Hillsborough County accounted for numerous points in several events at the 2A, 3A, and 4A State Championship Meets, but the 800m distance was surely the basis of its rhythm. This county was home to three of the four individual State Champions in the open 800m -- Darrin Gibson (2A), Sean Obinwa (3A), and John Mitchell (4A). Also, for the first time in Hillsborough county history, three relay teams managed to win titles with sub-7:50 efforts: Tampa Jesuit (2A), Wharton (3A), and Sickles (4A).
According to Bill Ward of the Tampa Tribune, hints at success in the 800m distance were clearly evident as of mid-March. “Everyone got caught up in the half-mile fever,” Ward said. “It was a special type of atmosphere this season that all started with that fast time trial at Jesuit High School.”
Robinson Senior Darrin Gibson placed 2nd in that early season race with his then-PR of 1:53.10. He lowered his time once again at the UT Distance Carnival, blazing to 1:52.60, which is currently the fastest time in Florida and a US #12. After rarely running slower than 1:55 throughout the 2009 season, it was clear that Gibson would be a major factor as May quickly approached. Thus, Gibson won his first 2A State Championship with his speedy 1:53.38 on May 2nd.
The following weekend, first-year track star Sean Obinwa was recognized as Flotrack’s “Kick of the Week,” moving from 6th to 1st in the last 150m. The Wharton Senior gapped 2nd place by over a second: 1:53.56 to 1:54.70. In 4A, Durant Senior John Mitchell failed to qualify in the 1600m, even though he was the defending State Champion. After switching his focus to his Regional crown (the 800m), he still managed to take home his second individual State Title with a PR of 1:52.93 on May 9th.
In addition, despite scorching 95-degree weather in Winter Park, Florida over this two-weekend period, three Hillsborough County teams managed to break 7:50 for the 4x800m relay. At 1:45pm on May 2nd, Tampa Jesuit rallied solo to a 7:47.87 finish – a new school record and a 9 second improvement from the 2008 brigade. Mike McEnany (1:57), Logan Trimble (1:57), Jordan Schilit (1:58), and Connor Revord (1:55) dominated the 2A scene with ease, winning by about 10 seconds. The next quartet to take gold was Wharton High School, who dominated the field by 6 seconds. Individual State Champion Sean Obinwa teamed up with John Grellner, Gilbert Rodriguez, and Nick Swain for their 2nd fastest time of the season (7:49.24).
But most surprisingly was the come-from-behind victory of Sickles High School. Marc Dejute ran the Gryphons’ opening leg, holding on to 4th place with his PR 2:00 split. Next up was Dan Wehunt, who brought his team into even closer contention for the relay title with his 1:55 split. However, the difference maker for the Gryphons surely was Julian Gines. The junior recorded a new PR clipping of 1:57, beating his open PR by 4 seconds; he managed to move his team into the lead after his excellent leg. Then, Derek Wehunt received the baton with about a 1 second lead ahead of Flagler’s anchor – C.J. Lockhart. Wehunt realized he had company shortly thereafter, so he decided to surge after finishing his first lap. “I wanted to try and spread out the race at the 400m mark, but when I heard him coming during the last 200m I knew I would have to find another gear,” Derek Wehunt said. By the 650m mark, Lockhart had erased Wehunt’s 20m lead and came down the straightaway dead even with the Sickles senior. Derek Wehunt (1:54 split) found that next gear indeed, edging out the FPC brigade by less than half a second at the line. Not even the “Cool Runnings” of Flagler’s Jamaican Bobsled uniforms could take the heat away from Sickles’ blistering 7:46.87 team record.
Alongside the kings of this county, other individuals placed highly in the 800m as well. Connor Revord (2nd, 2A) and Dan Wehunt (3rd, 4A) both scored in the 800, even after scoring in the 1600m beforehand. Also, sophomore sensation Jake Kehlenbeck of Freedom High School placed 8th in 3A with a PR of 1:57.07. He was closely followed by Jermaine Chin of Blake High School, who just missed scoring by a half-second. Darrin Gibson also helped his Robinson squad to a 5th place relay finish in the 4x8 with his 1:51 anchoring split.
Furthermore, Hillsborough County provided even deeper talent in the 800 meters, but some runners failed to reach their PRs during qualifying races; thus, didn’t even get the opportunity to show of their speed at the FHSAA Finals in the open 800m. Those individuals included Tampa Jesuit’s Mike McEnany (1:55.40) and Logan Trimble (1:57.94); Wharton’s John Grellner (1:56.22), Nicolas Swain (1:57.98), and Christopher Watson (1:59.80); Durant’s Jordan Mitchell (1:58.68), and Freedom’s Chad Gruber (1:59.40).
Others switched their focus to different events that seemed more promising for point contributions. For example, Derek Wehunt ran a PR of 1:52.90 in his first and only open 800m race of the season, still ranking 14th in the USA as of mid-May. The Sickles Senior wanted to concentrate on the 3200m (9:06.78 PR) and 1600m (4:11.14), where he led the nation in both events at one point during the 2009 outdoor season. Jordan Schilit (1:59.50 PR) ran in the 4x8, but decided to run the 1600m and 3200m at the State Championship instead.