4A Girls Distance Preview by Kyle Cooke

4x800 Meter Relay

In the 4x800 meter relay, four teams have run under 9:30 this year. Based on season bests, we can look forward to seeing Olympia (9:29.66), Winter Park (9:28.24) and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy (9:27.73) being close with St. Thomas Aquinas (9:15.60) ahead by a few meters. The first relay of the afternoon will add crucial points to the team race between the defending 4A Team Champions of the Boyd Anderson Lady Cobras (9:45.30) and St. Thomas Aquinas who finished runner-up in the team standings, especially if Aquinas avoids the disqualification that happened to them last year.

1600 Meter Run

Dr. Phillips Senior and future Seminole Bridget Blake starts her quest to be the second girl in any large class (3A/4A) in as many years to win the distance triple  (1600-800-3200) since Chiles Lily Williams accomplished the feat in 2012. She returns as the 2012 State Champion. Her best this year (4:54.74) is nearly eight seconds faster than the second fastest runner in 4A, Corina Velazco of Lourdes (5:07.76). Of the ten fastest girls in 4A this year who have SBs ranging from 5:12.39, to 4:54.74, nine are in the 1600 final (Blake, Lourdes Brea, Alex Cruz, Scarlett Fox, Amber Johnson, Christina Kalis, Katherine Kuhn, Charlotte Stephens and Velazco). Missing from the group is Hagerty Senior Bryce Seymour, who has the 5^th fastest time (5:10.52) in 4A this year.

Girls 800 Run

 
Seminole Ridge Senior Michelle Howell will pose the greatest challenge to Blake’s (2:16.28) bid for three titles. Howell is currently in great form, as she ran a near four-second PR at the Region 3 meet, running 2:12.86 for a leading time in 4A this year. With 55.57 400 speed, Howell is surely one to watch after the bell. Other two-lappers of note are Region 4 champion Rachel Licea (2:17.87),of Ferguson, Region 1 champion Tayler Johnson (2:17.21) of Hagerty and Region 3 champion Maddie Beaubien (2:18.11) of Wellington.

Girls 3200 Run

With Hagerty Senior and 4A #2 Bryce Seymour not competing in the event, returning champion Blake (10:40.30) can lock up her place in history if she is victorious earlier in the evening. Undoubtedly, if she has to go to the well in the 1600/800 previously, she will face competition from Lourdes Brea (10:56.65) from Our Lady of Lourdes, teammate Corina Velazco (11:0.86) and Alexa Cruz (11:00.99) of St. Thomas Aquinas.