5A Boys Georgia Olympics Meet Preview

                                   5A Boys Georgia Olympics Meet Preview         

                                                                                On the Field

                        
                                         Seth Whitner of North Paulding HS (neighborhoodnewspapers)
 
Mt Zion would like to strike early in the LJ as teamates, Kirkland Varnadoe's pr is 22-11.5 with Marquett Simmons 22-9.  Challengers could be Jacob Battle of New Manchester (NMC) 22-10 and Denzel Harper of Stephenson (22-9) Dayo Akindele of Heritage HS is the top Triple Jumper coming in with a pr of 47-11, Lasheon Strozier from Lithia Springs went 47-2 at Sections, with Desman Martin from Bradwell pr in 46-4. Tyjon Williams from Effingham also has a mark of 46-2. The HJ competition features Jonathan Mays of NMC with a fresh pr of 6-10. Dominic Douglas of Bainbridge and Qua Stocks of N.Paulding both have bars of 6-8 to their credit. In the Vault, John Rudd from N.Atlanta has the top mark coming in at 14-7, Coleman Gordon from Dunwoody went 13-9 at Sections and Bryce Marratta of Woodland hit 13-3. The Discus favorite is Colton Quinones from Gainesville who pr'd last week at 166-7. Challengers could be Quintis Maddox from Salem (155-6) or Chuck McConnville from Union Grove (150-11) The Shot Put is up in the air with many thowers capable of taking the Gold. Seth Whitener of N.Paulding had the best pr this Spring at 52-7.50 with county rival Connor Christain of E.Paulding having a fresh mark of 51-10. Ethan Womack of Winder-Barrow pr'd at Sections going 51-2 and McConnville doubles as a threat in the Shot at 50-9.
 
Relays
 
Mt.Zion Jonesboro excels in both relays and came out of Sections 1st in the 4x100m in 41.64pr. Creekside had the fastest time this Spring at 41.48, Stephenson had a season best 42.00 and dangerous Cedar Shoals pr'd last week in 42.26.  The Bulldogs also boast the top 4x400m time in 3:19, followed by NMC, Riverwood and Cedar Shoals.  
 
                                                                                 Individual Prelims
 
                                                    Mount Zion senior Marquett Simmons has put up some impressive times this season as he eyes a Class AAAAA championship. (Staff Photo: Derrick Mahone)
                                                       Marquett Simmons of Mt.Zion (pic by Derrick Malone)
 
In the 400m Mt.Zion has 2 chances to score with season leader Andrew Nsuk headlining the event with a pr of 48.86. Challenges will come from Jonathan Womack of Whitewater (49.06) Brehshawrd Cooper of Cedar Shoals and teamate Joshua Simmons. Evan Berry of Creekside HS is the favorite in the 100m with a pr of 10.60, followed by contenders Simmons of Mt.Zion (10.67) Darius Watkins from Grovetown (10.71) and William Johnson of Lakeside DK (10.70) By the 200m dash if Mt.Zion's Marquett Simmons gets out of prelims safely, the 5A rodeo could be over as he holds the top time at 21.56. Expect Johnson of LSDK to chase, as well as Aaron Jones from S.Paulding, Cooper of Cedar Shoals and Watkins of Grovetown. In the 800m, Nsuk of Mt.Zion had made the transition to the 800m and came out of Sections with the top time at 1:56.23. Jedreck Higgins of LSDK has a better pr earlier at DeKalb Championships at 1:56.23.  Corey Jones from Richmond is very dangerous and has a rep of bringing it at State with a pr of 1:55 from 2013. Look for Abraham Perez of NS Columbus to be in that lead pack at 1:57. 
 
                                                                                       Hurdles
 
                                                      
                                                      Terrence Jenkins of New Manchester (neighborhoodnews)
 
New Manchester is very dangerous in these events as Terrence Jenkins has ruled these events in 4A this Spring with prs of 14.23/37.72. Out to pull and upset in th case Jenkins has a hiccup could be Jonathan Ross of Mt.Zion in both events, teamate Joshua Simmons (300h) or Stephenson hurdlers Denzel Harper or Cameron Glenn.                                                                                          
                                                                                     Distance   
                                                                                                                         
                                     
                             Logan Poteet of Kell                                                     Christian Bowles of Lakeside-Evans                         
 
Man, the 1600 and 3200m races will be showdowns between rankings leader Logan Poteet from Kell (4:20/9:16) and Christian Bowles of Lakeside Evans (4:21/9:19) they both had to race a bit in the 1600 last week, but cruised in the 3200 qualifying easily. Jones from Richmond is a threat in the 1600 (4:22) with his 800 speed. the race for the next 5/6 medal spots should be intense in both races.