There aren't many points that distance and sprinting aficionados seem to agree on.
One of the few exceptions, the 400 meter race is one of the most exciting events to watch
at a high school meet. It is just long enough to have the strategy and drama of a distance race;
it is short enough to target those fast-twitch muscles and that "I bet I can beat you to the third
street light" mentality of our youth that sprinters seem to love. It is a hard race, and four young men
from our state do it particularly well.
Sure this state is teeming with talent, but as far as elite boys 400 meter runners are concerned, it doesn't get much better than the 4A's big four! Xavier Carter, Derrick Baker, Glen Sharpe, and Jamaal Torrance all return after last year for another romp climaxing at the 4A State Finals in May.
The most well-known of the bunch is Xavier "Pee Wee" Carter, who was last year's 4A champ (beating out the other three), all juniors at the time, in his freshman season. It is well expected that his sophomore season at Palm Bay High School will be his coming out party toward national prominence.
While Carter may be young, he is definitely not new to the sport or the event. He has been competing in meets seemingly all his life. His dad, Kenneth, has been training him and taking Xavier to AAU and USATF youth meets for years.
Carter may be the favorite and a national contender, but that does not mean he won't have to watch his back in his own state. Derrick Baker of Miami Northwestern was the closest to knocking off the X-man, coming within .16 seconds of him at the state finals. He returns this year and will surely be kept on his toes by Glen Sharpe of Carol City who was just .15 back from Baker at state, finishing in 47.26. Both being from the Greater Miami area, the two will face off in meet after meet this season; by the iron sharpens iron theory, come May they will be tough to beat.
And way back in fourth place last year at state was Jamaal Torrance of Orlando Evans. Torrance crossed the line in 48.18 at the state meet, .92 behind Sharpe-an eternity in a 400 meter race. Don't think for a second though that Torrance isn't in the same league as those aforementioned three.
Jamaal cruised through most of his meets all year, taking the Orlando Metro Conference title easily. He hadn't seen the likes of these guys almost all year long. Possibly as a consequence, Jamaal did not see his peak until well after the season—and boy did he peak! Just two weeks after the state meet, Jamaal managed to cut his time to 47.61 for second place at Orlando's Golden South meet, he was just a step back from Jeremy Wariner of Texas. Following Golden South, Jamaal's season did not end: two months later he was busy winning a National Championship at AAU Junior Nationals. Torrance took home the Young Men's 400 Meter Crown with a time of 47.20 all the way in Norfolk, Virginia.
With February and the outdoor season fast approaching anticipation is building, runners are training, and off Track Shack's shelves spikes are selling. This year is an exciting time for Florida track as our runners look to step out of the shadows and begin to demand some of the national spotlight--something our state has lacked for many years. With these four, one can be sure Florida will be shining brightly in the National 400 scene.
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Xavier Carter at Bill Wilson Relays |
Sure this state is teeming with talent, but as far as elite boys 400 meter runners are concerned, it doesn't get much better than the 4A's big four! Xavier Carter, Derrick Baker, Glen Sharpe, and Jamaal Torrance all return after last year for another romp climaxing at the 4A State Finals in May.
The most well-known of the bunch is Xavier "Pee Wee" Carter, who was last year's 4A champ (beating out the other three), all juniors at the time, in his freshman season. It is well expected that his sophomore season at Palm Bay High School will be his coming out party toward national prominence.
While Carter may be young, he is definitely not new to the sport or the event. He has been competing in meets seemingly all his life. His dad, Kenneth, has been training him and taking Xavier to AAU and USATF youth meets for years.
Carter may be the favorite and a national contender, but that does not mean he won't have to watch his back in his own state. Derrick Baker of Miami Northwestern was the closest to knocking off the X-man, coming within .16 seconds of him at the state finals. He returns this year and will surely be kept on his toes by Glen Sharpe of Carol City who was just .15 back from Baker at state, finishing in 47.26. Both being from the Greater Miami area, the two will face off in meet after meet this season; by the iron sharpens iron theory, come May they will be tough to beat.
And way back in fourth place last year at state was Jamaal Torrance of Orlando Evans. Torrance crossed the line in 48.18 at the state meet, .92 behind Sharpe-an eternity in a 400 meter race. Don't think for a second though that Torrance isn't in the same league as those aforementioned three.
Jamaal cruised through most of his meets all year, taking the Orlando Metro Conference title easily. He hadn't seen the likes of these guys almost all year long. Possibly as a consequence, Jamaal did not see his peak until well after the season—and boy did he peak! Just two weeks after the state meet, Jamaal managed to cut his time to 47.61 for second place at Orlando's Golden South meet, he was just a step back from Jeremy Wariner of Texas. Following Golden South, Jamaal's season did not end: two months later he was busy winning a National Championship at AAU Junior Nationals. Torrance took home the Young Men's 400 Meter Crown with a time of 47.20 all the way in Norfolk, Virginia.
With February and the outdoor season fast approaching anticipation is building, runners are training, and off Track Shack's shelves spikes are selling. This year is an exciting time for Florida track as our runners look to step out of the shadows and begin to demand some of the national spotlight--something our state has lacked for many years. With these four, one can be sure Florida will be shining brightly in the National 400 scene.