Golden South Classic Girls Sprints/Hurdles/Jumps Preview

Denise Spann - The Golden South Invitational is meet full of personal bests, shocking races and track and field athletes from all over the United States.

Golden South was primarily known for their outstanding 100m dash and mile events that allowed athletes to qualify for the adidas Dream 100 and adidas Dream Mile in New York.  However, in this year’s meet there’s a new sponsor, Brooks, and totally different prizes up for grabs.  

The Flo Golden South Invitational will now be an automatic qualifier for the Brooks PR Invitational in Seattle, Washington, in the following events: 100m, 400m, 800m, and the Mile.

With the sprinting events being such a heavy part of the meet and with 4 "Golden Tickets" on the line, here’s a Sprints, Hurdles and Jumps preview set for the big stage.

To start off our preview for the Girls Classic Division, we have some heavy hitters on the list in the 100m dash. At the top of the list is Ka' Tia Seymour (track profile) of Florida Alps (Palataka HS) with a time of 11.53.

Seymour won the 100m and 200m dash at 2A States with an 11.85 ad 23.98. She’s been very consistent in the 100m dash this season and will be a top contender for that Golden Ticket.  Not too far from Seymour is 4A State Champion Amuru Patterson (track profile) 11.57aw.  Patterson's performance at State was stellar and it will be a great showdown in the Finals.

Amuru Patterson by Robert "Twangster" Brown

These two girls have separated themselves from the rest of the group, as the next closest time to our top 2 girls is Pure Athletics Competitive Edge, Nia Flagg (track profile) from Gainesville,  running 11.6.

Flagg placed 4th in the very competitive 3A states this year in the 100m dash. Jamesha Moorer (track profile), comes in with a time of 11.7 and there are an additional 5 girls in the 11.7s. The event is going to really competitive because there are already 13 girls under 11.9, and only 8 spots in the final.

Jamia Hickman (track profile) (Trackstar Track Club) is leading the charge in the Girls Classic 100mh.  Her seed time (12.60) beats her opponents by more than a second. But, everyone is held accountable on race day and someone who looks to give Hickman a run for her money is Kenya Dillion (track profile) (13.89) and Jordan Fields (track profile) (14.07).

Dillon seems to have been dropping her time all season, so will we see a new personal best? As for Jordan Fields, this South Carolina commit is continuing off her best competitive summer last year representing Team USA at the World Youth Games.

In the 200m dash Jayla Kirkland (track profile) (23.60) is coming down from Alabama to make her name known to the competition. Kirkland won the 4A-7A State meet in the 200m dash this year, and her 11.33 speed can sure carry her around a curve. Amuru Patterson will be keen to hold home field advantage for the Sunshine State as the 4A State Champion and has already gone 23.85.

Kaira Simmons (track profile) (23.73) of Take Flight Athletics is giving close chase to Kirkland, as she placed 2nd at 2A States in the 200m. Other familiar faces you’ll see will be Ka' Tia Seymour (23.90), Karimah Davis (track profile) (23.93) and Jan’Taijah Ford (track profile) (24.25).

Jan'Taijah Ford by Robert "Twangster" Brown

In the quest for that 400m Golden Ticket, Jan’Taijah Ford (54.01), the freshman from Northeast HS won the 400m in 3A states, and she looks to have some more in the tank to push forward to possible 53 territory. Janae Caldwell (track profile) (54.65) and BVI's Judine Lacey (54.90) are very close behind.The quest for this Golden Ticket looks like it’s in Ford's favor, but in this event, you never really know.

Karimah Davis by Robert "Twangster" Brown

In the Girls Classic Division High Jump, the top mark goes to Emily Gauvey (track profile) (5-9); this senior got 2nd place at 3A States this year, and she has consistently jumped 5-8 on multiple occasions. Right on her heels are Jordan Fields (5-8.5) and Gillian Morrison (track profile) (5-8).

Morrison has committed to Boston University and has shown her versatility while pursuing multis. These three girls will definitely be putting on a show for the crowd, as it can be any one of them on top.

In the long jump Sophia Falco (track profile) has the farthest jump, with a 20-4.75". Falco the 4A state champion in the long jump this year and has definitely improved from her several 18' jumps in past years.

Following right behind her are Kaira Simmons (20-2.25), Jordan Fields (18-7) and Gillian Morrison. In the triple jump, Falco and Morrison will face off again. Falco is also leading this event with a 40-2.5" jump.

Finally, in the pole vault Carson Dingler is leading the competition with a 13-8 vault that puts her as the clear favorite for the event.  Keep an eye on Nicole Breske (track profile) 12' 6", the 4A State Champion and recent FSU signee to lead the Florida vaulters.

Nicole Breske by Robert "Twangster" Brown