8-AAAAA Boys & Girls Championship Preview

          The boys side of region 8-AAAAA is stacked to be an epic event in track & field. Brookwood’s field of distance runners may be the best ever in GA history, Dacula’s throwers continue to best their opponents, Grayson’s distance program is looking to leave a mark on the way to Jefferson, South Gwinnett and Shiloh’s speed and jumpers look to make their presence known and Parkview looms just around the corner. The Broncos are the huge favorite, but a few other teams, including Berkmar, Meadowcreek, Central Gwinnett may have a say in the outcome before it’s all said and done. Wednesday April 30^th, we will know the answer.

 

Until last Saturday, the favorite to win the region in the long jump is veteran jumper and state qualifier Eugene Glenn (22-4, Shiloh) who has jumped 22-8. However, Jonathan Krause (South Gwinnett), a four year sprint star for the Comets, may have something to say with the 23-4 leap at the Mustang Invitational at Morrow. Parkview’s trio of jumpers including Kmau Brown (21-8), Christian Newsome (21-1) and Win Reid will duke it out at practice to find their entries, and Andrew Redhead (21-4.5, Dacula) has a great chance at scoring big. Don’t count at LeEddy Curry (20-11, Meadowcreek) and Devin Moore (20-6.5, Shiloh) who are all within striking distance.

Eli Mahaley (164-0, Dacula) has the edge going in, but Grayson’s Akil Mills (161-10) is not far off the lead. Robert Harvey (150-3, Dacula) and Cameron Lynch (142, Brookwood) are also very solid and stand to prove something. Parkview’s Tre Thomas (126-5), Shiloh’s Joshua Williams (122-3.5) and Berkmar’s Attila Lolic (120-8.5) help round out a strong field.

 

Dacula’s dynamic duo of Harvey (57-8.75) and Mahaley (57-4.75) will duel it out to help score a lot of points for their team. Grayson’s Mills (53-6) is not far off the lead and with a big throw could earn a state spot. Brookwood’s own duo of Jordan Thompson (48-4) and Ben Jones (46-5) look to climb their on the podium. Barron Walston (44-5, Parkview) is emerging in his rookie season. Shiloh’s Williams is hot on the trail (44-4) in what could prove to be a great competition.

Jordan Funk (13-6, Parkview, sophomore) and Terris Elliot  (13-6, Dacula, junior) are the favorites for now, Justin Grose (13-0, Brookwood, sophomore) is only one vault away from securing a higher spot. Parkview’s Elijah Gregg (12-0) and Josh Carswell (11-6) are also both sophomores, but only one will get to compete. Xavier Quaterman (Shiloh) also the only senior in the top 5, Jerron Straughan (Brookwood) and Dhante Bennett (Meadowcreek) are locked up at 11-0.  

Matt Caldwell (6-8, Brookwood) stands alone at the top of the rankings. The South Gwinnett tandem of Allasane Zombra and Tim Daniels (6-2) are knotted up at that height with Brookwood’s Brandon Bassell and Grayson’s Ciavy Wiles. The only other jumper at 6-0 is Parkview’s Domonique Jefferson.

Parkview’s Julian Vann (47-9), the defending region and state AAAAA champion, just PR’ed again this week with a school record jump. Devon Moore (45-1, Shiloh) is improving and gone over 45 multiple times in his career. Andrew Redhead (43-6, Dacula) and Nathaniel Minor (43-4.5, Brookwood) both are jumping well going into competition. South Gwinnett’s Mark Watts (41-10) is looking to maximize his team’s points as is sophomore Win Reid (41-9, Parkview). Central Gwinnett’s Aaron Taylor (41-3.5) is in striking distance of a medal as is Michael Van Fleet (40-8.5, Grayson).

Dacula, Brookwood, Parkview, Shiloh and South Gwinnett all can come out of the field looking strong.

 

Parkview (41.90) looks to be the favorite, much like Grayson’s girls, but several teams may have something to say about it. Grayson (42.66) is running well and Brookwood (42.68) ran a season PR recently at the Pepsi Florida Relays. South Gwinnett (42.71) is traditionally strong in this event and Shiloh (43.05), too.

Tyler Anyan (4.12.43) and Carter Hewitt (4.12.50) appear on paper to be a lethal one-two punch. Enter Grayson’s Kirubel Erassa who unofficially split a 4:06 mile in the 4x1600m Relay at the Coaches Invite at Georgia Tech. Parkview’s trio of Alec Klassen, Steven Spevacek and Jake McLaren (all 4:25’s) have to be chosen between for the top two spots for the Panthers. Along with Dacula’s Mike McClay (4:31.68) and Grayson’s Cory Cown (4:31.82), the field in the 1600m should prove interesting considering seven of the top ten in the state come from this region!

 

Kevin Gary (48.93, South Gwinnett) takes his leading time into region against teammate Mark Watts (49.04) who hit a huge PR last week. Josh James (49.48, Meadowcreek) cannot be discounted as his times have improved greatly this season. Berkmar’s middle distance diamond Miguel Velazquez (50.15) could make some noise, as could Brookwood’s Patrick Kelley (50.70). Nino Mole (51.00, Parkview) has a shot to score along with Shiloh’s Devin Moore (51.68) and Berkmar’s Jordan Parker (51.71).

Keenan Harp (10.57w, Brookwood) takes the state’s leading time into the finals as the favorite with Eugene Glenn (10.65w, Shiloh) hot on his heels. Jonathan Krause (10.84w, South Gwinnett) and Parkview’s combo of Julian Vann (10.91) and Christian Newsome (11.00) also are running fast. Parkview’s Eric Brown (11.08) also may see action here depending on entry choices, and Grayson’s Frank Bebbs (11.15) and Brookwood’s Zach Jackson (11.19w) could also find themselves on the podium.

Robert Edwards (14.33, Brookwood) brings the 4^th fastest time in AAAAA as the clear favorite. Teammate William Smith (14.71, Brookwood) is favored to get the other state spot but Parkview Panther Dexter Lawrence (14.90) may have other plans. The Shiloh duo of Dl Stephens (15.21) and Kyle Ashford (15.32) are certainly still in the picture to score big. Andrew Redhead of Dacula is also under the 16 second barrier (15.92)

Miguel Velasquez (1:54.80, Berkmar) is the favorite, but Carter Hewitt (1:55.29, Brookwood) is on his trail along with Billy Kovalczyk (1:55.17). Jackson Wearn (1:57.59, Brookwood) has a legitimate shot and Parkview’s Jake McLaren (1:58.50) should find his way on the podium. 

 

Three region 8AAAAA sprinters finished at county within thousandths of each other (Julian Vann, Parkview; Kevin Gary, South Gwinnett; Eugene Glenn, Shiloh) at 22.14. Vann broke the 22 second barrier Friday night at the Spartan Classic (21.99) with the other two right on his shoulder. Brookwood’s Keenan Harp (22.31), South Gwinnett’s Jonathan Krause (22.32) and Parkview’s Eric Brown (22.41) round out a nice field. Do not forget about Josh James (22.79, Meadowcreek) in the mix.

 

Patrick Kelley (38.71, Brookwood) was supposed to win this race running away. Shiloh’s Dl Stephens (39.08) wants to take a shot with his PR at the Mustang Invitational last week. Nathan Dobbs (40.03, Grayson) potentially can play the roll of spoiler as can Shiloh hurdler Kyle Ashford (40.83). South Gwinnett’s William Smith (40.91), Dacula’s Darius Jones-Craven (41.34), Dacula Terris Elliott (41.59), Berkmar’s Marc Maynard (41.68) and Parkview’s Tyquan Scaife (42.04) all could medal.

Both Tyler Anyan (8:57.73,Brookwood) and Kirubel Erassa (9:05.47, Grayson) have broken into the top 5 all time in GA with their performances this year, but the best may be yet to come on Wednesday at the finals. Anyan is the favorite at this point after running a mind-boggling sub 9 with no one to press him at the Gwinnett County Championships while Erassa has been nursing a hamstring injury back to health. Brookwood’s Sean Brennan (9:33.26) is a distant third seed and Parkview’s junior combo of Alec Klassen (9:35.57) and Steven Spevacek (9:36.00) round out a top five that only two are being considered contenders. Judging by last year’s race, this should be one for the ages. Don’t discount Mike McClay (9:46.46, Dacula). Seven of the top 10 in GA are from region 8AAAAA, and only 5 will get to run it.

South Gwinnett (3:17.78) just ran the fastest time in GA this season at the McEachern Invite to be the favorite. Shiloh busted a big PR (3:21.80) at the Morrow Mustang Invite. Meadowcreek is running strong (3:27.54) and Berkmar is solid (3:28.7). Parkview finally broke the 3:30 barrier at the Spartan Classic (3:27.56), and Grayson and Brookwood both loom right in the 3:30 mark.  

 

How good could a meet possibly be? The 2010 edition of the Region 8-AAAAA Championships on the men’s side looks like Brookwood is the heavy favorite to bring another region title home to Snellville, but Shiloh, South Gwinnett and Parkview all still have a dog in the race.

 

Team summaries after entries are finalized will be available over the weekend. Good luck to everyone!

 

Coach Henson

          One thing that stands out as you look through the rankings for region 8-AAAAA girls is that many teams are going to have to make some big decisions with region entries. With all of these decisions coming into play, there are some finish-altering questions that remain, too.

 

While everyone is vying to score as many points in the region to have a shot to win the title, coaches are going to try and qualify as many kids to the state meet as possible in order to have a shot to win the big one—the state championship. The teams in 8-AAAAA are poised and ready as entries are rolling in this week.

 

Parkview has a trio of 18’ plus jumpers in Alexis Jones-Hardy (18-5.25), Indiah Bell (18-1.5) and Denise Winters (18-1) but will only get to jump two. Shiloh’s Leanne Little has hit 17-2 this season and is consistently going in the mid to high 16’s. Meadowcreek’s Ola Oladipupo just went 16-6 so it’s going to be interesting going into the finals.

Parkview’s Denise Winters has been the odds-on favorite to win the event with her season-best 36-0.25 jump at the county meet, and then tried to jump out of the pit at the Spartan Classic Friday pushing 37 with a personal best/school record 36-11.5. However, Shiloh’s Leanne Little hit a monster jump at the Mustang Invitational Saturday at Morrow hitting 36-5. Other jumpers who have had great meets coming into the meet are Ola Oladipupo (Meadowcreek, 35-9.5) and Jaquida Jenerette (Meadowcreek, 33-11) and Valencia Hills (Parkview, 33-7). All three of these girls hit 2 foot-plus PR’s in the past week. Don’t count out Irrion Conaler of Central Gwinnett, either. She has popped 35 multiple times in her career.

Caryn Ivey (Central Gwinnett) and Leanne Little (Shiloh) appear to be ready to duel it out for the top spot. Both have achieved 5-2 going into the meet. Rebecca Shane (Parkview) hit a new PR at 5-0 over spring break. Four other ladies are tied at 4-10 and five are locked at 4-8.

Creeann Perkins of Shiloh looks ready to win big with a season best 40-5.5. Emily Chosewood (Parkview, 36-5.5) and Emily Brewer (Brookwood, 35-7.25) have been dueling it out all season with great throws. Sophomore Connor Lynch (Parkview, 34-2.5) recently hit a PR and earned her way on the region squad for the Panthers, but Meadowcreek’s Labrea McKay is close behind with her PR of 33-9.25 at the Mustang Invitational last Saturday.

Perkins (Shiloh) is the front-runner going into the finals with a throw of 124-2. Brewer (Brookwood)is a distant second at 115-10 with Chosewood of Parkview right behind her at 112-3. Quanesha Wilson (Parkview) has the potential to hit a big throw standing at 99-3. Kelsie Williams (Brookwood, 96-5), Ashley Metz (Dacula, 94-9) and Amanda Grave (Dacula, 94-7) all have the potential to steal a few extra points, too.

Between these three schools, they hold 11 of the top 13 slots in the rankings. Laura Dryden (Brookwood), Sequoyah Benton (Parkview) and Marisol Freytes (Dacula) have all PR’ed at 8-6. Dacula has the biggest decision. Kellie Keeling and Haley Nagle are knotted up at 8-0. Who will vault? Several girls are tied at 7-6.

In the field events, it appears that Shiloh has the potential to score high and often. Parkview should score well in the field, too.

 

Grayson’s girls appear to have things under control and have something to prove after missing the state meet last year due to an exchange violation. They are rolling in at a season best 48.01, but three teams remain in striking distance. Parkview (49.35), Berkmar (49.53) and Shiloh (49.88) all have the ability to run great times, too, especially since Berkmar and Shiloh’s times are PR’s from the previous weekend. 

Parkview and Brookwood hold 11 of the top 12 spots in the rankings, but each team will only get two spots. There are a lot of points still to be deteremined. Caroline Kissel (5:11, Brookwood) is the favorite going into the race. Sophomore Sara Brown (Parkview, 5:18) and Shea Spicher (Parkview, 5:24) have a shot at state qualifying positions. Sarah Perry (Brookwood) has run very well this season and split a 5:19.97.  And you can never discount Donye Coleman (Shiloh, 5:44). She has run a 5:20 in her career.

One of the biggest questions going into the region meet concern senior standout Taren White (54.84, Grayson). Normally a 100m/200m specialist, she broke a long standing county record at the Gwinnett County Championships and ran a nationally ranked time and is currently ranked #1 in Georgia. Freshman phenom Elexis Guster (57.08, Berkmar) is having a terrific debut season, but also has been running the 100m/200m. Central Gwinnett’s Jazy Seay-Blane (59.88) and Irrion Conaler have the potential to score high, as does Frantia Boudreaux (Shiloh) and Keiondra Halsey (Parkview) and Kayla Stephenson (Parkview). And don’t forget about Indiah Bell of Parkview. The junior state qualifier has been running the 100m/200m early in the season so that decision also stands to be made.

Taren White (12.02, Grayson) is the odds-on favorite win again. Indiah Bell (12.62, Parkview) and Elexis Guster (12.68, Berkmar) and Alexis Jones-Hardy (12.70) all are close in the hunt, too. Kendria Kelly-Taylor (12.75, Brookwood) also should score and Shiloh has to determine who runs it for them since they hold three spots in the top 10—Patrice Woodard, Holland Glenn and Quadrea Spears.

Victoria Hines (14.59w, Berkmar) is the leading candidate to win region. Alexis Jones-Hardy (14.96w, Parkview) and Mariah Ransom (15.07w, Berkmar) are right behind. Dacula’s Brittney Jones (16.02) and Parkview’s Allana Anderson (16.30) stand ready to score, too.

QuanDra Shanks (2:19, Brookwood) and teammate Sarah Perry (2:20, Brookwood) look to sprint it out for the top spot. Sara Brown (2:23, Parkview) PR’ed at the GAC Spartan Classic running 2:23. Donye Coleman (2:26, Shiloh), Ashley Neely (2:28, Shiloh), Janet Detweiler (2:30, Parkview) all have the ability to score. Leslie Sotelo (2:31, Meadowcreek) also can earn points, as could Berkmar’s Islam Galgal (2:31).

 

Taren White (24.31, Grayson) is the leader. Elexis Guster (24.97, Berkmar) is a distant second but still way out in front of third. Frantia Boudreaux (26.25, Shiloh) and Patrice Woodard (Shiloh, 26.40) are running well. Parkview’s Indiah Bell (26.01), Keiondra Halsey (26.22) and Livana Willis (26.46) are all running fast.

 

Irrion Conaler (45.44, Central Gwinnett) and Mariah Ransom (46.00, Berkmar) should make another outstanding final. Claire Cashin (47.94, Brookwood), Lachae Brown (48.12, Shiloh), Nicolette Cerne (48.73, Parkview) and A.J. Jefferson (49.63, Parkview) all appear to be potential scorers for their respective teams.

Arch rivals Parkview and Brookwood will battle it out for the two state qualifying spots. County Champion Sara Brown (11.23, Parkview), Caroline Kissel (11:27, Brookwood), Anakaren Lopez (11:35, Brookwood) and Shea Spicher (11:38, Parkview) should make things exciting for a big finish.

Grayson has scorched the track (3:56) but that was early and they haven’t found the same consistency they have in other events. Central Gwinnett and Brookwood are both running at 4:08. Shiloh has PR’ed at 4:10, and Parkview and Berkmar have both ran 4:12. Do not count out South Gwinnett (4:21). They perform very well in this event traditionally. Meadowcreek is also in scoring distance at 4:22.

 

It appears that many races in this meet will fall nothing short of spectacular, as always. Region entries are due by Thursday April 22nd at midnight. Once entries are finalized, I will write a team summary for each based on entries/changes.

 

Coach Henson