Three Big Things: Week Two

The outdoor high school track and field season blasted off this weekend with teams from Lee County traveling all over South Florida to participate in meets.  The Covid restrictions limits the number of teams at any given competition which makes finding meets a real problem for coaches.

1.  The finding a meet issue sent Lee County's best middle distance runner to Miami to compete in the Louis Bing Invitational.  Canterbury's Jessica Edwards faced some stiff competition from one of the nation's up and coming 800 runners Cha'iel Johnson, a sophomore and daughter of football great Chad Johnson.  Edwards had to run a semi-final on Friday which she won under control at just under 2:17.

Johnson and Edwards lined up with a strong wind facing them in the backstretch.  Johnson shot to the lead and Edwards closed easily into the face of the wind, catching Johnson as they headed into the homestretch of the first lap.  They went through in about 64 seconds with Edwards grabbing the lead before heading down the back stretch..

Johnson wasn't ready to give up and made a second move into the face of the wind retaking the wind but she lacked to strength to hold off a hard charging Edwards who pulled away in the last 50 meters running 2:12.99.  It was a big win and a big scalp for Edwards.

2.  Kolton Pickard looks like he's ready for all comers in Lee County.  The Estero junior clocked a 4:04.45 in the 1,500 at the Ida Baker Invitational.  Pickard won by about 15 seconds over Lehigh's Evan Meyer.  His time when converted to the 1,600 puts him a good ten seconds ahead of Fort Myers senior Liam Holston who managed to run a 4:31 at IMG on Saturday.

3.  SFCA senior Ethan Tank rolled to an easy win at Ida Baker in the 3,000.  Tank committed this week to Flagler University.  Tank's time of 9:19.41 under windy conditions is worth a sub 10 minute clocking over the 3,200.  Hopefully we will have an opportunity at some point during the season to see Tank, Pickard, Holston, Meyer, Dunbar's Oglar Bartolon and Fort Myers Paul Kolson show down in a 3,200 meter.  It would make for some hot racing.