State track

By BOB PUTNAM
Published April 27, 2006

ADMISSION: $8.

FORMAT: Field events start at 1 p.m., running finals at 7. Trophies go to the team champion and runnerup. Medallions are awarded to the top eight individuals and relay teams.

WHERE: Jacksonville Wolfson High.

DIRECTIONS: Take Interstate 275 to I-4; I-4 to I-95; go north and take left at Bowden Road exit; turn right onto Philips Highway, then make left onto University Boulevard and another left onto Powers Avenue.

CLASS A

WHEN: Friday

COUNTY ENTRIES: BOYS - Admiral Farragut: Bernard Scott (100, 200, long jump), Kraig Brown (100, 200, Brandon Bell (800), Mike Erbe (pole vault), 4x100, 4x400, 4x800; Calvary Christian: Joe Cathey (1,600, 3,200), Charlie Robinson (long jump, triple jump); Keswick Christian: Jake Lorenzen (200), R.J. Denton (shot put, discus); 4x100, 4x800; Indian Rocks Christian: Ryan Culkin (400), Zach Rousonelos (800, pole vault), 4x400, 4x800; Northside Christian: 4x100, 4x400; Shorecrest: Ian Bockman-Pederson (400), J.J. Richardson (300 hurdles), Patrick McClenathan (pole vault). GIRLS - Admiral Farragut: Erica Bolline (high jump, triple jump), Melissa Defabrizio (pole vault); Keswick Christian: Carolyn Zdzierak (400), Sarah Nunnally (discus); 4x400; Indian Rocks Christian: Lindsey Cooper (400), Melissa Kotchman (1,600), 4x800; Northside Christian: Katelyn Greenleaf (3,200); Shorecrest: Samantha Specht (400, triple jump), Pavendeep Birk (800, long jump), Lindsey Evans (1,600, 3,200), Sarah Evans (3,200), Casey Evans (pole vault), Erin McClenathan (pole vault), 4x100, 4x400, 4x800.

OUTLOOK: Shorecrest's girls and Admiral Farragut's boys both won region titles last week and are sending a strong contingent of athletes to the state meet. But it will most likely not be enough for either team to take a team title. The best shots for individual ones are the Blue Jackets' Bernard Scott in the long jump and the Chargers' girls 4x400 relay team. Calvary Christian's Charlie Robinson (triple jump) and Joe Cathey (3,200) and Shorecrest's Samantha Specht (400) also have a good shot at placing.

CLASS 2A

WHEN: Saturday.

COUNTY ENTREES: BOYS - St. Petersburg Catholic: Kevin Harley (800). GIRLS - Clearwater Central Catholic: Alicen Livingston (400), Ashley McCarthy (high jump).

OUTLOOK: The county's best hope for medal will be St. Petersburg Catholic's Kevin Harley in the 800. Harley, a junior, placed fifth in the event last year. The Barons' biggest rival, Jesuit, has a chance to win the team title thanks to its distance runners.

REGION TRACK

ADMISSION: $6.

FORMAT: The field events start at 1 p.m. The running finals start at 7. The top four individuals or relay teams in each event advance to the state meet. Any ties resulting in more than four qualifiers in an event will be broken by a run off, throw off or jump off.

CLASS 4A

WHEN/WHERE: Today; Gaither.

OUTLOOK: Countryside's boys team is undefeated, winning the program's first conference and district titles under the guidance of first-year coach Eileen Givens, who took over after coaching Lakewood's girls for 11 seasons. To keep their streak going, the Cougars will need Ian Evans (shot put), Ray Coleman (100, long jump) and Ryan Messmore (400) to come through. St. Petersburg is strong in the sprints, with Durand Kent leading the way in the 100. On the girls side, Countryside's Tiffany Blum (200, 400, high jump), St. Petersburg's Kerry Allen (1,600, 3,200) and Pinellas Park's Jalisa Foster (300 hurdles, high jump) should do well.

CLASS 3A WHEN/WHERE: Today; Clearwater.

OUTLOOK: Boca Ciega's boys and girls own the long and triple jumps. The Pirates' Neidra Covington is a national champion in both events and is starting to peak after taking a few weeks off in March to recover from a sprained ankle. One of Covington's teammates, Andre LeShore, flew 49 feet, 5 inches to win the triple jump last week. The mark was nearly 3 feet farther than his closest competitor in Class 3A. Lakewood's Jazmyn Shorter also has been dominant, winning the 200 and 400 convincingly at conference and districts. Gibbs' boys team won its first district title since 1982 last week and has a balanced lineup that can score points.

[Last modified April 27, 2006, 03:13:46]