4x800 Meter Relay

Four out of the top eight teams from last year’s 4A Final return (Bloomingdale, Park Vista, Olympia and Boyd Anderson), ready to try their luck at taking first in a state championship that is missing the Colonial Grenadiers. Last year, Colonial posted a 7:40.15 timing for the win, good enough for the fastest time of the year regardless of division and a US #6 time nationally in a race that saw six teams dip under eight minutes. Olympia (7:57.97) and St. Thomas Aquinas (7:58.65) are the only teams in the meet who have put four runners who have average sub 2:00 consecutively this year, but this is the state meet, and anything can happen across three handoffs.

1600 Meter Run

Returning Champion Andres Arroyo will begin his attempt at a feat that few attempt, much less complete victoriously. Arroyo begins the first of his three distance events having run nearly 14 seconds faster in the 1600 than his peers this year. Given that inclement weather is expected on Saturday, we may not see him challenge Joseph Franklin’s 2008 State Record of 4:08.84, but if the weather holds up, we could see him give it a run as he has already run quite below the mark earlier this year when he ran 4:04.45 solo at the Metro Conference Prelims. Regional Champions Nick Diaz of Sunset (4:22.48 SB), Matthew Butler of St. Thomas Aquinas (4:22.5 PR), Andrew Leblanc of Bloomingdale (4:24.88 PR), and sub 4:20 men in Fabian Delgado of Miami Killian (4:18.61 PR) and Keneth Pinerio of Deland (4:19.25 PR) should be ones to watch, as well.

800 Meter Run

At the 2013 Florida Relays, Arroyo shocked the world with a four second PR, running 1:47.79 wire to wire. Again, going into this event his best is a few seconds ahead of the field, but we can expect a relatively closer race as Arroyo tries for his second of three. Boyd Anderson Cobra Javon Patterson is the top returner and was the fourth place finisher in 2012; he holds a 1:54.49 PR. Andrew Leblanc from Bloomingdale is the only other boy under 1:55 this year. He ran 1:54.95 at the Florida Relays, where he finished 7^th. He is doubling back after competing in the 1600 earlier in the evening.

3200 Meter Run

Can he do it? If he is successful in the events earlier in the evening Arroyo has the chance to join elite company as the first boy since Justin Taylor 2004 to successfully complete the 1600-800-3200 “Triple” at a state championship all in one evening. Unsurpisingly, Arroyo has the fastest PR in the field with his Florida All-Time #2 8:51.47 at the Brian Jaeger Classic. Arroyo placed first in the 3200m at the Region 1 meet, running 9:31.18. If he is tired, the opportunity is there for another runner to capture the glory. Deland Junior Keneth Pinerio has run the second fastest time in 4A running a PR 9:24.66 for 4^th at the Florida Relays. Danny Fernandex of Columbus (Miami), Paul McKenna of Countryside and Salvador Medreano are the three other regional champions in the 3200, running 9.31.44, 9:35.26, 9:42.38, respectively.