Regional race is on: FHSAA track and field postseason rolls into UNF's Hodges Stadium
Florida High School Athletic Association track and field regionals begin Tuesday for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida. Schedules are as listed by the FHSAA but are subject to change. The vast majority of Northeast Florida teams will compete in the Region 1 meets at Hodges Stadium.
REGION 1-4A
When: Wednesday (11 a.m. field events, 5:45 p.m. track finals)
Where: University of North Florida, Hodges Stadium.
5 ATHLETES TO WATCH
Josh Howell, So., Creekside: With world-ranked star Christian Miller not racing this meet, Howell could bring home another Knights trophy in the boys 100. He's the top seed in the sprint, set to battle Mandarin's Stephen Degregorio and Jaylen Lewis. Also, the Creekside girls team is outstanding, including event favorites Janay Moorer, Brittney Jennings, Alyson Johnson and Sarah Rose.
Teryn Lane, Jr., Mandarin: He's seeded first in the boys long jump, soaring 22 feet, 11 inches at districts. The Mustangs' boys squad should gather plenty of points, including Tyrone Summerall in hurdles and Tiant Wyche in high jump.
Brooke Linscomb, Fr., Oakleaf: She was District 2-4A champion in the girls triple jump, with a distance of 37 feet, 5 3/4 inches to enter regionals as a top-three seed.
Ava Myers, So., Bartram Trail: The high-flying Bear previously cleared 11 feet, 9 3/4 inches for fifth place in the girls pole vault at the Florida Relays. She's a regional challenger in a field that also includes DeLand star Kylie Neira.
Zyaire Thomas, So., Fletcher: A state contender in the girls 400. Her Gateway Conference time of 53.95 leads the regional pack, but sprinters Janay Moorer (Creekside) and Kyla Skinner (Mandarin) will provide stiff competition.
REGION 1-3A
When: Wednesday (11 a.m. field events, 5:45 p.m. track finals).
Where: University of North Florida, Hodges Stadium.
5 ATHLETES TO WATCH
Mychaela Parker, Sr., Orange Park: It'll be an upset if anyone surpasses Parker in the girls shot put. She recorded a mark of 42 feet, 2 1/4 inches on home soil at the District 3-3A meet, and she is also a discus contender.
Kaylib Singleton, Jr., Fleming Island: So much speed. Also a cornerback prospect of note, Singleton is seeded first in the boys 200 (21.66), and could pick up big sprint points with teammates Cibastian Broughton and Sebastian Cruz. Distance runners Graham Myers, John Keester IV and Roman Mollicone further strengthen the Golden Eagle boys.
Madison Underwood, Jr., Middleburg: She's the heavy favorite to bring a regional trophy back to Bronco country in the girls discus. Underwood hurled the discus 140 feet, 8 inches in District 4-3A action.
Lindy White, Sr., Ponte Vedra: Among the best distance runners in Florida, the Florida State-committed White ranks third in the state in the girls 3,200. The Sharks could go 1-2-3-4 in that race with Daisy Ross, Hilaree Vega and Sofia Bushkell, and can expect high finishes for hurdler Sasha Crowe, thrower Isabella Madaffari and pole vaulter Katherine Kelly.
T'Vario Willis, Sr., Ridgeview: Clay County's top high jumper set a personal best last month by clearing 6 feet, 7 1/2 inches. He enters tied for the No. 1 seed.
REGION 1-2A
When: Tuesday (11 a.m. field events, 5:45 p.m. track finals).
Where: University of North Florida, Hodges Stadium.
5 ATHLETES TO WATCH
Andrew Marello, Sr., Wolfson: Can the USF-bound senior continue to hold off the chase pack of quality distance runners from Bishop Kenny, Bolles and Episcopal in the boys 1,600? He did last week. Following Marello's season best of 4:19.14 on this track at the Bob Hayes Invitational, this could be among the meet's most exciting races.
Will Wainwright, Sr., Suwannee: Already a state weightlifting champion, Wainwright could attain a rare regional sweep in the boys throws. He's seeded first in the discus (157 feet, 10 inches), javelin (192 feet, 3 inches) and shot put (51 feet, 8 1/2 inches).
Skyler Watts, Sr., Episcopal: Skilled in multiple events, Watts enters as favorite in the girls 200 with a 24.22. Get ready for a showdown, with Paxon's Kyndal Turner and Union County's Amia Bethea also among the contenders.
Kaitlynn Webbe, Sr., Jackson: The Tigers could go 1-2-3 in the girls 400. Webbe already has a 54.66 this year, and teammates Kennedy Hill and Jayla Daise bring speed as well.
Presley Wolfe, Sr., Bolles: The Bulldogs will likely top the podium many times Wednesday, and Wolfe enters as an overall state contender in two quite different events: girls pole vault and triple jump. Bolles is loaded with No. 1 regional seeds: Parker Adams (boys 3,200), Naeem Burroughs (boys 100), Zee Curtis (girls discus), Evie Freeman (girls 100) and Terrell McCoy (girls shot put).
REGION 2-2A
When: Tuesday.
Where: Mount Dora Christian.
ATHLETE TO WATCH
Destiny Williams, Fr., Palatka: She's seeded second in the girls high jump after clearing 5 feet, 3 3/4 inches in districts last week, and she qualified in the long jump and triple jump as well. Palatka is the only Northeast Florida school in this region.
REGION 1-1A
When: Tuesday (11 a.m. field events, 5:45 p.m. track finals).
Where: University of North Florida, Hodges Stadium.
5 ATHLETES TO WATCH
Cameron Anderson, Sr., Trinity Christian: He's sometimes a running back, sometimes a linebacker, sometimes a safety and always fast. He reduced his personal best to 11.16 last week in the boys 100.
Keeley Harold-Jackson, So., Impact Christian: She's coming off a major improvement and a pair of district championships, winning the girls discus (106 feet, 6 inches) and shot put (34 feet, 9 1/2 inches) for two top seeds.
Truth King, Sr., University Christian: Newly signed with Campbell just last week, she's the early favorite in the girls 800 with a 2:24.95 seed time and a two-second edge on her nearest competitor.
Sam Loftin, So., Providence: He's seeded first in the boys 800 (1:58.50), an event where three Providence runners will likely score. The Stallions are likely best-positioned for overall points among the Northeast Florida teams.
Ryan Turner, So., Bishop Snyder: Seeded first in the boys high jump, he cleared 6 feet, 1 1/2 inches a month ago and also won the 110 hurdles at districts a week ago.
REGION 2-1A
When: Tuesday.
Where: Mount Dora Christian.
2 ATHLETES TO WATCH
Ashton Akam, Sr., St. Joseph: There's a good chance for some high finishes for the Flashes' senior. He enters with the No. 2 seed in the boys 1,600 (4:34.09) and the 3,200 (10:25.71).
Isa Johnson, 8th, St. Johns Country Day: Still in the middle school grades, she's a top-three seed in the girls high jump with a height of 4 feet, 9 3/4 inches.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school track & field: Northeast Florida regional meet previews
