5 4A Story-lines to follow at the State Meet

1.  The Boys 4x800m always produces stellar competion

The 2016 4A Region1(ROD) race was an instant classic.  When Pacifico moved inside and Hogan moved outside, a betting man would have put Timber Creek out to pasture.  Even more telling was Freedom squeaking into the final by shutting the door on Lake Nona at the line as Timoth Doyle's 1:52.6 anchor leg secured the school record and a state birth for his boys.

Now throw into the mix the State Leaders, the boys from Coral Reef (7:47.91) and the SOTA Boys who won their respective region in 7:51.04 and you have the perfect recipe for an epic final.

2. Can American's Tyrese Cooper cement himself as the GOAT?

His season so far has been spectacular.  National freshman records seemingly fall by the wayside every time Tyrese takes to the track.  We should have seen this coming.  As an 8th grader and rising freshman, Tyrese confidently expressed to me at Golden South in the summer of 2015 that he was going to drop a 45.  He came up a bit short last year but just last week rewrote the record books once again going 45.94 to win Region 4. 

The State meet record in the 400m?

Set by Palm Bay's Xavier Carter in 2004 when he blistered a 45.44. 

To this day, Xavier Carter was the most impressive high school runner I've ever seen.  My gut tells me that's about to change in the not too distant future.

Tyrese's assualt on the Record Books

2016 Outdoor Season American HS 9th Grade

100 Meters

200 Meters

400 Meters

3.  Haines City has a star in Amuru Patterson - Will she win the Sprint Double?

Amuru seems to be peaking at just the right time coming in to the State Meet finals with the fastest 100m and 200m times.  Waiting in the wings of the 200m, a match-up with Southridge veteran, Symone Mason.

4.  Will we see a New State Record in the Girls 800m?

It may take a new State Meet record (Skyler Wallen, MNW 2:09.44, 2009) to win the 2016 4A Championship considering you have Southridge's Kayla Johnson and Lake Brantley's Sinclaire Johnson in the same race.  This of course, is if Caitlin Collier doesn't lower it in the Girls 2A race earlier in the day.

5. Girls 1600m will feature a Rockstar Class of Milers

It's just crazy to think about the talent on display for the entire 2 days of the State Track Meet.  The 4A Girls 1600m is an interesting contrast of "Speed and Strength".  Normally, in cross-country, we take strength over speed and that held to form during the 2015 XC Finals as Riverview's Bailey "Hurricane" Hertenstein won going away.  In track, speed is King.  The fastest of the fast right now, Oklahoma State signee Sinclaire Johnson.