5A Girls State Meet Preview
5A begins on Thursday evening in the 1600 meter finals as a quintet of girls are set to joust including 5A XC champ Lindsay Billings of Northview, Dunwoody's Alex Cameron, Pope's Ashley Kehoe, Anna Hayden from Riverwood and Anna Barefield of Northview. All have went sub 5:15 this Spring. The 3200 race is Friday evening will be a 'redo' from the Region meet. Northview has a chance to score 18 points as Billings hammered out a 10:58 at Region and Barefield 11:08. Kehoe has a pr of 11:11 and Hayden 11:13.
The Field event points will be crucial for several contending teams, and Pope, Miller Grove, Forest Park have the most at stake. Andrea Vahoua of Pope is a threat to score big in the Throws. Bryana Scott of Thomas County could push her in the Discus and Noelle Parker from Whitewater is the favorite to win the Shot with a pr of 46-3. The HJ will be tight as 5 girls have a bar of at least 5-4 with Breondra Steele of Hiram clearing 5-6 at 'A' Sectionals. Huge points will be on the table for Miller Grove as Tiffany Flynn's a big favorite to sweep the TJ/LJ for Miller Grove and teamate Pauline Arndt has the #2 mark in 5A in the LJ. Bria Matthews of Forest Park will try to push Flynn in the TJ. Samantha Patterson of Woodland is the top rated Vaulter coming in at 11-6.
The prelims will be contested Friday in Session 4 and its crucial the contenders for a team title get the baton legally around the mondo oval including NSWR, Miller Grove, New Manchester, Pope, North Springs and Forest Park. (in both relays)
Top athletes in the track prelims to watch are Cassondra Hall of NSWR (100/200), and Anika Carter of New Manchester (100/200) Niata Alexander of Manchester (200/400), Joie Royer of Arabia Mountain (400). In the 800m Marielle Lewis from Kell, Tatiyana Caffey of Miller Grove and Kuersten Gallivan of North Springs. Athena Carpenter can put big points up for Pope in the Hurdles events, but she will have to overcome Flynn in the 100h and Saleigh Derico of North Springs, Morgan Hubbard of Heritage and Lauren Epps from Forest Park in the 300h.