Fast times and stacked fields have been the norm on the girls side the last few years at the State Finals. 7th grade sensation Tamari Davis looks to add a few more State Titles to her name, the rivalries between South Dade Express, Lauderdale Lakes, Elite Athletics of South Florida and others will be in full force as the teams collide in several events together for what will be an eventful Saturday at IMG. Central Florida Gliders look ready to claim a State Title on the Club side after finishing in 3rd place last year.
Let's take a look at how the day will go on the girl's side.
3000m
Last year Rebecca Clark ran away with this race in a state record time of 10:07.32, this year seems to be up for grabs. Valeria Lastra from Miami Elite Track Club finished fourth last year and should make a quality go at Clark's best. Other top times include 10:13 from Alexandra Del Re and 10:38 from Maya Belezany.
Long Jump
Newcomers to the State Finals in the Long Jump are Sherri-Ann Norton and Eddiyah Frye, both have respectable jumps of 17-03 and 17-02, we expect them to lead the way.
Shot Put
Returning to the State Finals with one thing in mind is Jhordyn Stallworth, she finished 18th last year. It looks like she has focused over the last year as she enters Saturday with the top throw of 40-02. Daphne Ebenhack finished with a medal last year in 6th Place and will give her a push as she is close behind with a personal best of 39-06.
Pole Vault
Laine Roberts returns to the State Finals looking to improve her 7th place finish just one year ago. Roberts and newcomer Kai Eisenhardt enter Saturday with the top vault of 10 feet.
High Jump
Defending State Champ Zatoria Thompson is your State Record holder in the High Jump with her jump last year at 5-05, she has a new personal best of 5-06 and will be pushed by Arielle Ho and Holly Cassels who have personal bests of 5-04.
Triple Jump
Newcomers Jadae Joseph and Natiya James look to be poised for their first State Title, both have jumps of over 33 feet and will be tough to beat.
Discus
Jhordyn Stallworth has a great shot at not only taking home the State Title, but also breaking the State Record of 120-06. Stallworth enters the meet with a personal best throw of 127-6. She finished in 16th place last year and really has made tremendous improvements.
4x800m
Last year Lauderdale Lakes dominated this event with a State Record time of 9:49.79, they may not have ran that fast this year, but I wouldn't count them out. Florida High and Central Florida Gliders also look poised to take home the title, but watch out for Miami Elite with Varela and Lastra. This will be a great battle and we look forward to it!
100 Hurdles
Abbey Pena returns to the hurdles hoping to improve her place of 18th last year. Pena and Nikia Smith enter with the top times of 15.13 and 15.17. This will be a very tight race and it will come down to who doesn't make the first mistake.
100m
Only one name comes to mind here, Tamari Davis. Your 2015 State Champion enters Saturday with a jaw dropping personal best of 11.81, she is only in 7th grade. It should be an exciting race for 2nd.
1500m
Another State Record could be broken in the 1500 as there are 3 girls within 1.8 seconds of each other. Rogers ran 4:43.65 in 2011. Cross Country State Champion Ashley Klingenberg is seeded 3rd with a time of 4:47.57, she will be pushed by Isabella Pawloski who enters the race with the top time of 4:45.75. Also look out for Alexandra Del Re and Lastra in this race. Both have broke 11 minutes. Del re is a pound it, go out hard, and push the pace kind of runner, while Lastra is more of a slow starter who will get you with that speed at the end.
4x100m
South Dade Express, Lauderdale Lakes and Elite Athletics of South Florida will battle down to the line for this State Title. I'm not sure what they are feeding these girls but the level that they are running at is amazing.
400m
This should be the race of the day and the field is so deep it's crazy. 5 girls under 56.5 and they are led by Kaisa Cooper who has a personal best of under 56 seconds and she is the favorite. Don't count out Ken'Naria Gadson, Knyah Isaac, Aaliayh Butler or Jermecia Brown. If you are wanting to take a lunch around 1pm, make sure to watch this race first!
200 Hurdles
Less than 29 seconds should take the win here, Natiya James and Nikia Smith both look like the favorites to be up front. A lot can happen in less than 30 seconds here, getting over the hurdles and finishing will make the difference here.
800m
The girls 800m run will be loaded as Mater Academy Charter 7th grader Jinah Mickens-Malik comes in fresh off a 3A state championship at the same IMG Academy track one week ago and owns a personal best of 2:12.89. Natalie Varela who was the 2A runner-up in both the 1,600, and 3200 will also move down in distance to focus on the two lapper, owning a PR of 2:16. Kasia Cooper who attends Richmond Heights Middle School and will compete for South Dade Express has 56 second 400m speed is in field. Others to watch include Jessica Edwards who also competed at the state meet and Ashley Klingenberg. The two have times of 2:17 and 2:18 as personal best.
200m
Tamari Davis was 2nd in the 200 last year as a sixth grader and you can bet she will be ready for gold come Saturday. Along with the State Title her eyes will be set on a new State Record which is 24.38. The battle for second has 5-6 girls all very close and it should be an exciting race!
4x400
This should be an exciting one. South Dade Express, Florida High and Elite Athletics of South Florida are all within 1 second of each other. With the competition as tight as it is we might even see a sub 4 performance from any one of the 3 teams!