Bears in their 'toughest' regional

The field includes three powerhouse teams.

By GREG AUMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 26, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- How tough is the field for today's Class 2A Region 2 meet at Central?

Despite winning district titles on the same track last week, the Central girls and boys teams likely will have just a handful of entries finish among the top four and advance to next week's state meet in Coral Springs.

"This is the toughest region we've ever been in," said Bears coach Vic Cervizzi, whose squad could finish out of the top 10 despite being one of four district winners among the 23 schools represented.

The main obstacle for Central and Hernando is District 8, which has powerhouses in Rockledge, Titusville Astronaut and Cocoa Beach.

The Rockledge boys have the top seeds in eight of 17 events, including Sean Burris, a front-runner for the state title in the mile. Cocoa Beach and Astronaut could challenge Lecanto for the girls regional crown.

With the chances of a team championship a long shot at best, the county's participants can shift their focus to advancing as many individuals as possible. Among the best bets:

Raquel Lao, Hernando, discus: The senior finished eighth in last year's state meet, and her district mark of 111 feet, 10 inches is second only to Trinity's Jennifer Donahue. Only four throwers in the region cleared 100 feet last week, so Lao is in good position for a top-two finish.

Jerry Daniels, Central, 100 and 200 meters: Daniels finished within a fraction of a second of winning both events at district, and he's among just three qualifiers to run the 100 in less than 11 seconds. Daniels has a chance to advance in the triple jump, in which he was district champion at 41-03/4.

Derrick Mobley, Hernando, 100 and 400 meters: Mobley edged Daniels by 0.01 seconds for second place in the 100 at district, and Mobley's winning 400-meter time is fast enough to make him the No. 2 seed. He also runs on the Leopards' 4x400 relay squad, with Art Starks, Eric Williams and Jagren Castillo.

Trever Scales, Central, 800 meters and 4x800 relay: Scales ran a 2:03.08 at district, two seconds off his career best, but Cervizzi thinks the junior has a legitimate shot at becoming the first Bears runner to break the 2-minute mark. Of the regional qualifiers, only Orlando Bishop Moore's Brandon Saltmarsh was able to do that last week.

Bobby Vasquez, Central, discus and shot put: The senior is in his first year as a competitive thrower and has fired the discus as far as 150 feet in practice, but he needs to produce a similar mark while dealing with the pressure of a big meet. His district performance of 124 feet won't have him advancing, but something in the 140s should be enough.

Erin Courtney, Central, 1,600 and 3,200 meters: The senior finished fourth in the two-mile run in last year's state meet but has yet to get her times close to the 12:02.7 she ran a season ago. This is where she made her biggest push last year, and if she's recovered from a sore throat that limited her a week ago, she's a real threat to advance.

Tiffany Mobley, Leiko Munford, Alaya Smiley, Jaimie Costanzo, Central, 4x100 relay: The Bears have been state finalists in the race the last three years, and this is the only county entry seeded No. 1 in any event. The foursome has worked on crisper handoffs to streamline their time. If they can run another 50.32, they will move on for sure.

Central has spared nothing in technology to get the most accurate times in today's meet. Cervizzi spent about $300 to have a track expert from Seminole bring up a computerized system that requires one timer, instead of the crew of volunteers that normally each take one line in track events.

The system has its own photo finish, and the starter's pistols will have special caps designed to trigger not only the runners but the computer's timing system. Another hitch, in addition to intense competition, that could make the meet more difficult for county runners: with 16 entries in every event, there will be preliminaries and finals -- something competitors haven't encountered this season.

"The biggest transition is fitness," Hernando coach Rodney Byrd said. "The key is just qualifying, not trying to set (personal records) in qualifying. Their job is to compete, have a level head and don't burn yourself out in the prelim. Everything else takes care of itself."

Class 2A, region 2 meet

WHERE: Central.

WHEN: Today. Field events start at 1 p.m., track preliminaries at 4 and finals at 7.

ADMISSION: $5.

WHO: The following county athletes advanced by finishing in the top four of their events in last week's Class 2A, District 6 meet at Central.

BOYS -- Central: Jerry Daniels (3rd, 100 meters, 10.92; 2nd, 200, 22.88; 1st, triple jump, 41-03/4); Trever Scales (1st, 800, 2:03.08); Joel Crandall (3rd, 800, 2:05.84; 1st, 2 mile, 10:21.41); Aaron Henley (3rd, mile, 4:47.42); Chris Dyer (1st, 110 hurdles, 16.63; 2nd, pole vault, 11-0); Chris Nelson (3rd, 110 hurdles, 16.84); Paul Roen (4th, 110 hurdles, 17.03); Derek Smith (4th, 300 hurdles, 44.73); David Ramos (2nd, high jump, 5-10); Bucky Solomon (2nd, pole vault, 11-0); Kyle Keene (3rd, triple jump, 40-61/2); Bobby Vasquez (1st, shot put, 46-13/4; 3rd, discus, 124-0); 4x100 relay (2nd, 45.36); 4x400 relay (2nd, 3:40.22); 4x800 relay (1st, 8:27.30). Hernando: Derrick Mobley (2nd, 100, 10.91; 1st, 400, 51.32); Eric Williams (3rd, 400, 51.87; 2nd, long jump, 20-7; 4th, triple jump, 40-41/4); Jagren Castillo (4th, 400, 52.79); John Emerson (2nd, 1,600, 4:32.62; 2nd, 3,200, 10:31.47)); Willie Bates (2nd, 110 hurdles, 16.78; 1st, 300 hurdles, 43.25); Art Starks (2nd, 300 hurdles, 43.43); 4x400 relay (3rd, 3:43.45); Gabriel Boze (3rd, high jump, 5-8); Robert Donaldson (3rd, high jump, 5-8); Donald Nichols (3rd, shot put, 43:021/4); Gabriel Boze (1st, discus, 135-10).

GIRLS -- Central: Alaya Smiley (2nd, 100, 12.45; 2nd, long jump, 16-91/2; 3rd, shot put, 31-71/2); Leiko Munford (4th, 100, 12.97); Tiffany Mobley (1st, 200, 26.08; 1st, triple jump, 33-21/2); Jaimie Costanzo (1st, 400, 1:06.89); Christine Morana (3rd, 400, 1:07.99; 1st, high jump, 4-10); Alaina Marvin (4th, 400, 1:08.43); Erin Courtney (1st, 1,600, 5:49.53; 1st, 3,200, 12:44.93); Faith Obi (3rd, 110 hurdles, 17.36; 3rd, high jump, 4-8); Jen Adams (2nd, pole vault, 8-0); Melissa Kinnamon (4th, pole vault, 7-0); Christine Roe (2nd, shot put, 33-21/2; 2nd, discus, 98-7); Kay Furman (4th, discus, 82-0); 4x100 relay (1st, 50.32); 4x400 relay (1st, 4:25.01); 4x800 (2nd, 10:52.96). Hernando: Karla Rodriguez (1st, 800, 2:38.18); Katee Lukas (3rd, 800, 2:46.07; 3rd, 1,600, 6:14.48); Raquel Lao (1st, discus, 111-10); 4x800 relay (3rd, 11:07.81). -- GREG AUMAN

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright