If the state meet were held tomorrow, which athletes would advance from each regional to the state meet. Today, we look at class 3A. The top four in each region move on, but we went eight deep, for those who might be on the bubble. Note: This is just a prediction based on the top returning times of each athlete and does not take into account incoming freshman and transfers. Years are as of 2013 season.
Region By Region: Top Returners
3A Region 1
Bartram Trail sophomore Kit Lorefski comes into the 3A Region 1 championship with the fastest time in the 200, 24.69 (only two runners have broken 25 seconds) and the second fastest time in the 100 meter dash. FSU signee Kayla Thomas leads a field of 800 meter runners, while Emma Rudman and Karen Xiang look to continue their epic cross country battles on the track in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Nicole Greene the state leader in the high jump will look to get even closer to the six foot mark.
Kendal Williams leads the sprint field in 3A Region 1. Williams looks to take home more hardware and continue his legacy as one of the best Florida sprinters. In the distance events, the Niceville duo of Nick Morken and Thomas Howell will try to repeat as regional championships on their way to back to back 1600 and 3200 meter titles respectively. 3A Cross Country Finals champion Sukhi Khosla might have something to say about that.
3A Region 2
The top eight sprinters in the 100 all have times under 12.6 and are very close in range. Quarter miler Hallie Grimes comes in with one of the fastest times of the state of 55.91. Emily Kerns, Elizabeth Mulford, and Adair Lydon all had strong cross country seasons and should be in the hunt for a 3A Region 2 championship in the distance events.
With Antonio James ineligible for the 2014 season, that paves the wave for a new sprint king in 3A Region 2. Sebring's Brian Dixon is hoping to improve on a stellar junior season. Gainesville's Kenric Young is looking to step up in place of his teammate and dominate both the 200 and 400 meter dash. The Land O'Lakes trio of Tyler Stahl, Travis Nichols, and Jake Poor should be strong in the distance events while Bryce Foreman of Kathleen is the favorite in both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles. Joshua Wilson and Marion Brown could make it a long jump triple jump sweep for Liberty, while Bobby Harris closes in on seven feet in the high jump.
With Antonio James ineligible for the 2014 season, that paves the wave for a new sprint king in 3A Region 2. Sebring's Brian Dixon is hoping to improve on a stellar junior season. Gainesville's Kenric Young is looking to step up in place of his teammate and dominate both the 200 and 400 meter dash. The Land O'Lakes trio of Tyler Stahl, Travis Nichols, and Jake Poor should be strong in the distance events while Bryce Foreman of Kathleen is the favorite in both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles. Joshua Wilson and Marion Brown could make it a long jump triple jump sweep for Liberty, while Bobby Harris closes in on seven feet in the high jump.
3A Region 3
Victoria Guerra returns for her junior year and the Naples standout is hoping to pick up another 3A Region 3 Championship. 3A Cross Country champion Emily Edwards is the top returner in the 800,1600, and 3200 not just in the region but in all of 3A. Can this be the road to another 1600 meter state championship and possibly more? Jennifer Kistemaker is one of the top pole vaulters in the state and is the favorite to win the regional crown in that event.
On the guys side, three have gone under 11 seconds for 100 meters and under 22 seconds for the 200. The distance events will be hotly contested with three runners at or around 1:56 in the 800 and seven guys under 4:30 for 1600 meters! Deiondre Porter moves into a new regional and will be one of the favorites in the 100, 110m hurdles, and long jump. Pole vaulter Carson Waters has cleared 15 feet in his career and should add another regional title to his collection.
3A Region 4
Miami Northwestern junior Lakayla Harris and Coconut Creek senior Shaquirra James have a lot to be thankful for in 2014. A majority of Boyd Anderson has transferred to Northeast (Oakland Park) paving the way for them to win a 3A Region 4 Championship. Homestead Destiny Johnson looks strong in the mid distance events. Kimani Austin-Reese, a senior at Miami Central is one of the top hurdlers in the state and will not have to compete against former Boyd Anderson athlete and LSU signee Daeshon Gordon, who transferred for her senior year. UF signees Lloydricia Cameron and Jontavia Dykes should domiante the throwing events.
A loaded senior class headlines the fastest race, the 100 meter dash. Palm Beach Heritage's Terrence Spivey comes in with the fastest time of 10.62 in 3A Region 4. In the quarter teammates Jeffery Green, a Clemson signee, and Cordell Lamb will battle it out. They are the only two who have gone under 49 seconds. 3A Cross Country Finals team champions Belen Jesuit will send a slew of runners in the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. Jonathan Hayden of Palm Beach Lakes looks to continue his school's rich tradition in both the 110 and 300 meter hurdles.