hang ten at quiet Vilano Beach or dive into a book at secluded Crescent Beach.
Vibes: Old World Europe meets classic Florida beach vacation.
Best thing to do: Stroll pedestrian-only St. George Street. Visit the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, explore the Pirate & Treasure Museum, and try unexpected popsicle flavors at The Hyppo (my personal favorite: Datil Pepper Cheesecake, using native spicy-sweet Datil peppers).
Where to stay: Nine historic homes and a number of elaborate fountains and gardens make up The Collector Inn. You can walk almost everywhere, but the inn also offers complimentary bicycles.
Where to eat: The five-course Chef’s Pairing Menu at La Cocina is worth the spend. It’s at The Cellar Upstairs on the rooftop of San Sebastian Winery.
Planning tip: St Augustine really shines at Christmas. Book early – like, a year early – to witness the magic of 20 city blocks plus boats and even the lighthouse decked out in millions of lights.
The tropical island getaway of Islamorada. Mia2you/Shutterstock
4. Islamorada
Best for a tropical island getaway without leaving the US
This Upper Florida Keys village encompassing six keys tempts sun worshippers with crystal-clear water, palm-fringed beaches and arguably the best snorkeling and fishing in Florida. Beachgoers should hit Anne’s Beach and Founders Park Beach, two of the nicest beaches in the Keys.
Vibes: Feels like slipping away to the Bahamas – no passport required.
Best thing to do: Book a combo jet ski and snorkeling tour to experience Islamorada’s incredible coral reefs and marine life. Sportfishing enthusiasts should also book a fishing charter, either deep sea or to the shallow “flats.”
Where to stay: Amara Cay offers amenities galore, from a private beach and water taxi to paddleboard rentals, snorkeling excursions and Ocean Golf, an experience that allows you to hit biodegradable, fish food-filled golf balls into the ocean.
Where to eat: See which key lime pie reigns supreme by trying it at several places: Midway Cafe, Marker 88 and Green Turtle Inn all have borderline transformative versions. Make a quick detour at Blond Giraffe Key Lime Pie Factory in Tavernier (Key Largo), too. For research, of course.
A coastal dune lake on Grayton Beach. Rotorhead 30A Productions/Shutterstock
5. Grayton Beach
Best for a laid-back 30A escape
Taking the creative free spirit of the Florida Panhandle to heart, Grayton Beach is a 1-mile stretch of bohemian paradise between Destin and Panama City Beach. It’s a tranquil base for exploring Highway 30A, surrounded by rare coastal dune lakes (they exist only in five places worldwide) and filled with unpretentious cafes and art galleries – including the Grayt Wall of Art, an outdoor gallery on a fence.
Vibes: Eclectic and artsy.
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Best thing to do: Rent kayaks in Grayton Beach State Park and paddle the glassy coastal dune lakes.
Where to stay: Beach access is a contentious topic along Highway 30A; choose a vacation rental with a deeded private beach (not just beach access). If you’re OK with jockeying for space on the public beaches, Hibiscus Coffee & Guesthouse is an adorable, affordable B&B.
Where to eat: The Red Bar’s floor-to-ceiling decor, live music and simple but ultra-fresh Gulf Coast cuisine embody the exact vibe of Grayton Beach.
Planning tip: Unfortunately, several beaches section off small public-access areas, cramming people into rectangles. Avoid this by visiting a 100% public beach – but arrive early or late (before 8am or after 4pm). Walton County Tourism created a helpful interactive beach access map; the best public accesses include Grayton Beach State Park, Topsail, Deer Lake State Park and Inlet Beach.
Fernandina Beach. Madison Y Photo/Shutterstock
6. Fernandina Beach
Best for foodies
On Amelia Island in far northeastern Florida, Fernandina Beach oozes coastal charm and Southern hospitality. Its riverside historic district is filled with Victorian-style boutiques, chef-driven restaurants and Florida’s oldest bar. Aside from the annual Shrimp Festival in early May, everything, including beaches, is typically blissfully uncrowded. Main Beach and Seaside offer classic beach experiences with concessions and sand volleyball, while Fort Clinch State Park is wild and secluded.
Vibes: A Deep South beach town reminiscent of Charleston, South Carolina.
Best thing to do: Explore Boneyard Beach, strewn with hauntingly beautiful sun-bleached driftwood. No swimming, though; due to submerged trees, it’s not safe.
Where to stay: With its wraparound porch, direct beach access and daily chef-prepared breakfast, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge embodies Fernandina Beach culture.
Where to eat: Head to T-Ray’s Burger Station, in a former gas station off the well-beaten tourist path, for juicy burgers and fluffy breakfast biscuit sandwiches.
The dunes at Pensacola Beach. Colin D. Young/Shutterstock
7. Pensacola Beach
Best for an active beach trip
If it can be done on (or in) the water or a beach, you’re sure to find it in Pensacola. Take your pick: surfing, fishing, diving, paddling, jet skiing, hiking, parasailing, snorkeling, biking, boating or simply soaking up the sun. Though often lumped in with Pensacola proper, PB has a distinct tropical vibe, with a powder-sugar shoreline and Caribbean-esque turquoise water. For an even quieter escape, head 15 minutes west to Fort Pickens’ pristine Langdon Beach, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore.
Vibes: An easygoing island town with big adventure energy.
Best thing to do: Catch the US Navy’s Blue Angels, famed for their aerobatic flying skills, during a public practice.
Where to stay: The Pensacola Beach Resort complements your adventures with perks like on-site beach gear rentals, easy-to-book excursions, an outdoor heated pool and a low-key beach bar.
Where to eat: Order the fried red snapper collar at Pearl & Horn in Pensacola. The complex, 38-ingredient dish incorporates Adjika, a condiment so significant to Georgian culture it’s UNESCO-designated as “Intangible Cultural Heritage.”
The City Pier on Anna Maria Island. AHPix/Shutterstock
8. Anna Maria Island
Best for a mini taste of the Bahamas
Strict building rules prevent high-rises, helping Anna Maria Island maintain its castaway charm. The barrier island stretches just 7 miles but offers a full dose of life in the tropics, with shallow, clear-as-gin turquoise water, soft sand and beach bungalows in a rainbow of colors. Explore AMI’s three laid-back towns – Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach – all linked by a free trolley. Hop between Coquina, Manatee and Bean Point beaches, all equally stunning.
Vibes: A Caribbean getaway, minus the strain on your wallet.
Best thing to do: Grab an ice cream cone from Two Scoops and catch the sunset on the pier.
Where to stay: Choose from candy-colored cottages or resort-style condos – both with private beach access – at sister properties Tradewinds Beach Resort and Tortuga Beach Resort.
Where to eat: Have lunch (or dinner or drinks) at Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, a true toes-in-the-sand establishment in Holmes Beach. And whether for breakfast or a midday treat, stop into The Donut Experiment for customizable, made-in-front-of-you donuts.
Planning tip: Snag free parking in centrally-located Holmes Beach and rent bicycles (or beach gear, fishing rods, kayaks, even strollers) from AMI Beach Fun Rentals, then explore on two wheels.
The Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. MDIYer/Shutterstock
9. Delray Beach
Best for strolling from galleries to the beach without needing a car
Walkable, vibrant Delray Beach has a fantastic cultural scene. There’s a sprawling arts district, a dedicated art trail, over 40 murals throughout town and scores of unique museums. Highlights include the Morikami Japanese Gardens, Silverball Pinball Museum and Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, dedicated to Black history in Palm Beach County. Atlantic Avenue is the hub for local dining and nightlife, and it also conveniently leads straight to Delray Municipal Beach.
Vibes: A walkable, artsy beach town buzzing with culture and creativity.
Best thing to do: Catch a Twilight Tribute Series concert at Old School Square Amphitheatre on the third Thursday of every month. Tribute bands cover artists ranging from Zac Brown Band to Bon Jovi and No Doubt.
Where to stay: Crane’s Beach House feels like a posh hideaway tucked in the jungle, but it’s just one block off Atlantic Avenue and a five-minute walk to the beach.
Where to eat: Grab $3 tacos, $5 quesadillas and $6 margaritas during happy hour (4pm to 7pm and 12am to 2am daily) at El Camino.
Planning tip: When you just don’t feel like walking, take advantage of Freebee, a free, on-demand shuttle service operating downtown.
Apalachicola Bay. Fomo Photography/Shutterstock
10. St George Island
Best for getting proper R&R on the beach (with your dog)
Tucked along Florida’s spectacularly quiet “Forgotten Coast,” St George Island is the place to go when you want to do, well, nothing. The 22-mile-long barrier island is home to just one stop sign and St George Island State Park, consistently ranked one of Dr. Beach’s top US beaches – and the 2023 winner. Outside the state park, the island’s other beaches welcome dogs, along with many restaurants and vacation rentals. Stop in Apalachicola on your way, famous for oysters and candy-colored homes.
Vibes: The type of small, dreamy coastal town Nicholas Sparks would choose for a book setting.
Best thing to do: Climb 92 wooden steps and a ladder to the top of Cape St George Light, a reconstructed 19th-century lighthouse overlooking the Gulf and Apalachicola Bay.
Where to stay: Walk to everything in under five minutes from St George Inn, with vintage vibes and a huge wraparound deck. If you have a full week, rent a home in the exclusive St George Plantation.
Where to eat: Load up on fresh oysters, grouper tacos and signature Sandblaster frozen cocktails at dog-friendly Blue Parrot. Right next door, you can also rent jet skis.
Cocoa Beach Pier at sunrise. Jason Sponseller/Shutterstock
11. Cocoa Beach
Best for families
Cocoa Beach strikes an unusual balance: It’s a laid-back surf town (even nicknamed the “East Coast surf capital”), yet also has loads of family-friendly attractions. Enjoy free beach access at Lori Wilson Park, watch a rocket launch, grab soft serve on the 800-foot-long Cocoa Beach Pier, and browse Ron Jon, the world’s largest surf shop. With Orlando theme parks just an hour away and proximity to the Kennedy Space Center, this makes a flexible basecamp.
Vibes: A classic surf town where rockets regularly launch and kids learn to ride their first wave.
Best thing to do: Dedicate at least half a day to the Kennedy Space Center, and in the summer, book a nighttime kayaking tour to see rare bioluminescence.
Where to stay: The Hilton Garden Inn Cocoa Beach Oceanfront caters to families, with an arcade, tremendous pool deck and two private paths directly to the beach.
Where to eat: Try Caribbean fusion like the Cheesesteak Caribe on Puerto Rican Sobao bread at The Tiny Turtle.
Planning tip: Cocoa Beach hotels spike in demand around rocket launch and cruise ship schedules.
Tigertail Beach in Marco Island. Getty Images
12. Marco Island
Best for exploring the Everglades in a bougie way
Marco Island is like a tale of two cities, but in one. A plethora of mansions and exclusive resorts call it home, plus it serves as the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the US and one of the world’s biggest wetlands. Adding to its allure, Marco Island offers unspoiled beaches and excellent fishing (especially for snook, tarpon and grouper).
Vibes: A little bit Everglades, a little bit extravagance.
Best thing to do: Take a day trip to Everglades City, about 40 minutes away. Hop on an airboat tour through a mangrove jungle or cruise through the Ten Thousand Islands, inside the national park.
Where to stay: The JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort is a bit spendy, but worth it. On an expansive private beach, the JW has a whopping 12 restaurants, two golf courses, a wonderful spa, four pools and 10K Alley, an arcade and bowling alley with an impressive taproom.
Where to eat: Sample the extensive fresh oyster and raw bar selections at The Oyster Society. A rotating selection of about a dozen oysters changes daily, and there’s a sushi bar in the dining room. Save room for the real star: the spiced carrot cake.
Delgado Leads Track & Field Coaching Staff to First NEC Honor
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EASTON, Mass. (May 29, 2025) – Stonehill College track and field head coach Michael Delgado and his staff were named the Northeast Conference Outdoor Track & Field men’s coaching staff of the year, the conference announced on Thursday.
Delgado (Throws/Hurdles/Horizontal Jumps), in his sixth season at the helm of […]
EASTON, Mass. (May 29, 2025) – Stonehill College track and field head coach Michael Delgado and his staff were named the Northeast Conference Outdoor Track & Field men’s coaching staff of the year, the conference announced on Thursday.
Delgado (Throws/Hurdles/Horizontal Jumps), in his sixth season at the helm of the Skyhawks Track & Field program, led a staff of head cross country coach Karen Boen and assistant cross country coach Carl Boen (Distance/Mid-Distance), along with assistant track & field coach Dan Schwartz (Vertical Jumps/Sprints), to the staff’s first postseason honor at the Division I level, as voted on by the other NEC head coaches.
This is Delgado’s second Coaching Staff of the Year award in total, having earned the honor in the Northeast-10 at the Division II level in 2019. He joins Boen, who was given the honor of NEC Cross Country Coach of the Year in both 2022 and 2023, leading the women’s squad to the NEC title in 2023.
At outdoor championships at W.B. Mason Stadium this past May, the men’s team propelled itself from sixth place after the first day of competition, up to second place in the final standings with a team score of 105.50 points, trailing only Central Connecticut, which won the title with 235 points.
This was the highest placement for the men’s team at NEC Outdoor Championships, placing fourth last year and ninth the year before. Their second-place finish included seven top-three finishes and four silver medals. The women’s team placed third with 124 points, their best finish at the DI level after coming in sixth in 2024 and fourth in 2023.
Along with the Skyhawks coaching staff receiving postseason recognition, graduate students Jacob Pacheco (Merrimack, N.H.) and Cody DeAngelo (Old Saybrook, Conn.), and senior Parker Hagen (Newport, R.I.) were named to the NEC All-Conference Second Team for their silver medals in the javelin throw, pole vault, and the triple jump. The Skyhawks’ 4×100-meter relay team also earned Second Team honors.
The men’s NEC All-Rookie Team included freshmen Kyle Kwiatek (Lynn, Mass.) and Jacob Tobin (Natick, Mass.), who were the top first-year finishers in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter races.
On the women’s side, graduate student Abigail Larsson (Bayport, N.Y.) won the pole vault to be the lone Skyhawk to earn All-Conference First Team honors. Classmate Kaytlin Encarnacao (Reading, Mass.) was named to the All-Conference Second Team after earning a silver medal in the 400-meter race. Joining her with second team honors was senior Madison Rousseau (Canton, Mass.) for her performance in the 100-meter hurdles and sophomore Kayla Oakes (Kingston, N.Y.), who placed second in the long jump.
Stonehill’s 4×400-meter relay and 4×800-meter relay teams were also additions to the NEC All-Conference Second Team. The Skyhawk women led the conference with four student-athletes on the NEC All-Rookie Team, as freshmen Hannah Santos (Swansea, Mass.), Rachael Korowski (Hudson, Mass.), Emmy Belvin (Chepachet, R.I.), and Makenna Dube (North Andover, Mass.) were all recognized by the conference. Santos was the top freshman finisher in the high jump, Korowski in the 1500-meter race, Belvin in the 800-meter race, and Dube in the shot put.
For the latest on Stonehill Athletics, follow the Skyhawks via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
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• All-Time OVC Institutional Sportsmanship Award Winners Eastern Illinois has been named the recipient of the Ohio Valley Conference’s annual Institutional Sportsmanship Award for 2024-25. The award goes to the Conference institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical conduct as outlined by […]
• All-Time OVC Institutional Sportsmanship Award Winners
Eastern Illinois has been named the recipient of the Ohio Valley Conference’s annual Institutional Sportsmanship Award for 2024-25. The award goes to the Conference institution selected by its peers to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical conduct as outlined by the OVC and NCAA.
“Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories,” said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. “In receiving this prestigious honor other institutions are saying these teams and student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life.”
The award, which was implemented in August 2003, is one of three accolades bestowed by the Conference to honor sportsmanship. In 1998, the league established the Steve Hamilton Sportsmanship Award, presented annually to a male or female student-athlete of junior or senior standing who best exemplifies characteristics of the late Morehead State University student-athlete and athletics director by way of significant athletics performance and good sportsmanship and citizenship.
For the past 20 years, the league has presented team-specific sportsmanship awards to programs at OVC member institutions based on the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans, and voted on by the league’s coaches and student-athletes in each respective sport.
This marks the 21st time the Institutional Sportsmanship Award has been bestowed and is the second-straight award for Eastern Illinois.
In 1995, the Ohio Valley Conference implemented a first-of-its-kind “Sportsmanship Statement,” a policy promoting principles of fair play, ethical conduct and respect for one’s opponent. The statement answered the challenge of the NCAA Presidents Commission to improve sportsmanship in collegiate athletics, and has become a model for others to follow across the nation.
Maple Ridge water polo player wins silver at PanAm championships
Airi Cowie of Maple Ridge has won a silver medal with the women’s national U17 water polo team at the PanAm Aquatics Championships, held from May 13 to 25 in Medellin, Colombia. Cowie said the win was a highlight of her career, on par with last year’s appearance with the U16 national team that competed at […]
Airi Cowie of Maple Ridge has won a silver medal with the women’s national U17 water polo team at the PanAm Aquatics Championships, held from May 13 to 25 in Medellin, Colombia.
Cowie said the win was a highlight of her career, on par with last year’s appearance with the U16 national team that competed at the World Championships in Turkey. She won player of the match in one of those games, with a four-goal performance.
At the PanAms, Cowie played more of a defence and assisting role she said, but scored seven goals during the tournament – including a four-goal performance in one game.
The Canadian women started the tournament with three wins: 28-24 against Mexico, 25-9 over Brazil and 21-9 over Argentina.
They then lost 16-10 to Team USA, but bounced back and beat Colombia 28-13, and Peru 24-1. That put them in the championship game, and the U.S. won the battle again, by a score of 18-7.
“The U.S. is obviously very strong,” said Cowie. “I definitely think our team under-performed against them.”
However, she noted Team Canada still won a big prize – a qualifying spot in the 2026 U18 World Championships. The host venue has yet to be decided, but Cowie is hoping it’s someplace exotic and interesting.
“I love that I get to travel a lot with my sport,” she said.
Cowie is a Grade 11 student at Maple Ridge Secondary, and plays for the Surrey Water Polo club. She said her place on next year’s team is not guaranteed, but she is confident she will have a good chance of again wearing the Maple Leaf at the worlds.
Her coach was happy with the team’s overall improvement at the PanAms.
“These two weeks, our team had an amazing progression,” said Water Polo Canada’s women’s U17 national team head coach David Paradelo. “Starting from one week training in California where we were able to come together for the first time, the athletes were hungry for more every day and the staff was easily able to get the girls in a professional behaviour that lead to a quick evolution of the team chemistry.
“We were able to start the tournament in Colombia setting the tone in the first few games. We were able to maintain this through the tournament, yet lacked some composure in the games versus the USA,” Paradelo added. “The girls learned a lot within adversity from in and out of the water in an experience that will teach them for their future in water polo and in life.”
The Canadian men’s U17 team won gold, making it the best-ever finish for the Canadian delegation at the event.
Cowie has a big summer ahead of her.
Her club team will compete at the U18 national championships in Calgary from June 5 to 7. After that, she is going to be on the roster of a U.S. club team, competing in high-level water polo events in California this summer.
Long-term, Cowie is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her older siblings Yuri and Andy, who both played water polo on scholarships for U.S. universities in the NCAA.
Perry’s School Record Highlights Day Two of NCAA West Prelims
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Day One Results COLLEGE STATION, Texas (May 29, 2025) – Four Northern Arizona track and field athletes have qualified for the next round of the NCAA West Preliminary Round today in College Station, Texas.
LiNay Perry is on to Saturday’s quarterfinals in the 400-meter hurdles after breaking her […]
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (May 29, 2025) – Four Northern Arizona track and field athletes have qualified for the next round of the NCAA West Preliminary Round today in College Station, Texas.
LiNay Perry is on to Saturday’s quarterfinals in the 400-meter hurdles after breaking her own school record once again with a time of 57.40. She auto qualified by finishing third in her heat and placed 12th overall in the first round after entering the event ranked 17th.
She will race at 5:25 Mountain Standard time on Saturday, May 31.
All three Lumberjacks entered in the 1,500-meters advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals by auto-qualifying in their heat. Maggi Congdon placed second in her heat with a time of 4:17.10 which was good for 12th overall. Alexandra Carlson raced in the same heat as Congdon and placed fifth, clocking 4:18.79 to place 17th overall. Keira Moore ran a near personal best of 4:18.80 to place fifth in her heat and 18th overall after coming in ranked 33rd.
Congdon is looking to punch her second-straight ticket to the National Championships in the 1,500-meters. The quarterfinals take place on May 31st at 3:15 p.m. Mountain Standard time.
In the 400-meters, Kyairra Reigh placed 28th with a time of 53.35.
Odessa Zentz placed 32nd in the 800-meters with a time of 2:07.93, followed by Kiki Vaughn in 38th with a time of 2:10.09.
Sariyah Horne-Kemp placed 31st in the hammer throw with a toss of 57.02-meters.
Alexis Kebbe placed 35th in the 10,000-meters with a time of 35:49.09.
The men are back in action tomorrow, beginning with the field events at 11 a.m. MST and the track events at 3 p.m. MST. The meet is streamed on ESPN+ with live results available here.
NCAA track and field East, Jacksonville 2025: Records broken
JU junior qualifies for nationals in long jump College World Series; Women’s College World Series; NFL OTAs | 2MD College baseball’s 64-team tournament is set to begin; the Women’s College World Series is down to 8 teams; Dolphins, Jaguars, Bucs OTAs. Multiple Hodges Stadium records tumbled at the NCAA Track and Field East First Round […]
College World Series; Women’s College World Series; NFL OTAs | 2MD
College baseball’s 64-team tournament is set to begin; the Women’s College World Series is down to 8 teams; Dolphins, Jaguars, Bucs OTAs.
Multiple Hodges Stadium records tumbled at the NCAA Track and Field East First Round competition in Jacksonville, Florida.
Evan Puckett, Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, and Tima Godbless set new stadium records in pole vault, shot put, and the women’s 100-meter dash, respectively.
Jacksonville University’s Julia Sue-Kam-Ling qualified for nationals in the women’s long jump.
Grace Hartman added a facility record in the women’s 10,000.
Evan Puckett sent a message on May 29. Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan did, too. Then, Tima Godbless.
The recipient: The University of North Florida. The subject: The Hodges Stadium record books are about to need a fresh round of updates.
Stadium records tumbled early and often, while hometown athlete Julia Sue-Kam-Ling of Jacksonville University punched a breakthrough ticket to nationals in May 29 action at the NCAA Track and Field East First Round competition.
Beginning with Tennessee junior Puckett’s mark of 17 feet, 9 3/4 inches in the men’s pole vault, the nation’s top Division I college athletes from the nation’s eastern half earned top billing on day two over the latest bout of inclement weather.
Thunderstorms once again disrupted competition for more than two hours beginning at 4:38 p.m., forcing track officials to push back the women’s shot put and later flights of the women’s pole vault for another day.
In addition to JU’s Sue-Kam-Ling, who qualified from the unseeded second flight in the women’s long jump, University of North Florida senior Smilla Kolbe also continued her postseason quest with a dominant race in the women’s 800 meters.
RECORD FESTIVAL AT UNF
The men’s pole vault, postponed from May 28 because of opening-day thunderstorms, set the tone.
Not only did Puckett surpass the previous facility record of 17 feet, 9 inches from Nebraska’s Tyler Loontjer in 2021, but four other vaulters topped the record as well: Georgia senior Nikolai van Huyssteen, Indiana State senior William Staggs, Ole Miss sophomore John Kendricks and High Point freshman Ricardo Montes de Oca.
Then it was the turn of Ole Miss junior Robinson-O’Hagan, who unleashed an attempt of 68 feet, 5 inches to win the men’s shot put while breaking the old Hodges Stadium mark of Florida’s Stipe Zunic (67 feet, 7 inches) from 2014.
Finished with the records? Not yet. Godbless, an Olympian for Nigeria in 2024 in Paris, then ran 10.91 for LSU in the first heat of the women’s 100. Moments later, Ohio State’s Leah Bertrand followed with a 10.92 that would have equaled the previous stadium best of Cambrea Sturgis from North Carolina A&T.
Appropriately, the night ended with a fourth facility record when N.C. State’s Grace Hartman ran 32:32.80 in the women’s 10,000, beating the 2021 mark of 33:06.83 from Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat.
DOLPHIN SOARS IN LONG JUMP
Going by the numbers, JU junior Sue-Kam-Ling entered as a decided long shot to punch a ticket for the June 11-14 national finals in Oregon. She was competing from an unseeded flight, ranking outside the top 30 long jumpers in the event.
But the junior from Nesconset, N.Y. broke through on her third and final attempt, leaping 20 feet, 2 1/4 inches to climb into second place.
Sue-Kam-Ling then faced a tense wait as the meet’s 24 highest-seeded jumpers tried to overtake her mark. Only nine succeeded, leaving the Dolphin with the 11th of the 12 qualifying berths.
UNF’s Kolbe remained smoothly on course in her 800 heat, leading nearly wire to wire in 2:02.29. Her time ranked fifth among all first-round participants ahead of the May 31 second round.
Former Bishop Kenny runner Ka’Myya Haywood moved on with the No. 9 time in the women’s 800, but Kolbe’s UNF teammate, Ella Chandler, placed 39th in the race, one of several others with local ties not advancing to the next stage.
For JU, Cassidra Thompson placed 27th in the women’s 400 heats, only 0.13 from the last at-large spot, and Cassie Thompson came in 29th in the women’s 200, just 0.12 away. Also in individual events were Miami’s Brittney Jennings (Creekside, 41st in women’s 100 hurdles), South Florida’s Terren Peterson (Mandarin, 38th in women’s 200), Navy’s Layne Rivera (Bolles, 48th in women’s javelin) and South Florida’s Skyler Watts (Episcopal, 39th in women’s 400).
The Amazon.com logo and stock price information is seen on screens at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York City, New York, U.S., September 4, 2018. (REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo) Staff Reports | REUTERS The New York Times said on Thursday it would license its editorial content to Amazon.com for use in the tech giant’s artificial-intelligence […]
The Amazon.com logo and stock price information is seen on screens at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York City, New York, U.S., September 4, 2018. (REUTERS/Mike Segar/File Photo)
Staff Reports | REUTERS
The New York Times said on Thursday it would license its editorial content to Amazon.com for use in the tech giant’s artificial-intelligence products, marking the publisher’s first licensing deal tied to generative AI.
The multi-year agreement allows Amazon access to its news articles and content from NYT Cooking and sports website The Athletic.
“This will include real-time display of summaries and short excerpts of Times content within Amazon products and services, such as Alexa, and training Amazon’s proprietary foundation models,” the publisher said.
NYT recorded $4.4 million in pretax litigation costs in the first quarter related to its copyright lawsuit against Microsoft and ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, which it filed in 2023.
Editor’s Note: Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath
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