Disclaimer: The predictions below are based on the cumulative season and how the following athletes have performed throughout the year. Other factors taken into consideration are how they ran at the state meet last year, regional/district performances, etc. etc. Consider this a follow-up to the pre-season outlook I wrote. Please enjoy!
Bolded name/team=Flrunners pick
Team Preview
(G)- Things have gotten a little more interesting since December as there are now three teams with a legitimate shot at the title. Gainesville finest, in Oak Hall and P.K. Yonge and Melbourne's Holy Trinity. Oak Hall, loaded with their distance crew headed by Uribe and Babb and P.K. Yonge with the Valerie Flournoy show. While HTA prefers the hit-you-from-all-angles approach as they bring 10 individual athletes and 3 relay teams this weekend into Jacksonville. Their regional meet was pretty much a tri meet with HTA winning over P.K. Yonge, 126 to 124. Lucky for Oak Hall, it's "quality" not "quantity." If they can get 35-40 points out of their distance group and some help in the field events then they will be getting a medal. However, if Flournoy can find a supporting cast that steps up (kind\'ve like last year)…then watch out.
(B)- Unfortunately my preseason pick of Baypoint did not hold up, but that just leaves more room for P.K. Yonge to show up as well as the South Florida connection of Dade Christian, Upperoom Christian, and some others. Upperoom and Dade are led by their mid-distance groups while Yonge's twin tandem of Geoffrey and Michael Anderson might be enough to steal a close win here. Yonge also has one of the strongest sprinting corps in that state and might be the key to their title defense.
Track Event Previews
4x800m- (G)- The average track fan would pencil in King's Academy as a lock here, and rightfully so with legs of 2:15,2:16, and 2:19. But remember; we haven't seen the best from a lot of teams this year including 100% teams from Oak Hall or Maclay. Both will have 9:35-40 like capable teams and will be right with King's Academy. The one X-factor will likely be Bradley's ability to blow it open on her third leg, but Uribe of Oak Hall and Piekarewicz of Maclay will be in hot pursuit on their respective anchor legs.
4x800- (B)- Oak Hall's guys easily have the best 3x800m relay team in 1A. In 1A however, that may just be enough to get away with a title. With Stringer and Harris x2 leading the way and a respectable fourth leg, this will be THEIR event to lose. Challengers will come by way of South Walton, Maclay. Dade Christian, Trinity Prep, and Trinity Christian. Will Oak Hall break their 8:08 school record? Stay tuned.
100m High Hurdles- Come on guys. It wouldn't be fair to list anyone else as the favorite here EXCEPT for one Valerie Flournoy. If she were too somehow trip or fall, Mary Beth Renfro from Holy Trinity will be right there to clean up the mess and steal the win. However, if Flournoy is rolling on all cylinders, she is unstoppable.
110m Hurdles- This isn't exactly an open and shut case but pre-season favorite John Dady is still here and looks ready for a sub 15-performance. Kenneth McKenzie of Mackenzie comes in with an identical PR (15.18) and will be stride for stride with Dady.
100m Dash (G) Once again, Flournoy is the overwhelming favorite and will have a little juice in her legs after the 110m hurdles. The 5 to 4 event rule change will rob her of an event but she will make it up either here or in the jumps.
100m Dash (B) - Where did Baypoint go? FHSAA violations hurt their sprinters here and left open a huge gap to be filled. That gap has filled up quickly by Earnest Green of Hillard, Bernard Scott of Admiral Faragaut, and Anjuan Merrel. All three have posted sub 10.90 times and each has a legitimate shot at claiming the title come Friday.
1600m Run (G) This is an early candidate for race of the night with studs Kayla Hale, Stevie Uribe, and Hailey Neal all sporting PR's between 5:02-5:07. If it's a slow race, then it will play right into Uribes' favor but Hale is well coached and will likely execute a solid game plan. Neal, winner of 2 of the past 3 1A 1600m races, will not go down without a fight and can certainly not be counted out. Piekarewicz of Maclay also seems to always find a way into the top 5, and a relative unknown splashed onto the podium as well.. I like Babb here to pick up some quality points for Oak Hall. Buckle up!
1600m Run (B) –Austin Joiner begins his last hoorah here with his first attempt at a 1600m/3200m state meet double. He's already gone 4:25, and anyone who watched last year's 3200m where he closed in 29.xx for the last 200m can tell you this kid can turn on the jets on the homestretch. Look for the Harris brothers to be attached to the hip here with Mike Anderson pulled along for a fast time. The Harris brothers, who both had food poisoning here last year, will look to make amends for their very sub-par performances. One of which was a freshman All-American in the mile (Miles) and ran 4:24 last year. All three are gutsy racers, and as always it will come down to who wants it the most.
4x100m Relay (G) Trinity Catholic is the defending champion, but HTA has posted this year's fastest 1A time (50.15) with Trinity Prep right along with them. A tough call here
4x100m Relay (B) P.K. Yonge is a lock here…pending a bad hand off. If the unfortunate occurs, I like Dade Christian to be there to pick up the pieces.
400m Dash (G)- There was no clear favorite here till Tiffany Knight of Morning Side Academy and Samantha Shields of Orlando Trinity Prep both ran sub 60 times at their respective Regionals; 58.08 to 59.37. Last year's race was FILLED with underclasswomen so look for some of those young guns to make some noise again.
400m Dash (B)- 100m specialist Loren Miller of Jay comes in as the 2nd seed at (50.42). Look for the 1-2 punch of Carter and Moody of St. Johns Country Day to steal the show as Carter comes into this race as the highest returnee from last year by placing 2nd last year. Here's a name many have not heard of either till now…Kendrick Baker. The P.K. Yonge Senior looks ready to roll after his smoking 49.91 performance at the region meet. Behind him was Alex Cobb of HTA who could also have a special day.
300m Low Hurdles Mary Beth Renfro of HTA gets the nod here to collect her 1st state title. Renfro has been one of the top hurdlers in 1A for the past few years but has been overshadowed by fellow hurdler Valerie Flournoy. I smell a coming out party. Where's Caitline Bowne?
300m Intermediate Hurdles Although only a sophomore, Kenneth MacKenize of Dade Christian is already a title contender and is on the verge on a sub-40 effort (see: region 4). Blake Carron of Canterbury is another young gun who could make some noise on this grand stage.
800m Run (G) If it wasn't for a mid-season injury Danielle Bradley would be the runaway favorite here, but that's why we run the races. Stevie Uribe, coming in with a PR of 2:17, will be right there to challenge Bradley. What doesn't play in Uribe's favor is that she will be coming off of a 4x800m/1600m double. The OTHER Neal sister, Hilary, also looks ready for a breakout race after her 2:16 run @ regionals. Rebecaa Zuhlke has begun to show shades of her past after her regional meet performance (2:22) and could have a special day as well. However, I have a feeling Bradley will not end her HS career with a silver medal, but let's wait and see.
800m Run (B) Finally, 1A is receiving some legitimate 800m attention; in part because of Fidel Bentacourt's early season 1:55 and a few other sub 2:00 performances in Stringer of Oak Hall and Willis of Upperoom. A sleeper to watch come in the form of Drew Taylor of South Walton, fresh off his region 1 win. Also, freshman Whitney Strickland (2:00.84) will become a name to watch after this race. Look for Betancourt to establish position early and to continue his wire-to-wire style of racing with the chase pack tucked in right behind him.
200m Dash (G)- Amanda Martorona of St Johns CD is one of the most improved athletes in 1A this year, and her hard work will likely pay off here as she comes in with a #1 seed with a 25.20 performance. Behind her comes Umoh of Northwest Christian and freshman Iyisha Graham.. The rest of the podium is wide open.
200m Dash (B)- Again, no Baypoint here. So expect Mark Williams of P.K. Yonge and 100m hopeful Anjuan Merrel to be duking it out till the line.
3200m Run (G)- After a photo-finish here last year, Neal of King's Academy and Kayla Hale of Holy Trinity looked as if they were beginning a rivalry for years to come. A year later, Hale has firmly supplanted herself as the top distance runner in 1A after winning the XC title in dominating fashion and having already posted a season best of 10:39 in a hot 3200m against Ashley Brasovan. The chase pack behind Hale will be led by defending champion Neal along with Babb of Oak Hall, and the duo from Maclay (Piekarewicz/Swain). Babb, Swain, and Pierkarewicz will likely all be coming back from the 4x800m/1600m unless one decides to drop the mile.
3200m Run (B) For the third straight year, Austin Joiner comes in with the top seed in this event with a mark of 9:26.70. Will this be THE year he finally collects that elusive state title? The race will be on with Joiner, and Mike Anderson of P.K. Yonge. We've seen how Anderson can step up to the plate on the biggest stage as he claimed his first XC title this past fall as his brother and him broke away from Cooke of HTA in the middle of the race. The Anderson/Joiner battle will come down to the wire like last year, the year prior to that, and the year before that After those two comes the other Anderson brother in Geoffrey, Kyle Butler of HTA, and Joe Cathy of Cavalry Christian.
4x400m Relay (G)- Maclay, P.K. Yonge, Shorecrest Prep, and St. Johns Country Day all come in with similar times (4:14-4:16) but all will be trailing top seed Upperoom Christian and their 4:10 team.
4x400m Relay (B)- I like Dade Christian's chances here as they posses a sub 50 leg in Bentacourt and 3 others between 51-54. Also, Upperoom Christian, Maclay, South Walton, and Trinity Christian will keep things interesting
Disclaimer: The predictions below are based on the cumulative season and how the following athletes have performed throughout the year. Other factors taken into consideration are how they ran at the state meet last year, regional/district performances, etc. etc. Consider this a follow-up to the pre-season outlook I wrote. Please enjoy!
Bolded name/team=Flrunners pick
Team Preview
(G)- Things have gotten a little more interesting since December as there are now three teams with a legitimate shot at the title. Gainesville finest, in Oak Hall and P.K. Yonge and Melbourne's Holy Trinity. Oak Hall, loaded with their distance crew headed by Uribe and Babb and P.K. Yonge with the Valerie Flournoy show. While HTA prefers the hit-you-from-all-angles approach as they bring 10 individual athletes and 3 relay teams this weekend into Jacksonville. Their regional meet was pretty much a tri meet with HTA winning over P.K. Yonge, 126 to 124. Lucky for Oak Hall, it's "quality" not "quantity." If they can get 35-40 points out of their distance group and some help in the field events then they will be getting a medal. However, if Flournoy can find a supporting cast that steps up (kind\'ve like last year)…then watch out.