WATCH LIVE: 2017 FLYRA Middle School State Championship
The 2017 FLYRA Middle School State Championship showcases the best up and coming stars in our sport. Over 1,000 athletes will make the trip to Bradenton's IMG Academy. We take a look at each event and which individuals have the best chances to win.
Girls Sprints
When you talk about the field for the girls sprints all eyes will be on Abraham Lincoln Middle Schooler Tamari Davis who will be competing in her final FLYRA Middle School State Championship. In the 100m dash, Davis is the two-time defending state champion and has the fastest all conditions time of 11.91 (3.0m/s) in meet history. The only thing holding her back from the meet record is mother nature. The phenom was third at the Adidas Dream 100 last year and has already clocked a blazing time of 11.55, one of the fastest ever for a 14 year old, and the 8th fastest in the U.S. by a girl in high school or younger. Third place finisher Saniyah Tillman is also in the field along with American Heritage's Mryka Cadet.
The 200 should be no contest as Davis has run wind legal 23.38. That's the fastest EVER in the world for a 14 year old girl. Tillman was third in that event last year as well.
Girls Distance
The first distance event of the day is the girls 3,000m and it features Ani Veltcheva of Abraham Lincoln Middle School in Gainesville as well. Veltcheva has set age group world records in a variety of distance including her most recent road 5k victory. She was third in last year's race behind Valerie Lastra and Ali Del Re with a time of 10:19.17. If she's healthy she will be tough to handle. Elyse Pleune of the Hillsborough Harriers was fifth. She will have teammate Jackie Abanses up their to work with as well. Montverde Academy's duo of Kendyl Cardwell and Lily Henne should finish in the top five as well.