By winning a state title in the 3,200 meters and finishing second at the state cross-country meet last season, St. Petersburg sophomore Kerry Allen established herself as one of Florida's top runners.
But the phenom's rapid ascension is being put on hold.
Allen suffered a stress fracture in her back running cross country. She is wearing a brace and is skipping track season to give her sufficient time to recover.
The injury is similar to one Indian Rocks Christian junior Melissa Kotchman suffered two years ago. She was diagnosed with a stress fracture in July of 2002 and took a few weeks off.
But when Kotchman returned to running, the pain was still there as she iced her hips and back for 20 minutes, twice a day.
Allen, on the other hand, is taking more than six months off.
"The injury was in the lower spine, and I hyperextended my back," Allen said. "I haven't been running at all. It's tough, but I'll be back."
Allen continues to do pool workouts to get herself into shape. She keeps tabs with teammates, often showing up at practice to watch other distance runners. She even plans on attending the Pinellas County Athletic Conference meet next month.
"I plan on being back for cross country season," Allen said.
DISNEY SHOWCASE: Traveling to indoor meets and to college campuses for recruiting trips has left St. Petersburg Catholic's Sam Secord little time to compete in the 800 meters during the high school season.
At last week's Disney Showcase, Secord ran in the event for the first time at an outdoor meet this season. The layoff didn't affect him as he won in 1:56.14. His time is the second-fastest in the state, regardless of classification.
"I know I can run faster, but I'm definitely pleased with that time," Secord said. "There was some wind, and I haven't really been able to put in a solid week of training for awhile.
"Still, that's a good way to start the season."
Other county winners at the Disney Showcase were Pinellas Park's Munir Muwwakkil (discus), Boca Ciega's Nedira Covington (triple jump) and Pinellas Park's Dominique Jacobs (long jump).
LEAPING WITH THE ELITE: It is safe to say Pinellas County boys have done well in the long jump recently.
In the past three years former stars Chris Davis (St. Petersburg Catholic/FSU), Kevin Marion (Dixie Hollins/Wake Forest), Reed Rudge (Keswick/FSU) and Dermillo Wise (Lakewood/Cloud Community College) have each won state titles.
Based on his performance last week, Boca Ciega's Shamen Washington may soon join that list.
The senior, who finished third in the long jump at last year's Class 3A state meet, vaulted himself into title contention after going 23 feet, 8 inches at the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville. The mark is a personal record for Washington and is second-best in the state, regardless of classification.
But the leap wasn't enough to win the meet.
The champion was Matthew Gorman of Gainesville Buchholz, who went 24-1 and owns the state's top mark.
FLORIDA RELAYS: Secord and Washington head the list of early county entries at the Florida Relays, which are Friday and Saturday at the University of Florida's Percy Beard Track and Field Complex in Gainesville.
Secord is in the 1,600 and will run the 800 meter leg of the distance medley. Washington will participate in the long jump, triple jump and 100. He also will most likely run a leg in the 4x100 and 4x400 relay.
Jacobs and Covington are the big names on the girls side. They will square off in the long and triple jump.
MASTER PLAN: Pinellas Park boys assistant Jeff Mack, a former Dunedin star, will run in the Master's Indoor National Championships this weekend in Boston.
Mack, 31, is entered in the 60 meters and 200 meters. He said his time in both events (7.08 seconds in the 60 and 22.1 in the 200) are tops among all competitors ages 30 and up.
"I'm still trying to get to the Olympics," Mack said. "Hopefully, this will help."
