4A Boys Georgia Olympics Meet Preview
On the Field
Pictured above is Nick Chubb from Cedartown HS
In the Throws events 2 athletes have a legit chance to 'double' including Donald Daley of Redan and Kenneth Brinson from Marist. Daley has both #2 4A marks at 55-6 in the Shot and 174-8 in the Discus. Brinson has the top mark in the Discus at 179-6 and 3rd best mark in the Shot at 53-7. Nick Chubb (a Sprinter) from Cedartown, is #1 in the Shot after Sectionals at 55-8. Gino Fabrezio of Eagle's Landing has a toss of 150-11 in the Discus. The PV could come to misses as 9 vaulters cleared at least 11-0 at Sectionals. Bryson Mulkey of Gilmer HS has the top clearance in 4A this Spring at 13-0. In the HJ competition Justin Sumter from Sandy Creek recently cleared 6-10 and both Daniel Oduah of Eastside and Freddie McSwain have best bars of 6-8. In the horizontals, Demek King from Monroe Area had a sick leap in the LJ at Sectionals going 24-2 and Banneker stud Ryan Clark had a great mark of 23-6! Redan's Chris McBride is a dual threat with pr's of 23-3/47-2. Devin Valentine from Lanier has the top mark this Spring in the TJ at 48-0.5 (6 LJ'rs have prs of 23+)
Relays
The 4x100m could be the fastest/tightest relay of the Georgia Olympics as 5 squads have went sub 42 including 4A leader Banneker who burned down a 41.25 at Sectionals with Monroe Area a shoelace back at 41.35. Sandy Creek brings in a season best of 41.52, Carrollton 41.78 and Statesboro 41.98. In the 4x400m relay, Banneker cruised a bit, but has a MileSplit 1st team 3:16.72 from the Westlake Relays back in April. Eastside should give chase with a 3:19, Carrollton, Westover and Dutchtown all have 3:22's
Individual Prelims
In the 400m dash Ryan Clark of Banneker is the favorite with a sb of 47.78 (but may be saving something special for Saturday), but Zaquavian Smith from Statesboro has been closing the gap this season pr'ng at Sectionals in 48.03. Oduah of Eastside clocked a 48.63 last week and Nolan Daniels from Marist has a pr of 49.10. The fastest sprinter of the year was Clark in the 100m, but he's invested in his specialties (200/400) Demek Kemp of Monroe Area turned in the fastest time last week in 10.68, Marvin Hubbard from Sandy Creek has a pr of 10.66, and hold the presses, Nick Chubb (also a Thrower) ran 10.69 at Sectionals...that's a WOW!
Banneker's Clark is 'the man' in the 200m, going 21.17 at Sectionals and maybe, just maybe... he will go after Tyreek Hill's state meet record Saturday... Zaquavian Smith of Statesboro will seek to push with a pr of 21.44. Chubb and Christian Williams of Therrell will try to run them down. The 800m race presents Marist a chance to sweep, as converted 400m ace Nolan Daniels comes in with the top time at 1:54.84 followed by teamate Frank Pittman at 1:56.62. Coggins of Lagrange will contend at 1:57 and Landon Moore of Eastside comes in with a 1:58.
Hurdles
Marist's David Gilstrap is the fave to win the 110h with a nice pr of 14.21, Quandarius Weems from Griffin has improved all season, and could contend for a Silver w/ a pr of 14.45. Kalin Cook from Shaw and DeAntoine Cammons of Carrollton are both in contention for top places. For the 300h, Caleb Johnson from Carrollton has the pole position at 38.85. The Statesboro duo of Andreas Ward and Dementris Davis could boost their squad's aspirations of a top 4 team finish. Cook from Shaw, and McBride of Redan are both dangerous.
Distance
Daniel Navarro of Marist
Marist could possibly sweep the 1600 and 3200m races. Daniel Navarro has ran very well with a pr of 4:17.81 almost 7 weeks ago at the Coaches Invite, and Michael Thurston had a season best 2.5 months ago at Parkview, but you know their guys almost always peak at State. Andrew Coggins of Lagrange will be hungry to take his best shot Thursday with a pr of 4:20.0 at Sectionals and Hakeem Mustafaa clocked a 4:23 same race. Like in any strong distance class, the contenders for the 3200m title Friday nite 'cruised' at Sectionals. Navarro comes in as the man to beat with a recent pr at Taco Bell in 9:13, Thurston ran a 9:38 at Marietta FNL 5 weeks ago... Mustafaa has a season best of 9:46, but expect him to go lower, Sam Bowie from Lagrange is the only other runner qualified to go sub 10: at 9:42 at Long Orthdontics.