May 18, 2024

State Meet Hub

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Boys Team Race

It's seldom that a team State championship is one without a standout runner or two. The Niceville boys are poised to take the team title based on field event performances. University of Florida commit Aidan Broussard is a Javelin specialist. He is the 4A state leader and ranked all divisions #2 in the event with a throw of 62.36m. He is the defending 4A State champion. Jr. Landon Isbell is expected to join Broussard on the podium in the Javelin. He was 2nd at Regionals with a throw of 57.49. A lot may depend on how freshman Charlie Perkins does in the Discuss. He won the 4A1 Regional with a throw of 50.61m, but is currently ranked 4A #4 in the event. The 4a State leader is Jason Atwood of Chiles who was 2nd to Perkins in the Regional. Atwood has thrown 55.87m. Senior Van Carter is expected to contend for the 4A State PV Championship. The United States Military commit won his Regional with a vault of 4.5m. He was 2nd last year in the 4A State meet with a PR vault of 4.65.

Niceville will certainly be challenged by the boys from Christopher Columbus. Columbus' 4x800m Relay is one of the best in the State, ranked 3A #3 and all divisions #6 with a 7:53.61 that they ran in the 4A4 Regional. They are expected to do well in the 4x100m Relay as well, as they come in with a 4A #5 ranking 41.36. So much depends on the exchanges in the 4x100. Florida State commit Durian Moss should score for Columbus in the 100mand the 200m. He has gone 10.37 in the 100 and 21.43 in the 200 this season.

Boys Top Athletes to Watch

SPRINTS

In the 110mH, George Steinbrenner Jr. Jabari Armstrong is the one to beat. Armstrong is the #1 seed, the #1 Ranked boy in the State with a 13.78, and is the only boy under 14.00 in the State. He is undefeated this season in both the 110mH and the 400mH. He comes in with a 13.

The 4A boys 100m and 200m sprint races are crazy fast and crazy competitive. With Creekside Sr. Christian Miller, the State leader in both, on the sideline watching, (He ran unattached at a pro meet this past weekend in order to qualify for the 200m at the Trials. He got the time, but it was wind-aided. So he'll have to go at it again.) just 0.18 seconds separates the nine competitors based upon seed times. In Heat 2 in the middle of the track watch for:

Armwood Jr. Kendrick Ford 10.48

Columbus Sr. Durian Moss 10.49

Jupiter Sr. William Owens 10.51

Vero Beach Sr. Derrick Williams 10.51

In the 200m, the field in Heat 2 is separated by just 0.27 seconds. That's not much for a 200m. Jupiter Jr. William Owens owns the #3 fastest time in the State with a 21.22. He is your #1 seed and won the 4A3 Region. Surrounding Owens are Mandarin Jr. Jaylen Lewis (21.31) and Viera So. Jayden McPherson (21.24). Lewis won the 4A1 Region and McPherson the 4A3 last week.

In the 400m, 5 of the 9 boys in Heat 2 have run sub-48 this season. They are your 4A #1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 ranked runners. Miami Southridge Sr. Curtis Bain is the top-ranked boy with a 46.93. Jr. Adrian Cardero of Columbus has gone 47.36, Sr. Jancent Wallace of Columbus 47.56, Jr. Dorian Mallary of Lehigh 47.84 and Sr. Matthew Groves of Venice 47.92.

The 4A #1-4 boys will go up against each other in the 400mH. Cade Swart of Chiles has dipped under 53.00. The Sr. has gone 52.67. He will be chased coming off the curve by #2 Jr. Jonathan Carter of Flanagan 53.63, #3 Jr. Jabari Armstrong of George Steinbrenner 54.57, #4 Jr. Tyon Reed of Treasure Coast and #4 Sr. Tyrone Summerall of Mandarin whio have both gone 54.66.

DISTANCE RACES

In the 800m, Buchholz Sr. Evan Fleming, with the absence of his teammate Riley Smith, the State 4A leader with a 1:52.03. The only other runner under 1:55 is Apopka Sr. Rashad Hemissi who has run 1:54.84.

In the 1600m, Fleming is the top seed and has run 4:12.30, but he has more company with Nease Sr. Matt Ryan having run a 4:14.31 and Flanagan Sr. Shamar Henry having run 4:15.31.

The 3200m, throwing out the Regional seeds is a race of the 4A #2, 3, 4 and 6 runners. Nease's Matt Ryan is the only one that is running in the 1600. Ryan's teammate, Sr. Finn Thomas comes in with the top time of 8:59.51. He is the only boy that has run sub-9:00. Sr. Jonathan Leon of Hagerty has run 9:04.42, Ryan has run 9:06.41 and Buchholz Sr. Gino Palazzolo has run 9:13.91. It should be an interesting and strategic race that will be decided in the last 400.

FIELDS EVENTS

Sr. Elijah Smith of Miramar is the 4A State leader in the Pole Vault with a 4.55m vault(14-11.25). This should be a very competitive vault competition with several other boys who have gone over 14'.

Jr. Gavin Tinsley of Plant City is the 4A state leader in the High Jump with a jump of 2.13m (6-11.75). Challenging Tinsley will be two other boys who have gone over 2.0m, Sr. Gavin Ponce of Palm Harbor and Sr. Daven Tolbert of West Orange. Ponce has jumped 2.02m (6-07.50) and Tolbert 2.0m (6-06.75).

The 2nd Flight of the Long Jump features 6 boys over 22' and 3 over 23'. Oakleaf Jr. Devin Collins is ranked 4A #2 with a jump of 7.33m and Columbus Jr. Shaddai Carter has jumped 7.2m.

The 4A #2 and 3 ranked boys will face off in the Triple Jump. Jr. Bari William of Largo won the 4A2 Region with a jump of 14.53m (47-08.00) and Lake Mary Sr. Lester Williams won the 4A1 Region with a jump of 14.51m (47-07.25).

The boys Shot Put should be won by Jr. Colby Cronk of Flagler Palm Coast. Cronk has had a monster year improving from his 6th place throw at State last year of 51-11.00 to a 4A leading throw of 17.96 (58-11.25).

Just like Colby Cronk in the Shot, Jr. Jason Atwood of Chiles in the Discus was 4th last year with a throw of 156-08. This year he comes in with a 55.87 (183-03.50) throw that is 5.26m (17-03) farther than his closest competition.

Sr. Aidan Broussard of Niceville is the defending 4A State Champion in the Javelin. He threw 204-07.00 last year. He is the favorite to repeat as he is the #1 ranked thrower in 4A with a throw of 62.3m (204-04.75)

RELAYS

4x800

This should be one of the more competitive and exciting races of the day. 4A #2-8 will go up against each other. Here is how they sit in the rankings.

2 Flanagan 7:50.12, 3 Christopher Columbus 7:53.61, 4 Hagerty 7:56.76, 5 Braddock 7:57.32, 6 Venice 7:59.90, 7 Lake Mary 8:00.02 and 8 West Orange 8:00.21. Lake Mary and West Orange were 1-2 in the 4A1 Region in an almost dead heat.

4x100

With Christian Miller in the line-up, the Creekside boys, barring any miscues with their exchanges should win the 4x100m. They come in with a 4A leading 40.58. The other 8 teams in Heat 2 are separated by just 0.5 seconds. Manatee has the 2nd fastest seed time of 41.30.

4x400

Here is how your top 3 seeds in heat two are ranked in 4A. #1 Christopher Columbus 3:11.90, #2 Miami Southridge 3:12.93 and #5 Venice 3:19.75. Always an exciting event!