Lets see how the varsity meet is shaping up:
Women’ sprints- Taren White of Grayson is the clear favorite in the 100 and 200 having flirted with breaking 12 seconds at Ga. Tech with a 12.02, 3rd fastest in Georgia. She also leads the 200 with a 25.4. In the 400, Sonikqua Walters of Peachtree Ridge with a 56.84 is the favorite, possibly being challenged by Sydney Williams of Collins Hill.
Men’s sprints- Brookwood’s Keenan Harp leads male sprinters in the 100 with a 10.76, followed closely by Torri Tillman of Peachtree Ridge with a 10.82. Quite a battle shaping up there. In the men’s 200, Khayri Gant and Torri Tillman lead with very fast times of 22.01 and 22.02. The 400 title looks like Kevin Gary of South Gwinnett is a heavy favorite with a time of 48.93 so far.
Women’s distance- Nicky Akande is a heavy favorite with a state-leading time of 2:18.8. Quandra Shanks and Sarah Perry have run 2:21 and 2:23 in relay splits. The 1600 shapes up as a battle between Akande and Caroline Kissel of Brookwood who ran 5:11 at the Ga. Tech meet. In the 3200, Sarah Brown of Parkview is the only athlete under 11:30 and is a clear favorite.
Men’s distance- This part of the meet should be dominated by the powerful Brookwood distance program led by Tyler Anyan who could challenge the meet record in the 3200, having already run 9:08 this year. Kirubel Erassa of Grayson is the dominant distance runner in the State this year but may be hampered by a hamstring injury incurred in the 4 x 400 at Ga. Tech, after having gone out in 56 and 1:59 in his leg of the 4 x 1600. The 800 should shape up as a battle between Miquel Velasquez of Berkmar and Carter Hewitt of Brookwood, both of whom are right around 1:56. The county meet record could be threatened by either. Jackson Wearn and Sean Brennan are slight favorites in the 1600, having run 4:22 and 4:25 in relay splits at Ga. Tech. They are closely followed by Steven Spevacek and Alec Klassen of Parkview, both in the 4:26’s. This may be one of the most interesting events of the meet. Billy Kovalczyk of Grayson could be a threat in either the 800 or 1600.
Women’s hurdles- Victoria Hines of Berkmar is alone at 14.95 in the 100 hurdles with 6 county athletes between 15.26 and 15.43. Monique Pate of Peachtree Ridge and Irrion Connaler of Central Gwinnett are within 3 tenths of each other at 46.3 and 46.6. No one else is close.
Men’s hurdles- In the 100 hurdles, Robert Edwards of Brookwood is the favorite at 14.4, the 2nd fastest time in the State. His teammate, William Smith is next at 14.75 and Stephen Graham of Collins Hill is at 14.76. All are in the state’s top 10. The 300 hurdles are led by Patrick Kelley’s 39.22, the 7th time in the State. 6 athletes are between 40.5 and 41.0
Women’s jumps- The high jump is wide open with no Gwinnett athletes ranked in the top 25 in the state. Parkview looks dominant in the long jump with Indiah Bell at 18’ 1” and Denise Winters at 17’ 6’. Winters is also a solid favorite in the triple jump. The vault should shape up as a battle between Mill Creek’s Carson Simpson and Jessica Steele and Greater Atlanta’s Claire Goodson and Caroline Bond. All are over 10’, led by Simpson’s 11’ vault.
Men’s jumps- Norcross looks good here led by Malcolm Davis at 6’8” and Chris Reaves at 6’ 6”. Brookwood’s Matt Caldwell could threaten but has been inconsistent. Norcross also looks good in the long jump with K J Lightbourne at almost 23’ and Malcolm Davis at 22’ 4”. Eugene Glenn of Shiloh is also at 22’ 4”. The triple jump should be dominated by Julian Vann of Parkview, the defending State champion at over 47’ this year.
Women’s throws- Creean Perkins of Shiloh has thrown over 40’ in the shot and is the clear favorite and should be in the hunt in the discus at 108’, along with Emily Brewer of Brookwood, the defending State champion and Emily Chosewood of Parkview, both over 110’.
Men’s throws- The shot should be one of the most competitive events in the meet with Eli Mahaley and Robert Harvey of Dacula both over 54’ with Akil Mills of Grayson at 53’ and Carson Sears of Peachtree Ridge at 52. All 4 are ranked in the top 10 in the State.
In the discus, Eli Mahaley of Dacula and Akil Mills are within 2 feet of each other at 163’ and 161’. They are the big favorites.
Women’s relays- Grayson is a heavy favorite in the 4 x 100 with a 48.01 at Ga. Tech. Peachtree Ridge may challenge with a 48.9. Both teams should also be dominant in the 4 x 400 with Grayson leading up to this point- 3:56 to 3:58.
Men’s relays- Parkview, Brookwood and Grayson are all within 2 tenths of each other, at 42.6 to 42.8. Don’t count South Gwinnett out with their excellent sprinters. Peachtree Ridge leads the state at 3:19 in the 4 x 400, but should be challenged by South Gwinnett.
Battle for Team supremacy-
Women- Parkview looks to be the favorite, and they should be pushed by Peachtree Ridge.
Men- Brookwood is the favorite, but watch out for Parkview.
Coach Joe Carter