​The Sarasota Herald-Tribune celebrated the top performers from Manatee and Sarasota counties at The High School Sports Awards on May 26, 2026, honoring the best athletes, teams, and coaches of the season. Our Herald-Tribune sports staff compiled All-Area Teams that recognize the premier competitors and mentors across all high school sports for the 2025-2026 year. Among the standout selections, Venice High School’s Atarah Robinson emerged as the 2026 Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year. Robinson was singled out as our Girls Athlete of the Year from a field of 13 exceptional female athletes who were contending for this honor. Her achievements during the season were remarkable: she claimed the state title in the 1600 meters with a time of 4:46.50, finishing two seconds ahead of the runner-up at the Class 4A Track & Field State Championships. Not only did this mark the fastest 1600-meter time in the state that season, but she also secured a second-place finish in the 800 meters at the state meet. Additionally, she posted the state’s fastest mile time, underscoring her range and dominance in middle- and long-distance events.
Now we invite your voice to be heard. Do you think Atarah Robinson is the rightful choice for Girls Athlete of the Year, or would you prefer another athlete to receive the honor? Cast your vote in our fans’ poll to select the Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Year. Voting will remain open through Friday, July 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. We will reveal the winner on the Herald-Tribune Sports Instagram account, at heraldtribunesports. To participate, CLICK HERE or vote in the poll below.
Editor’s note: We reserve the right to disqualify a candidate or declare a vote “no contest” if evidence of tampering—such as bots or paid voting—is detected. Please uphold the integrity of the voting process just as these athletes uphold the integrity of the game. This article originally appeared on the Sarasota Herald-Tribune as “Reader’s choice: Vote for Herald-Tribune Girls Athlete of the Year” for SEO purposes.