Three Big Things: Week Five

Southwest Florida's track and field season is going full bore and the great weather in mid-March offered athletes a chance to deliver some stellar performances.  As the temperatures begin to heat up the opportunities to run fast will be fewer and farther between and with no big meet showdowns at Florida State and Florida local competition will have to do.

1.  Estero junior Kolton Pickard is beginning to look like he can be mentioned in the same breath as Wildcat legends Erick Montoya and Hugh Brittenham.  After anchoring Estero's 4x800 team to victory at the South Fort Myers Invitational, Pickard rolled to a 9:29.9 3,200 as the sunset on a breezy Friday evening.  The time puts him a good 20 seconds up on the next fastest Lee County boy.  Given the path that Pickard is on he could become one of the few runners to break 9:15 and 4:15 in Lee County history.

2.  Ethan Tank took down another school record at North Port.  This time Tank rolled to a 4:33.11 1,600 in placing a respectable third.  The SFCA senior now owns both the 1,600 and 3,200 records for the Kings.  If he keeps progressing through the season a podium spot in one of these two events isn't out of the question at State.

3.  Jessica Edwards will grow tired of me writing about her close but no cigar running when it comes to her efforts to break 5 minutes over 1,600.  The Canterbury senior was pushed at the North Port meet but her victory only netted her a 5:03.88.  More impressive is Edwards doubled back with a 2:12.8 over 800.  Based on her 800 Edwards is capable of running well under 4:55, but I'm pretty sure she's tired of hearing about it.

As an aside so far four Lee County boys have broken 10 minutes for 3,200 meters.  Besides Pickard and Tank, Dunbar's Ogler Bartolon joined Fort Myers junior Colsen Palmer in the sub 10 club.