The Naples Fitness Challenge returned to the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club for its 36th annual installment with over 400 athletes competing Sunday morning.

Sunday’s event featured three different fitness challenges, including the reverse sprint triathlon, relay team divisions and a new challenge in the reverse sprint duathlon.

Queens University graduate student and Naples resident Dan O’Dell secured a second consecutive first-place finish in the triathlon.

“I'm just really happy to be out here,” O’Dell said. “I was sick all my senior year of college for cross country and track, so I was just super happy the weather cooperated. Just a nice morning, great people out here, just happy to be a part of this.”

The First Baptist Academy alum finished this year’s triathlon with a time of 47:54.4, nearly three minutes ahead of the second-place finisher. O’Dell who has competed in the event since he was an eighth grader hopes to return next year to defend his crown.

“It's just a fun event to be a part of,” O’Dell said. “If it’s back next year, I’ll be here for sure.”

Naples resident Brooke Kelley was the first female competitor to cross the finish line, finishing with a time of 57:23.7.

“I moved down here right before COVID hit actually, so I've been really excited to compete in this event for the past couple of years,” Kelley said. “It's great that it's back and everyone was so positive on the course.”

Kelley, a former collegiate swimmer at the University of Rhode Island, began training for triathlons in the off-season to stay in shape will now continue to train for triathlons full-time.

“My favorite part was the swim because I'm a swimmer,” Kelley added. “It was crazy for me to come into the water after riding the bike and the run. My legs have never felt that way before, so it was very challenging, but it was fun.”

Erik Mogelvang of Naples took home first place in the men’s duathlon with a time of 54:50.2, while Glenn Watkins finished atop of the women’s ranks finishing in just under the hour mark with a time of 59:35.5.

“The family and the atmosphere and being able to do this on the beach, on the golf course and on Gulfshore Boulevard is great,” Watkins said.

Triathlon

Men’s Top 5

1. Dan O’Dell, Naples FL, 47:54.4; 2. Aubrey Aldy, Naples FL, 50:44.1; 3. Anthony Aguilera, Naples FL, 52:26.0; 4. Ross Lenehan, Cape Coral FL, 53:25.4; 5. Anthony Renda, Naples FL, 54:58.3

Women’s Top 5

1. Brooke Kelley, Naples FL, 57:23.7; 2. Mallory Reinoso, Naples FL, 59:53.6, 3. Latifah Lowery, Naples FL, 1:00:34.3; 4. Lori Robbins, Fort Myers FL, 1:00:57.8; 5. Cailin Weidenmiller, Naples FL, 1:01:39.0

Photo: Anthony Richardson; Credit: Alex Shepherd

The hype continues to build around what will be Anthony Richardson's debut season as the Florida Gators' unquestioned starting quarterback.

Oddsmakers already have Richardson at an enticing spot on the Heisman Trophy watch list and analysts are already projecting that Richardson will leave college early and become a first round NFL Draft pick a year from now.

Consider Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner in on the excitement that surrounds Richardson as he prepares to lead new head coach Billy Napier's offense in 2022. Renner views Richardson as the fifth-best quarterback prospect among those who will be eligible for the 2023 NFL Draft.

5. ANTHONY RICHARDSON, FLORIDA (RS SOPHOMORE | 6-4, 237 POUNDS)

The fifth spot on this list was hotly contested, with the likes of Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke, BYU’s Jaren Hall, South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler, Boston College’s Phil Jurkovec and North Carolina State’s Devin Leary all capable of climbing draft boards next season. Ultimately, Richardson’s all-around physical skill set trumps all of them. He stands out physically at the collegiate level in the way top recruits do at the high school level.

Known for his pre-game backflips, Richardson brings his high-flying circus act to the real games, as well.

He’s unfairly gifted physically with not only his arms but also his legs. He can outrun defensive backs in the open field, as well as make defenders miss in tight quarters — all at 6-foot-4 and 237 pounds.

The key number for Richardson at the moment is 198. That’s the number of dropbacks he’s taken in his two seasons on campus for the Gators. He's not yet a polished passer. Richardson is a talent in need of a good deal of seasoning and is no safe bet to even declare after this fall.

Richardson certainly has a lot to prove before he can seriously consider an NFL future, but as has been well noted, the physical intangibles that he presents are everything pro teams look for in the modern quarterback and some. He has the power in his arm to make deep throws and connect on outside "pro" throws, as well as the mobility and physicality to evade pressure and make big plays with his feet.

In 12 appearances with one start in two seasons, Richardson has posted a 59.1 completion percentage, 556 passing yards, seven touchdowns, six interceptions, 58 rushing attempts, 462 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

In UF's spring game this past April, Richardson completed 18-of-24 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns, adding 22 yards and a score on the ground.

You can find the rest of Renner's top five below.

1. Bryce Young, Alabama

2. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State

3. Tanner McKee, Stanford

4. Will Levis, Kentucky

Stay tuned to AllGators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @SI_AllGators on Twitter and Florida Gators on Sports Illustrated on Facebook.

Anthony Solometo, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ second-highest ranked pitching prospect currently performing in the minor leagues, made his professional debut last week for Bradenton in the Class A Florida State League.

Solometo, who was drafted in the second round of last year’s amateur draft out of Pennsauken, N.J., started Friday for the Marauders and worked the first three innings against the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

The 6’5”, 220-pound left-hander, rated as the Bucs’ No. 8 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, allowed a double, two singles and two runs – neither of which was earned – while walking two and striking out three. Solometo threw 60 pitches, 36 of which went for strikes, and faced 14 batters. An error led to a long first inning that required 32 pitches.

The 19-year-old Solometo has a somewhat unusual sidearm delivery, and that might have been a factor in Fort Myers stealing four bases off him on the night.

a changeup from Anthony Solometo's tonight.83.1 mph38" of vertical break15" of horizonal break pic.twitter.com/dCKd20Vo9V

— O'ki (@27imokemp) May 28, 2022

Regardless of the outcome, it was encouraging to see Solometo finally see game action, and to do it in a full-season league rather than the rookie Florida Complex League was icing on the cake.

Speaking of the Complex League, unlike last season, the Pirates will field just one team in the lowest minor league level. League play gets under way June 6, and as of Tuesday, there was no sign of any rosters available online. But it would be nice to see a couple of other players taken in last year’s draft – most notably two-way standout Bubba Chandler (No. 9) and outfielder Lonnie White Jr. (No. 15) see some action, as neither has appeared in an official game this season.

At last look, White was assigned to Bradenton but he also was on the injured list. Perhaps some roster movement will occur with the start of the Complex League.

In the meantime, let’s take a quick look at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Top 30 prospects currently performing at the two lower full-season leagues.

No. 7 Endy Rodriguez is hitting .268 with a .342 on-base percentage of an .814 OPS at High-A Greensboro. Rodriguez has six home runs and 20 RBIs to go with a 27.2 strikeout percentage and a 7.6 percent walk rate.

No. 17 Maikol Escotto, also playing at Greensboro at 19 years of age – three years younger than Rodriguez – is scuffling with a .173 batting average, a .228 on-base percentage and a .590 OPS. In his past 15 days covering 30 at-bats, Escotto has just two hits. In 137 plate appearances on the season, Escotto has struck out 36.6 percent of the time and walked just 5.1 percent. He has hit six home runs and driven in 19.

Hudson Head, also playing at Greensboro, has also been battling the strikeout bug, as he has whiffed 37.1 percent of the time in 151 plate appearances. The Pirates’ No. 20 prospect has a 9.9% walk rate to go with a .246 batting average, a .364 on-base percentage and a .737 OPS. He’s had a tough time lately, batting just .188 with a .552 OPS over his last two weeks.

Rodolfo Nolasco, at No. 24, is hitting just .210 with a .600 OPS in 158 plate appearances for Bradenton. Nolasco has two home runs and 17 RBIs to go with a 9.5 percent walk rate and a 31.6 percent strikeout rate.

On the pitching side, No. 12 Jared Jones showed his strikeout stuff in a big way Saturday against Asheville for High-A Greensboro, but ended up getting tagged with the loss.

The 20-year-old right-hander, who was the Pirates’ second-round pick in the 2020 draft, fanned 10 in five innings to raise his strikeout total on the season to 54 in 38 2/3 innings. That equates to a 12.6 K-per-9 mark.

Jones did give up six hits and a walk along with one run, which was earned. He threw 84 pitches, 55 of which went for strikes.

Of the unranked prospects, Brenden Dixon continues to lead Bradenton in the hitting department with a .792 OPS. Dixon, primarily a second baseman, has four homers and 17 RBIs. The top unranked hitter at Greensboro is Yoyner Fajardo, who is at .329/.832 in 73 plate appearances over 19 games. The 23-year-old Fajardo is primarily a second baseman but also has seen playing time in right field this season.

More From Bucs Dugout

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Anthony Carrie looked into the mirror back in seventh grade, he saw an aspiring young boy on a path to mediocrity.

Seeking a greater calling, Carrie, who also ran track at the time, sought advice to help rewrite his future in hopes of one day becoming a football star. His uncle, Shawn Burney, became his trainer and took him under his wing in what began a new chapter in Carrie’s life.

Long before thinking about what school he might commit to, Carrie committed to a complete lifestyle change.

As a receiver, routes and reps defined his morning, noon and night. There was a complete overhaul in his dietary intake. Temptation gave way to dedication as he cut out candy, ice cream and sugary foods. He replaced the sweets with rice, broccoli, chicken and a strict smoothie and meal prep regimen.

“It’s been a blessing from the man above,” Carrie told cleveland.com “I’m extremely blessed to be in this position. But a lot of sacrifices came with this, I have been grinding for this moment since I can remember when I fell in love with the game. It’s definitely not easy to do this, and right now I’m just enjoying the fruits of my labor while still continuing to get better every single day.”

Nowadays, when Carrie looks in the mirror, he sees a determined young man with a bright future.

The 6-foot, 185-pound running back from Carrollwood Day School in Tampa, Florida, holds 40 offers heading into his junior season. He provided plenty of proof with a sophomore season that featured 20 touchdowns and 1,032 yards.

He comes in as a four-star prospect, the No. 4 RB and the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2024 class, according to the 247sports.com composite.

One look at the film and you’ll see a slash-and-cut ability that stands out. Carrie can be spread all over the field and has no problem weaving in and around traffic or turning on the afterburners. Whether its running through, over or around the opposition, he’s sharpened his craft in all aspects.

Ohio State offered him a scholarship in February, and instantly became one of Carrie’s top schools.

“They are definitely a top school for me just because of the history and the past things that they have done at the running back position,” Carrie said. “Ohio State is just a big school overall.”

Carrie rocked Ezekiel Elliott’s famous crop-top shirt back in pee wee football, and he touts OSU’s legacy of star-studded backs as one of the many reasons he can see himself in Scarlet and Gray.

Carrie and OSU running backs coach Tony Alford speak at least once a week. Carrie says their connection is one of his strongest on the recruiting trail, along with Oregon running backs coach Carlos Locklyn and Texas running backs coach Tashard Choice.

“The vibe is great,” Carrie said of Alford. “I’m still trying to get to know him, but I love the guy I’m being presented to now. We get on the phone and we talk about things that really matter, not just about football 24/7. He’s a great guy, I love talking to him.”

That focus on life’s bigger things is what has drawn Carrie closer to Alford.

“His ability to step away from ball,” Carrie said on what makes Alford stand out. “Some coaches are all ball. He has that natural ability to step away for a second and be dad, and be big brother, you know?”

Alford and Carrie are tying to find a date for a summer visit, but even if the two sides aren’t able meet this summer, Carrie said he will find a way to Columbus at some point.

“I’ll definitely get out there before I try and make a decision,” Carrie said.

He has yet to speak with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day but looks forward to that opportunity.

“Just pick his brain and I want to know how they are going to use me and how they are going to allow me to be versatile on the field,” Carrie said. “I would just pick his brain about how much he cares about his players, his ability to be a mentor.”

Ohio State has also offered the class’ top-ranked back, Jerrick Gibson, and No. 2 back Stacy Gage - both from Florida prep powerhouse IMG Academy.

Carrie says Ohio State is one of the schools that is recruiting him the hardest, a group that includes Texas, Stanford, Georgia, USC, Notre Dame, Oregon and Tennessee.

He has taken trips to Georgia Tech, Stanford, Georgia and Central Florida this year and has visits scheduled with USC and Michigan State this summer. He also has offers from Alabama, Penn State and Miami.

His talents stretch far beyond a football field. He runs his own YouTube channel, Young Athletes TV, and currently holds a 4.27 GPA. His intelligence and awareness are two of his strengths, and he is very aware of the vastly changing landscape of college football with Name, Image and Likeness allowing athletes to land endorsments.

In fact, Carrie is determined to earn his fifth star as a recruit, not because of the attention, but for the sole purpose of collecting on all his hard work over the years through endorsements.

He will have a great opportunity to do that as he has accepted an invitation to compete in the Rivals Underclassmen Challenge In Atlanta on June 17. The event gathers together the nation’s top 100 high school players to compete for awards and national recognition. He’ll head there on a mission.

“I want my fifth star, and I’m going to get it,” Carrie said.

He believes a fifth star will open us his life to greater NIL opportunities, an opportunity that is long overdue for athletes, in his eyes.

“Those guys that ball played at college and didn’t ball out, if they get hurt, now they don’t go to the league and they are walking away from college with nothing but a degree,” Carrie said. “Don’t get me wrong, a degree is an amazing thing. But you make the school millions of dollars and then walk away with nothing, that’s not fair to the player whatsoever.”

He plans on trimming his list on Sept. 1.

Get the latest Ohio State Buckeyes merchandise: Here’s where you can order Ohio State football gear online, including jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and much more.

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Photo: Anthony Richardson; Credit: Alex Shepherd

Now that the 2022 NFL Draft has come and gone, ESPN's Todd McShay has published his first way-too-early mock draft for next year's 2023 NFL Draft, which includes Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson.

This year, Florida sent three players to the pros via the 2022 NFL Draft, including first-round selection (pick No. 23 overall) cornerback Kaiir Elam, a third-round selection (pick No. 95) in defensive lineman Zachary Carter and a fourth-round selection (pick No. 107) in running back Dameon Pierce.

Several other players were also signed to NFL rosters in undrafted free agency shortly following the draft. Though it was a "down" year for Florida in terms of sending players to the NFL, next year's class appears to be much deeper.

Richardson, 6-foot-4, 237 pounds is entering his redshirt sophomore season at Florida and is expected to be the team's next starting QB, taking over for Emory Jones who recently transferred to Arizona State after one year as the team's starter.

McShay projects Richarson to be selected within the top 10 next year, pick No. 6 to the Carolina Panthers, who spent a third-round pick this year on former Ole Miss QB Matt Corral. The team also rosters former first-round pick QB Sam Darnold, but he isn't expected to be on the roster st this time next year.

Here is what McShay had to say about the selection:

The Panthers, however, should start scouting the 2023 signal-callers. I'm not so sure they view Matt Corral as a long-term option, and Sam Darnold will be off the books after this season. Plus, Carolina could have a new regime in place, especially if it's picking this early again. Now, Richardson is a huge projection -- the 6-foot-4, 236-pound passer played in just eight games and started once last year -- and has some turnover issues. But he's extremely talented and poised for a breakout season in his first as a full-time starter.

Enter Richardson, who is one of the most physically dominant QBs in the SEC and all of college football, built similarly to former Panthers QB Cam Newton, who spent time at Florida before eventually making his way to Auburn and subsequently becoming the No. 1 overall selection by Carolina in 2011.

Last season, Richardson showed off some of the traits one would want to see in a dominant player at the position, especially on the ground. In seven games, Richardson posted 529 passing yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions, also able to rack up 401 yards on just 51 attempts on the ground along with three TDs.

This, obviously, is a pure projection from McShay as Richardson hasn't shown enough on film for teams to make that selection today. Richardson was also the third QB selection in McShay's mock, behind Alabama QB Bryce Young (No. 2 overall) and Ohio State QB CJ Stroud (No. 1 overall).

But, with what Richardson has shown over the years on the practice field and at moments in games, it wouldn't be unreasonable to see him put on a show this season in Gainesville, and immediately boost his draft stock.

After this season, Richardson would still have two more years of eligibility, but if he does what the is capable of, especially given the talent level on offense, it wouldn't be surprising to see him declare early, making himself a lot of money in the process.

Stay tuned to AllGators for continuous coverage of Florida Gators football, basketball and recruiting. Follow along on social media at @SI_AllGators on Twitter and Florida Gators on Sports Illustrated on Facebook.