Week 8/9 Three Things

I'm cramming a couple of weeks worth of running into one blog as their was a couple of meets prior to the start of Districts and now we've hit the mark where all of qualifying for Regionals has wrapped up for Lee County track and field athletes.  I'm going to chop this up a little differently because we are at the point where getting to State is going to be a tough go.  Only the top two places at Regionals move on plus if I understand the confusing FHSAA's rules for qualifying, as many as ten at large relay relay teams/athletes will get invitations.  I personally think they should take the top three from each Regional with the next four fastest marks getting invites but that's just my opinion.

1.  The sure bets to advance of teams/athletes that will advance to State among Lee County distance runners looks like this.  Estero senior Kolton Pickard is a lock to make it in the 800 and 1,600.  He's been running consistently 1:55/4:20 and appears on the verge of a big break through after a sparkling 400 anchor in the District 4x400 that appeared to be sub 50, outstanding for a distance runner.

The other lock is Ava Povich in both the 1,600 and 3,200.  The ECS junior has been running like a Rolex snapping off a 5:10.24 and 11:19.53 at Districts without any competition.  Canterbury's Gabriella Santucci should be able to advance in the 3,200 as well.  1A is stocked with the top girls in the State thanks to super squad Cambridge Christian serving up four of the top five girls in the distance races.  

The other sure thing appears to be Bishop Verot's girls 4x800 along with super frosh MacKenzie DeLisle in the 1,600 and 3,200.  Verot's boys should also advance in the 4x800 because of absolute 800 studs Cooper Banks and Grayson Tubbs.  As good as these two middle distance runners are both are going to have to run PR's if they hope to make it to State as individuals.

2.  The bubble individuals are an interesting mix.  SFCA junior Hayden Tank has really improved over the course of the season.  He's got a shot in the 1,600 or 3,200.  Fort Myers senior Colsen Palmer has run PR's in both the 1,600 and 3,200 this season.  Can he run a PR in one of these two events to slip into State?  Teammate sophomore Joseph Koraya will need a huge race to make it in the 1,600 but Palmer and Koraya could help the Green Wave 4x800 team make it to Gainesville.  The Green Wave girls also appear to have a 4x800 squad capable of qualifying as well.

In the 3,200, Declan Ziomek appears to have a solid chance to advance to Gainesville but he'll be chased by teammate Matthew Speruta and Cape Coral's William Canales.  Something tells me it will take some major PR's by any of those three to make it through and that includes Palmer and Fort Myers freshman Craig Allard, Jr.

3.  I wanted to point out a couple of comebacks.  A year ago Canterbury's Charlie Meagher was racing on a stress fracture.  The 800 specialist battled injuries ever since last spring and finally got healthy in the last couple of months.  Meagher ran 2:05.18 to qualify through to Regionals which is heartwarming to see.  Good things should happen to good people.  The same thing can be said of Fort Myers sophomore Elizabeth McHugh who also spent the better part of the fall, winter and early spring battling injuries.  She's been healthy the last six weeks and split a sub 2:30 leg for the Green Wave 4x800.  We expect big things from both of these athletes next fall.