By Ricky Quintana
Last years Golden South had a smattering of top performances. This years
should be no different as some of the best in the nation gather on the
speedy Payne Stewart Complexs MONDO track in Orlando, FL.
Girls Highlights
100m
Frosh Bianca Knight (Ridgeland, MS) was just nipped at the line at last
years champs by senior Juanita Broaddus( William Penn, Philadelphia, PA).
On May 7-8, Knight claimed her 8th individual state titles by posting an
impressive 11.56, 23.98, and 55.63 for her new school, Ridgeland and helped
them win the Mississippi 4A state team championship.
Local, Lauren Austin(Orlando, Oak Ridge) will provide a challenge after
winning the FL state title in the 100m in a personal best of 11.68. She also
tripled at state posting marks of 24.20(2nd) and 54.36(1st).
400m dasher, Natasha Hastings(Randolph, NY), and BAYTF winner (11.86) Tianna
Fisher(FL Elite) should also complete a solid field.
200m
Junior Britney Wilson(Orlando, Oak Ridge) blasted to the only sub 24
performance of the Florida State meets with her 23.98 to win the 4A state
title. UM bound teammate, Lauren Austin(Orlando, Oak Ridge) has improved her
speed this season and managed a PR of 24.20; possibly the result of her 5th
place finish(145 pound bench/175 pound clean) in 154 pound class at the
state weightlifting championships, February 7. 3A FL state champion and
sophomore, Galyn Iloka (Rockledge,FL) posted a quick 24.39 into a 1.0m
headwind and should be even quicker on the ultra quick Payne Stewart track.
400m
Some young guns, froshes Bianca Knight (Ridgeland, MS) and Devon Williams
(Towson Catholic, Baltimore, MD) will challenge USA World Indoor Team
member, and University of South Carolina signee, Natasha Hastings(AP
Randolph, NY) in the 400m. Hastings posted a best of 52.09 at the USATF
Junior Champs in 2003 to finish 3rd.
Bianca Knights best is 53.81 set last summer . Wunderkind, Devon Williams
ran a national indoor record of 1:11.53 for 500m this past indoor season
and as well as a US #1 in the 800m(2:06.48), and a US #2 in the mile,
4:50.76 for the mile. Williams also beat Hastings in setting the 500m
record.
This should be an amazing competition.
800m
Arcadia Invite winner and sophomore, Latavia Thomas (West Catholic, PA)
posted an outdoor season best of 2:07.21, the US#3 time. Devon Williams ran
a 2:06.48 indoors;a US#1.
Lavera Morris(Orlando Oak Ridge) ran a FL state meet record setting time of
2:09.90 to win the state championships. She preceeded that with a 5:03.76,
1600m 2nd place finish. The additional rest should help her in her quest to
repeat as champion.
5A GA state champion, SW Deklabs (Powder Springs, GA)Brittany
Robbins(2:12.41PR), 1A FL State Champion, soph, Danielle Bradley(Kings
Academy), 2A 1600m/3200m FL State Champion, junior Nicole Schappert(Boca
Raton, Pope John Paul II), 2:10.89 performer, senior Alondra Cooper(
Suncoast, FL), 2:13.54 performer, and Jessica Smith( Harrison, Powder
Springs, GA) complete a very deep fast field.
400mH
Nicole Leach( AP Randolph, NY) is the class of the field after setting the
Penn relays record and US#11 time of 57.84 on April 22. Two others could
also challenge the sub 60-second barrier; Holly Hardy (Anderson, SC) 1:04.35
and Rokesha Williams( Towson Catholic, Batlimor,e MD), 62.
3000m
Jenny Barringer(Oviedo, FL) will tune up for AOC championships with a 3000m
effort. Barringer posted a US#2 time, 4:49.01, in the mile on May 22. Her
best this season in the 3200m, 10:35.21, a FL state meet record setting
time, came after a 4:48.90 FL state meet record time in the 1600m. She
should be fresh and shell need it to get the national leading 9:27.4 run by
Nicole Blood in the NY sectionals last week. Barringers 3200m best,
10:18.84, is equivalent to the 9:37.60.
Anissa Angeosante(Kingsland, TX ), Jacy Kruzel(Cooper City, FL) and Amanda
Hahn(Gainesville, FL) should also make for a fairly deep competition.
LJ
Four 18+ footers will be looking to g beyond 19 feet. Surprise 4A FL state
champion(18-07.75), Zurina Suluki Drakes( Colonial, Orlando, FL) will get
challenge from 3A FL state champion(18-06.75) Deandra Doyley ( Ft.
Lauderdale, FL), 18-08.5 performer, Jenna Utecht(St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft.
Luaderdale, FL) and unknown quantity, Taniesha Brangman (Pembroke Pines,
FL) who has entered at 18-8.
100mH
Clemson signee, Polly Hardy has posted a quick 13.77 at her region meet. Her
next best times are 14.02, 14.23, and 14.41. 3A FL state champion, Jenna
Utrecht(St. Thomas Aquinas, Ft. Lauderdale, FL). 14.18 performer, Simone
Clark (Rickards, Tallahassee, FL), and Holly Hardy9Anderson, SC), a 14.58
performer and Wallace State signee will make the field very competitive.
SP Discus
Senior Misti Barber( Miami,Carol City) set a state meet record of 49-09.75
to break Olympian Seilala Suas 1996 state meet mark of 49-05.25 May 8. She
also came back to win the discus with a platter toss of 152-05. S
