Elite Boarding School In Florida Demonstrates Its Might With Final Victory Over Fort Collins

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

With its well-rounded lineup of Division 1 signees and prospects, IMG Academy's boys track and field team did what it was built to do in 2026. The Ascenders ascended to the top and can lay claim to being the best high school track team in the country. 

For a boarding school academy that recruits much the same way colleges do, and with athletes from more than 20 states and some countries abroad, it's obviously not the same as the public and private schools that comprise the rest of the high school landscape. 

But IMG competes at high school national championships and its best athletes are eligible for all-time high school lists. 

"We're one of one. We understand that," coach TJ Lawson said. 

In the final matchup of the boys tournament, IMG Academy beat a strong Fort Collins CO state champion 83-58. 

And for what it's worth, Fort Collins matched IMG Academy in the indivudal track events, 36-36. IMG, however, won two of three contested relays showed its power in the field events, with 1-2-3 sweeps in the shot put and pole vault. 

IMG's collection of standouts, including sprinter Rhoan Kaulder II, pole vaulter Jaxon Jerabek, thower Zane Biever, distance runner Matthew Dodds, multi standout Winston Schroder, 400/800 standout Pervis Bearden III and hurdler Christopher Lawler may not have grown up in the same neighborhood, but all together, they were part of the best high school track team of 2026. 

INTERVIEW WITH COACH TJ LAWSON

First-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Second-round summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional semifinal summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

Regional final summaries: BOYS | GIRLS

TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS