7th Grader Lazea Sorey Wins Middle School State Title

By: Shelia Mader

For most seventh graders, simply making a middle school team is an accomplishment. For Lazea Sorey, winning a state championship is just the beginning.

Sorey, a student-athlete at a K-12 school, recently captured a middle school state championship in the triple jump at the Florida Youth Running Association (FLYRA) state meet held in Bradenton at IMG Academy. IMG stands for the International Management Group Academy, a nationally known sports training and education campus that hosts elite athletic events and athletes from around the country.

What makes Sorey’s accomplishment even more impressive is that she competes against high school athletes despite only being in seventh grade during the regular season.

“She went 1A, she went third in triple jump,” said track and football coach Aaron Davis. “That’s a high school event. She won middle school state as well, triple jump, which is a big task to do. Seventh grade, going through people in high school, that’s a tough task.”

Sorey, who also plays basketball, said the moment was emotional because it represented a goal she had worked toward for a long time.

“It felt good just accomplishing a goal that I’ve been wanting to chase for a long time,” Sorey said.

When asked what motivated her most, Sorey gave an answer that drew smiles.

“Beating my brother,” she said.

Track and field talent appears to run in the family. Sorey explained that her brother also competed in the sport and previously finished second in the same event.

“He did track and field. He came in second, and when I did it, I came in first,” she said proudly.

Despite her young age, Davis said Sorey already demonstrates the work ethic and discipline needed to succeed at a high level.

“It takes skill set and dedication,” Davis said of the triple jump. “A lot of hard work you gotta put in. You gotta know how to do your balance correctly and everything. She’s dedicated to the sport.”

Davis believes Sorey’s potential is unlimited.  “Sky’s the limit,” he said. “She can achieve anything she wants to. Very hard worker. She’s gonna do what you ask. She gets after it. No excuses. Very, very good athlete.”

The school honored Sorey with a banner displayed inside the high school gymnasium,  a rare recognition for someone who has not even reached high school yet.

“It’s just representing her,” Davis said. “She’s been putting the hard work in. She’s dedicated. Just let her know that we’re proud of her.”

Before she has even entered high school, Sorey already has her name hanging among older athletes, and Davis expects there will be many more accomplishments ahead.

“She’s gonna have quite a bit, trust me,” he said.

Sorey said one of the best parts of her success has been seeing the support from her school and community.

“It feels good seeing that my whole school supported me on my whole goal,” she said.

Even with a state championship already to her name, Sorey’s competitive spirit is still driving her forward.

When asked what she hopes to accomplish next season, her answer was simple:

“To beat all the people that I wanted to beat last time.”