As we approach the 2016 FLYRA State Meet the hype is no longer on Tyrese Cooper as he is now the headlines of the high school scene. What you can count on is MGX to come back loaded without him though. Non-Club affiliate Lauderdale Lakes always puts together a powerhouse team and will be tough to beat. This year the field seems to be wide open on the individual side. Some of the big names from last year like Tyjuan Ware was the runner up to Cooper in the 200 and 400 and finished 5th in the 100, but is now at Blanche Ely High School. Zach Barry on the distance side would have been the top returner, but is not listed in the performance list.
Let's take a look at how the day will go on the boy's side.
High Jump
Alex Kilpatrick is the top returner and seems to have really taken a passion to the event. Last year he cleared 5-06 to place 4th. This year he enters the meet undefeated in the event with the top jump of 6-04, this would put him on the top of most high school teams. Xzavier Henderson finished 9th last year and I'm sure he is hungry to take the podium this year after just missing out.
Discus
Kobe Babin is your top returner from last year but hasn't been able to improve his throw of 113-02 very much. Luke Barrett is having a fantastic season and seems prime to be able to take the top spot. Luke has a personal best of 147-4 and he only keeps improving.
Triple Jump
Alex Kilpatrick is also the top returner in the triple jump, but he will be pushed by Markus Bynum. Bynum enters the meet with the top jump of 40-7. Kilpatrick just missed the medals last year finishing 9th in the event and you can bet he will be ready on Saturday.
3000m
The 3k is the longest event of the day at 7.5 laps of grueling pain. Paul McKenzie enters the meet with a top time of 9:52.53. Middle School cross country state champion Brady Gibson out of Naples also is entered into the event so I wouldn't count him out. Gibson doesn't race much, but when he does he seems to find the top spot. Top returners from last year are Benjamin Deangulo and Kaio Valle.
Pole Vault
Kobe Babin must have traded in his discus in and found a new passion in the pole vault. Babin was 7th at last year's meet with a throw of 113-5 and has thrown 116-5 in 2016. He enters the meet with the top vault of 12-0 which ranks US#2 for middle school boys. This will be very tough to beat and it will be interesting to see if he focuses solely on this event.
Shot Put
Last year's final had no 7th graders in the shot put. This year Jalen Rivers has distanced himself from the field. He has tallied four wins and hopes to get one more to cap of his middle school resume. Jalen has a top throw of 47-5.
Long Jump
Alex Shields is primed for the finals and enters the meet with the top jump of 21-5.5. Markus Bynum is the only other competitor to join him in the over 20ft club.
4x800m
Last year only two teams broke the 9 minute barrier and those two teams always show up with tough kids who are ready to push their limits. Belen Jesuit and South Dade both will be pushed by Emerald Coast. Jacob D'laeo and teammates enter the event with the top time of 9:06.85 and they seem in position for a State Title.
100 Hurdles
In the hurdles two names really stand out, Damon Rolle and Willie Williams. Both athletes push the envelope and seem to be ready to improve their placement from last year. They both took home medals last year as 7th graders and they are hungry for their first State Title.
100m
If Tyjuan Ware doesn't show up the field seems to be wide open here. In between his Long Jump attempts Alex Shields will make his way over to the start line, he enters the event with the top time of 11.27. We anticipate as the entries are still open until tomorrowthere might be some others who enter in that will give him as well as the others a push.
1500m
Jacob D'laeo might already have one State Title in his pocket as he enters into his second race of the day. D'laeo is undefeated in the 1500 this year and enters the race with the top seed of 4:25.67. Also undefeated against middle school competition in the 1500 and 1600 is the other top returner Kyle Skinner. Skinner enters the race with a personal best of 4:27.87 and is hungry for one more win.
12:40pm 4x100m
MGX improved their state record last year running 43.03 and should be back with a very talented team. William Dandy was the runner up last year with a time of 44.82. Both teams haven't entered in this year but we are sure they will before the deadline.
400m
Once again Ware appeared to be the clear favorite but we don't think he will be at the finals this year. The 400 is really light on entries so far and we expect it to be filled with more names tonight. Xzavier Henderson out of South Dade and Brian Brewton of MGX had an epic battle at the Orange Bowl running times of 51.77 and 52.03.
200 Hurdles
Same as the 100 Hurdles, Rolle and Williams will be very tough to beat. Rolle enters the event with the top time of 26.21.
800m
Solomon Weller stands out like a bright shirt in the 800. He comes off a weekend of placing 8th at the High School State Finals in a time pf 2:02.40, this appears to be his for the taking. Xzavier Henderson finished with a medal last year in a time of 2:11.03, he is not on the entry list yet though.
200m
If Cooper was not in this race Tyjuan Ware would have had run a new State Record as a 7th Grader in 22.28. If Ware is out it might be the Jaden Rudolph show. Rudolph enters the event with a respectable time of 23.41.
4x400
I think everyone can agree this is one of the most exciting races of the day. Not entered yet in this event is the two powerhouses of MGX and Lauderdale Lakes. Both race each other all year and seem to push the envelope and fast times are always expected when the gun goes off. Last year they went 1-2 with times right around 3:40, I'm not sure if the times will be that fast this year, but the race will still be exciting and a close finish.
