REGION 8-AAAAAA MEET PREVIEW by Coach Joe Carter
With individuals & teams that will impact the upcoming Sectionals & State meets, the Region 8-AAAAAA Championship will be exciting to watch. Below are previews of the sprints, hurdles, distance, & field event competitions for boys & girls, as well as team predictions based on entry marks.
GIRLS PREVIEW
Sprints & Relays – The 100 should be the most exciting sprint event on the girls’ side. Berkmar’s Elexis Guster has the fastest non wind-aided mark in AAAAAA. Simone Glenn from Brookwood has also broken 12.00 and should be in contention. Brookwood’s Glenn is the only 200 runner in the field who has broken 25.00 this year, and should be the favorite. In the 400, Archer’s Serenity Douglas should be a heavy favorite having the fastest entry mark by nearly 3 seconds. The 4x1 & 4x4 on the girls side should be fantastic races. In the 4x1, four of the 10 fastest times run in AAAAAA this year have been run by Region 8 teams. Archer has run 47.94, with Berkmar (48.11), Brookwood (48.77), and Dacula (49.02) close on their heels. The 4x4 should be equally as exciting. Four teams (Grayson, Parkview, Berkmar, and Shiloh) are within 3 seconds of each other. All four teams have run between 4:03 and 4:06 this year. Should be a great way to end a great meet on Thursday.
Hurdles – The 100 hurdles should be a great race, with 8 girls entered with marks between 16.0 & 16.8. Brookwood’s Melyssa Haughton & Claire Cashin have the fastest marks at 16.06 & 16.10. In the 300 hurdles, Berkmar’s speedy Elexis Guster is the favorite. She’s run 42.13, the fastest time in AAAAAA this season. Behind Guster, Brookwood’s Claire Cashin has run the 9th fastest time in AAAAAA this year at 45.61.
Distance – The 800 should be the most exciting distance event on the girls’ side. Brookwood’s QuanDra Shanks, the 2011 & 2012 State Runner-up in the event, should be the favorite. However, the race for the final Sectional’s qualifying spots should be exciting, with several girls with entry marks between 2:24 & 2:28. In the 800, relay splits can often hide faster times. So, there may be a few girls entered who’ve run faster than advertised. In the 1600, Brookwood’s Shanks and Laurel Sumner are the only entrant’s with sub 5:30 marks. Parkview’s Julie Wang has shown she can run big at big meets and should be a factor. The final Sectionals’ qualifying spot will be a battle between Archer’s Dove & Steele, Grayson’s Traylor & Gomez, and Parkview’s Escorza. Nine girls 4x8 teams are entered. This should be a great race, with Parkview & Brookwood battling it out for the win. Three teams are entered with marks of 10:32 or better. Central Gwinnett, Grayson, and Parkview’s “B” team should battle for the 4th spot.
Field – The most closely contested field events on the girls’ side may be the Pole Vault & High Jump. In the Pole Vault, Grayson’s Kayla Harrison is the favorite at 9-00. After Harrison, 5 entrants have cleared 8-00, with Dacula’s Sherril leading the pack at 8-6. In the High Jump, Berkmar’s Washington is the favorite at 5-2, with 5 more entrants who’ve cleared 5-0. In the long & triple jumps, Central Gwinnett’s two jumpers are the class of their respective fields. Jakael Bush in the LJ has the 11th best jump in AAAAAA. While, Ismaelle Occeus has the 9th best TJ in AAAAAA. In the discus, Archer’s Williams and Berkmar’s Queen Briggs should battle it out for the win. They have the 4th and 6th farthest throws respectively in AAAAAA this season. In the shot, Briggs & Parkview’s Mia Marshall are the favorites, with the 10th & 6th best heaves in AAAAAA this season, respectively.
Team – When scored by entry marks, Brookwood appears to be the favorite. Parkview, Archer, and Berkmar should battle it out for the remaining podium spots. However, as all track fans know, meets rarely go as advertised. The girls’ team race should be a great one.
BOYS PREVIEW
Sprints & Relays – Shiloh’s speed will be on display, as they have the fastest entry marks in the 100, 200, and 400. In the 100, Nicholas Bradley & Brookwood’s Daquan Joy have wind-aided marks under 11.00. Shiloh has the only two marks under 22.00 in the 200 (Bradley & Grant Swinton). Shiloh’s Swinton has the only sub-50 seed time in the 400 (48.94), and should be the favorite there. In the 4x1, Shiloh’s speed has them with the fastest seed time (42.14). Grayson, Dacula, & Archer should battle it out for the final Sectionals’ qualifying spots, as all have gone under 43.00 this season. The 4x4, as with the girls, may be the most exciting race of the meet. Five teams are within 2 seconds of each other. South Gwinnett has the fastest seed time (3:25). But, Grayson, Berkmar, Shiloh, and Brookwood have all run 3:27 or better. The 4x4 should be anyone’s race.
Hurdles – Brookwood’s Jay Lawson brings in the 2nd fastest time in AAAAAA this season, and should be the favorite in the 110s. The race for the final 3 Sectionals’ qualifying spots should be a good one, with 6 hurdlers between 15.05 & 15.49. Berkmar’s McPherson & Grayson’s Nimely & Collie lead the chase pack in the 110s. In the 300s, it should be a 3-way battle for the win, with 3 of the fastest 10 300 hurdlers in AAAAAA this season entered. Shiloh’s Jeremy McDuffie has the 6th fastest time in AAAAAA this season, with Grayson’s Smith (8th) & Berkmar’s Otis (9th) both in the top 10 in AAAAAA, as well.
Distance – The 800 should be a great race, with 4 athletes dipping under 2:00 this season. Brookwood’s Josh Ingalls & Pedro Caballero have the 2 fastest seed times. Grayson’s Davis & Shiloh’s Kamau should be in the mix, as well. Brookwood also has the 2 fastest entry marks in the 1600. Ingalls and Tommy Templeman are the only athletes who’ve gone under 4:30 this season, and should be the favorites. Brookwood & Parkview have the fastest 4 entries in the 3200. Parkview’s Schofer & Sullivan should be in it with Brookwood’s Templeman & Adams, with Shiloh’s Nahom Solomon in the mix for the final Sectionals’ qualifying spot. The 4x8 should be very exciting and a preview of future speedsters. With 8 teams entered, seven teams are entered with marks between 8:31 & 8:46. Berkmar leads the way at 8:31.
Field – The throws may be the marquee field events to watch on the boys’ side. In the shot, 4 of the top 10 throwers in AAAAAA will be on display. Brookwood’s Jared Munday has the 2nd best heave in the state (53-5.5). South’s Harris & Dacula’s Rutowski have also thrown over 50 feet. Parkview’s Patterson is right there, as well, having thrown 49-9.5 this season. In the discus, Parkview’s Patterson is the favorite with the 2nd best mark in AAAAAA this season (163-7). Brookwood’s Munday (143-0) has the 8th best mark in AAAAAA this season, and should battle it out with Archer’s Smellie (137-2), Central’s Westmoreland (136-4), Berkmar’s Ojiagbaje (135-9), & Dacula’s Davis (132-0) for the final 3 Sectionals’ qualifying spots. In the high jump, Brookwood’s Vitatoe is the favorite, tied for the best jump in AAAAAA this season (6-8). The pole vault, as with the girls, will be tightly contested. Brookwood’s Kuttler Smith & Reece Morrow have the best marks at 13-0. Parkview’s Atuan should be in the mix, clearing 12-6 this season. Shiloh’s speed will be a factor in the long jump, with Swinton & McDuffie entered at the best 2 marks. McDuffie should be the favorite, with a mark nearly a foot better than anyone else in the field (22-5.75). In the triple jump, Grayson’s Agbi will battle it out with Shiloh’s McDuffie. Both athletes’ best jumps this season are within 1/4 of an inch of each other (46-0.50 vs. 46-0.25).
Team – Brookwood appears to be the favorite on paper, with Shiloh’s speed making them a favorite for the 2nd place spot. Grayson looks to be the 3rd place team, with Berkmar & Parkview battling for fourth. Although, as with the girls’ side, Championship meets rarely go exactly as seeded. The boys’ competition should be a great one.