5 2A Story-lines to follow at the State Meet

1.  Bolles Caitlin Collier is pivotal to Bolles chances of winning the Girls title

The defending 2015 champion in the 800m and 1600m was a cog for the Bulldogs runner-up finish in 2015.  Not much in that regard has changed for 2016.  The only question we would really like answered is which event Coach Dearing will have Caitlin anchor.  Will she anchor the 4x400m or the 4x800m?

Only a sophomore for the Bulldogs, Caitlin is one of those rare talents that combines speed, strength, endurange and range.  The 2016 Dream Mile qualifier leads the nation in the open Mile.

With a serious contender in Rockledge this year, Coach Dearing needs to maximize points thus Caitlin will attempt the Distance Triple and be plugged in to whichever Relay team can maximize points opening up opportunities for other teams in the opposite Relay. 

Caitlin's main challenge to a Distance Triple may very well be from Gulliver Prep 8th grader Natalie Varela in the 3200m or Ransom Everglades Jatana Folston who will most definitely gap the field early and hope to hang on for victory.

2.  Tristan Schultheis may have the best chance of breaking a State Meet Record

Earlier this year we made it a point to attend the Astronuat Invitational to see the defending 2A High Jump Champion compete.  Seeing the High Jump is a field event, that may very well be a first for us.

The State Meet record is 7' 2".  Tristan jumped 7' 2" at the Astronaut Invitational and had a good look at 7' 4" on one of his 3 attempts.  The All-time Florida boys prep record that we know of is New Smyrna Beach's Sam Hill's jump of 7' 2.75" at the 1992 International Prep Invitational in 1992, 24 years ago.

 RELATED - READ KA'DEEM WYNN'S FEATURED ARTICLE ON TRISTAN

3.  American Heritage's Anthony Schwartz is the Real Deal

Coming on late in the year in the 100m and 200m, Anthony Schwartz is a bona-fide talent with huge upside.  The Sunshine State produces top-notch talent, and Coach Barnes has a doozy with Sophomore Schwartz who will only continue to get stronger and faster. 

Schwartz was the Regional Champion in the 100m with his FL #1 slightly windy 10.26 (2.6) and FL #2 200m (+2.1).

With a slew of talented sprinters in 2A, amongst them a slightly banged-up Frosh who leads the nation in Dunbar's Seneca Milledge, Schwartz is peaking at the right time and will cement American Heritage's 4x100m and 4x400m Relays as well.

4.  Girls Pole-Vault is wide-open with depth

Picking a winner here is fruitless. It's going to be a nail-biter to the end with so many Girls right in and around that 10 foot mark.  Titusville's Alyssa Carrillo leads 2A with her 10' 9" vault from Districts.

Region 4 is stacked and when you look at team aspirations, both Bolles and Ransom-Everglades could make some noise by having Laine Roberts and Anne Gutierrez claim victory.

5.  How fast can Lake Wales Sophomore Maia Walker go in the 400m?

At 2A Region 3, Maia set the track world on notice after posting a FL #1 53.27.  To put that into context, the FHSAA State Meet record is 52.51 set by St Thomas' Sanya Richards in 2002.  Maia's progression this season is nothing short of extraordinary. You'll notice she doesn't lose very often and has improved to US #3 in her first year running the Open 400 after moving up from the short sprints. 

Maia Walker - 400 Meters