Boys 100 Meters
What can you say about Jeff Demps' 10.17? It is simply remarkable and probably won't be touched by any high schooler in the nation this year. He now sits just .01 off of Hoston McTear's state record set in the 1976 Olympic Trials. It is .09 from the national high school record of J-Mee Samuels set in 2005--putting Demps 5th all-time. It is the third best time in the world this year (now fourth after Xavier's time later in the day).
The forum pundits are now hot in debate about whether Demps will get Samuels' national record by season's end. After all, despite the fact that Florida's state meet is only a month away, relative to the rest of the nation (and with respect to the post-season) the Outdoor season is still very young. Demps will likely have a good shot at the record at Nike Outdoors and especially if he makes an attempt at the Olympic Trials this summer.
The wind-legal time puts Demps in a league of his own this year!
Girls 4x800
The next Florida state record we might see broken is in the Girls 4x800. The existing record, held by Orange Park HS, has stood for 25 years--9:03.52. The closest any team has come to that mark was Miami Northwestern at least year's 4A State Meet--9:05.90.
All but one of those girls are back from 2007 and while it's only early April they are knocking on the door of their own time from last year and easily within a post season peak of Orange Parks' record! Their time today at Florida Relays of 9:06.89 was all alone. The second place team, nationally-known Eleanor Roosevelt of Maryland--was over 15 second back in 9:22.80.
Girls 1600 Meters
This battle was highly anticipated with Footlocker Finalists Kayla Hale and Brittany Koziara going head to head, along with Amanda Perkins who has been on a roll lately. Most of the state's other top milers (minus notably Brasovan and Amaro) were in this one as well.
Koziara pulled out somewhat of an upset over Hale and Perkins. The pack stayed tight throughout the race with Koziara and Perkins going shoulder to shoulder for most of the race. They went through the first two laps in 1:10 and 2:28. Through the bell everyone was still all together, with almost 5 across at some points! 3:46 into the last lap. Amanda Perkins really started kicking it in, but Koziara refused to waiver and would not let her pass. As a consequence Perkins spent a lot of time on the outside, which possibly could have cost her the extra energy which cost her the race. Koziara started to get a gap at 200m to go and extended that lead all the way to her 4:54.18 finish. Kayla Hale picked her way up from behind the chase pack of Wallen and Skinner and on the home stretch caught even perkins. Hale finished in 4:48.22 and Perkins 4:58.77. Wallen and Skinner also ran PRs close behind around 5-flat. A host of others had great PRs as well so definitely check out these results.
Watch the Race
Boys 1600 Meters
This one got possibly more hype nationally as speedsters Joseph Franklin and Dylan Ferris (Ohio) both are sub 4:10 milers and 1:50ish 800 meter runners. Franklin, fresh off his big wins last week at FSU, was ready for another big showdown and did not disappoint.
Franklin lead the pack through the first lap in 60 seconds, Ferris hung tight just behind. The pack started to spread out over the next lap, and just before the 800 meter mark Ferris zoomed around Franklin to take over the lead, coming through two laps in 2:03. Ferris kept that lead and went into the bell lap with a short step on Franklin and a time of 3:06.5. On the back stretch with about 300 meters to go, Frankin was looking to pass and finally did so at the 200 meter mark, Connor Revord meanwhile was hanging some 15 meters behind the leaders keeping himself in contention. The last 200 meters, Franklin flat out made Ferris look like he was standing still. He blew the doors off and finished with a time of 4:09.13--over five seconds ahead of the 4:14.17 by Ferris. Ferris did manage to hold off a hard charging Revord, who finished in an imperssive 4:14.51.
Girls 100 Meters
The winds kicked up at the backs of the athletes during this race, fueling some brisk times. Sheila Paul of Boyd Anderson won the event out of the first heat with a time of 11.92 (+2.6). Tatianna Fisher, who recently was cleared as elligible by the FHSAA after moving back to Oak Ridge after a short stint at Dr. Phillips, took second in that heat and third overall with a 11.97. Out of the second heat (+3.0 wind) Amber White of Boone had the second fastest overall time in 11.94.
Girls 100 Hurdles
Brianna Rollins wins in a just wind-legal time of 14.42 (+2.0). The time is the third fastest time in Florida this year and the fastest legal time. Anjoure Teele, whose wind-aided Bob Hayes time puts her in second in the state, finished just a single tick back from Rollins!!! 14.43... talk about a photo finish! I'll try to get ahold of the FinishLynx shot from this one.
Watch the Race: Heat 1 | Heat 2
Boys 110 Hurdles
David Howard wins in 14.10 (+2.6), #2 in Florida.
Watch the Race: Heat 1 | Heat 2
Girls 4x100
Boyd Anderson 47.53, Oak Ridge 47.78, Vero BEach 47.91, Miami Northwestern 47.95
Boys 4x100
Boyd Anderson 41.81
Girls 4x200
The state rankings in this event were rewritten after this race, and Oak Ridge had a huge showing with a time of 1:38.05. That time (ahead of second place Boyd Anderson 1:40.32, now #2 in Florida) is the third best in the nation this year.
Boys 4x200
Boyd Anderson 1:26.32, Pace 1:27.55
Boys 4x800
Winter Springs 7:55.27
Miami Wasthington 8:02.29
Girls 4x1600
Eleanor Roosevelt (MD) easily secured the #1 position in the country with a time of 21:01.91 (average of just over 5:15 per runner). Jacksonville's Bishop Kenny was a good 30 second back (21:31.34), but that still put them as the fastest time in Florida this year and #2 in the nation so far in the semi-rarely contested event.
Boys 4x1600
Tampa Jesuit ran a 18:29.64, which is #1 in Florida and 12th in the nation. It just met the gold standard. Chapel Hill (NC) was second in 18:41.67.
Girls Distance Medley Relay
Eleanor Roosevelt 12:22.87
Bartram Trail 12:34.79
Boys Distance Medley Relay
Centerville 10:38.38
Bolles 10:51.78
Girls High Jump
Monica Carney 5-7
Boys High Jump
Ronnie Baldner 6-9.75
Frankie Hammond 6-8
Girls Pole Vault
Meagan Martin 11-0
Boys Pole Vault
Riley Egan 16-4.75
Andrew Lahaye 15-6.25
Girls Long Jump
Ariel Cavazos 18-8.5
Naquia Williams 18-6.5
Boys Long Jump
Lerentee McCray 23-2
Tilden Matthews 22-11
Girls Triple Jump
Jordan Coleman 39-1.75 - #1 in Florida, US #3
Tomika Story 38-6.75
Boys Triple Jump
Willie Downs 48-0
Phillip Young 46-1.5
Girls Discus
Tachira Charles 121-10
Boys Discus
Chris Lickfield 165-7
Jamie Van Pelt 161-8
Girls Shot Put
Wiamena Hopkins 41-5.25
Boys Shot Put
Jonnell Thomas 56-9.5
Chris Lickfield 53-3
Maurice Coon 53-1.5