Golden South Classic Distance Preview - Golden South Classic 2013

The Distance Fields over the last 48 hours have really solidifed as a bona fide top notch competition with State Champions and National Elites added across the board.  The distance events will be highlighted by a chance to earn an automatic birth to the adidas Dream Mile in NYC next weekend at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.  To qualify, girls must win the competition and go sub 4:50, guys sub 4:11 for the full mile.

Girls 800 

The Golden South Classic Girls 800 record was set way back in 1985.  This is the year the record finally gets broken.  Look for defending 2A State Champion Daesha Rogers (American Heritage, Plantation, FL) to take it out hard as usual, covering the first 400 in 60-61 and then throttling back the 3rd 200.  To have a chance again Daesha, 4A State Champion Michelle Howell (Seminole Ridge, FL) needs to be within striking distance with 200 to go which realistically means going out in 63, sustaining the next 200 and battling Daesha the last 200.  We haven't seen Daesha seriously challenged in a Florida 800 race as everyone is trying to make up lost ground from 400-600 meters while she is in cruise mode, setting up for the last 200.  Look for the Classic record to fall.

Event 27  Girls 800 Meter Run Classic
===============================================================================
     Classic:  2:09.00  1985        Showanda Martin, Sanford, FL               
 National HS:  2:02.04  2011        Amy Weissenbach, Harvard-Westlake, CA      
USATF Junior:  2:00.07  1982        Kim Gallagher, PA HS                       
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Rogers, Daesha                 8 Unattached          2:09.44 
  2  Howell, Michelle              12 Fast Lane Tr        2:10.12 
  3  Warner, Lakeisha              11 Sprint Tech         2:10.92 
  4  Avery, Danielle               12 Unattached          2:12.84 
  5  Lyle, Veronica                11 Us. Elite Jr        2:14.33 
  6  Stevens, Emily                12 Unattached          2:14.81 
  7  Garner, Emma                  11 Unattached          2:15.12 
  8  Tubbs, Taylor                 12 Unattached          2:15.18 
  9  Thomas, Kayla                 11 1st Coast Tr        2:15.63 
 10  salas, daniela                 9 Unattached          2:17.00 
 11  Cazares, Rachel               11 The Matrix T        2:17.43 
 12  Johnson, Sinclaire             9 Unattached          2:17.65 
 13  Beaubien, Maddie               9 Fast Lane Tr        2:18.11 
 14  Casagrande, Grace             11 Unattached          2:18.16 
 15  Elliott, Amanda               11 Unattached          2:18.83 
 16  Gallivan, Kuersten            11 Unattached          2:18.95 
 17  Marsh, Nicolette              12 Fort Lauderd        2:20.27 
 18  Levine, Marina                12 727 Youth Tr        2:20.42 
 19  Roggeman, Julie               12 Unattached          2:20.70 
 20  Skipper, Elizabeth            10 United Speed        2:21.16 
 21  Porter, Julia                 11 Miami Garden        2:21.16 
 22  Spann, Daishon                 6 Plantation H        2:22.64 
 23  Evans, Nadiria                 8 Pure Athleti        2:23.90 

 

With so much depth, it's a hard race to predict although we definitely like what we saw from Will Spiers (Chiles, FL) at the Florida State Relays earlier the year when he broke loose with 300 to go and never looked back, going 1:55.80 for the win.  Will opted to compete in the 1600 at State, finishing 10th, so he's looking for some post season glory.  Boyd Anderson's Sophomore sensation Javon Patterson was second at 4A State behind Andres Arroyo, tends to be a front runner with 50 second flat 400 speed.  It would suit Javon well if he laid off the early pace because unless you're superior to the field, front running 800's at this level only lends itself to getting gobbled up on the home-stretch.  This race is ideally suited for Tampa Jefferson's 3A State champion Jonathon Moore, someone that can go out hard just off the pace and kick with the field as evidenced by his 1:55.21 win at State.

Event 28  Boys 800 Meter Run Classic
===============================================================================
     Classic:  1:49.60  1990        Stephen Adderly, Delray Beach, FL          
 National HS:  1:46.45  1996        Michael Granvile, Bell Gardens, CA         
USATF Junior:  1:44.90  1966        Jim Ryun, U. of Kansas                     
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Woodrome, Tyler               11 Unattached          1:53.96 
  2  Nicholls, Cory                12 Unattached          1:54.24 
  3  Patterson, Javon              10 Trinity Elit        1:54.49 
  4  Moore, Jonathan               12 The Matrix T        1:54.53 
  5  LeBlanc, Andrew               11 Unattached          1:54.95 
  6  Edwards, Dwayne               12 Jacksonville        1:55.14 
  7  Russell, Claudius             12 Phoenix Trac        1:55.63 
  8  Spiers, Will                  12 Unattached          1:55.80 
  9  Flowers, Jordan               11 Unattached          1:55.92 
 10  Heron, Kevin                  11 Unattached          1:55.99 
 11  Rogers, Jack                  10 Robinson HS         1:56.30 
 12  Lindsey, John                 12 Unattached          1:56.31 
 13  Loyack, Joseph                12 Unattached          1:56.34 
 14  Toth, Richard                 12 Unattached          1:56.46 
 15  Acuna, Cristian               12 Unattached          1:56.74 
 16  Garland, Zach                 11 Unattached          1:56.75 
 17  Brealond, Kailon              11 Unattached          1:57.13 
 18  Magee, Matt                   12 Unattached          1:57.27 
 19  Pollard, Corey                12 Unattached          1:57.43 
 20  Cline, Austin                 12 Unattached          1:57.69 
 21  Duncan, Devon                 12 Peak Perform        1:57.84 
 22  Velez, George                 12 Unattached          1:58.00 
 23  Robinson, Max                 10 Central Flor        1:58.41 
 24  Robin, Chris                  10 Calvary Chri        1:58.50 
 25  Loyack, Andrew                11 Unattached          1:58.66 
 26  Kirmani, Ramiz                12 Fast Lane Tr        1:58.88 
 27  Collier, Emanuel              12 Peak Perform        1:58.95 
 28  James, Rayford                11 Unattached          1:59.00 
 29  Eyiangho, Richard             12 Liberty High        2:01.64 

Girls Mile

Last year Chiles Lily Williams (Vanderbilt Frosh) scorched the State Series Trifecta winning the 8,16 and 3200 meter races before setting her eye's on the post season with a run towards the adidas Dream Mile and a date with destiny.  Lily entered 2012's Golden South Classic as the favorite in the Girls Golden Stripes Mile and 4:46.15 later was the Golden South Classic mile record holder and on her way to Icahn Stadium in NYC for the Dream Mile, where she subsequently became Florida's fastest Miler ever, going 4:42.79 (4:41.15c 1600).   

 

This years race will be a lot different as the 4 fastest Florida girls are entered with 3 out of the 4 Florida 1600 State Champions to include 2A State Champion and 8th Grader Daesha Rogers, which will make this race, oh, so tactically interesting . 

Although Daesha's best 1600 time is 4:54.03 from last year, this year she won the 2A State meet going 4:59.39. 

Well, what happens if she wins and goes sub 4:50 for the full mile as an 8th Grader? 

Unlike Foot Locker, there are no age or grade restrictions so she more than likely locks up the Invite and adds to her already statuesque lore but lets' not get ahead of ourselves. It's a fairly substantial jump and she would have to run 11 seconds faster than she did at the State Meet 2 weeks after her normal season finished.  I'm not sure anyone would want to take that bet though and it presents a tactical challenge for all the other competitors because as sure as the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, Daesha will be leading the Golden Stripes 1600 after 2 laps as the rest of the field tries to reel her in as fans watch and wonder if she will get caught before the finish. 


With Daesha undoubtedly leading early, the chase pack will consist of other highly touted distance runners. 

The fastest posted performance seed is 4A State Champion and 2 time-time Foot locker Finalist Bridget Blake (FSU Signee) who comes in with the State's 2nd fastest time this year, 4:54.74 from the Florida Relays.  Bridget won the 4A title under dreadful conditions at Hodges Stadium in 5:00.51. 

Emily Edwards, 3A State Champion who presently has the fastest time in Florida this year going 4:53.91 at the Lee County Athletic Conference Championships (LCAC) won her State Meet final in the same rainy and blustery conditions in 5:00.60. 

Taylor Tubbs, Sebring Blue Streak and Florida Gator signee has also gone sub 5 this year finishing 2nd to Edwards at State and Georgia's Grace Tinkey (Air Force signee), now on the comeback trail recently going 5:06/10:50 at her State Meet in Georgia.   Emily Stevens should also be in the lead pack of runners, but the question really is?  Will Daesha come back to the pack or not?

Event 19  Girls 1 Mile Run Classic
===============================================================================
     Classic:  4:46.15  2012        Lily Williams, Pearl, MS                   
 National HS:  4:33.82  2008        Christine Babcock, Irvine Woodbridge, CA   
USATF Junior:  4:35.24  1982        Polly Plumer, CA HS                        
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Blake, Bridget                12 Unattached          4:54.74 
  2  Tubbs, Taylor                 12 Unattached          4:56.00 
  3  Stevens, Emily                12 Unattached          5:00.67 
  4  Rogers, Daesha                 8 Unattached          5:00.99 
  5  Edwards, Emily                11 Fort Myers H        5:04.98 
  6  Tinkey, Grace                 12 Unattached          5:05.70 
  7  Brookover, Hannah             -- Unattached          5:10.72 
  8  Elliott, Amanda               11 Unattached          5:11.65 
  9  Lyle, Veronica                11 Us. Elite Jr        5:12.00 
 10  Heitling, Ashley              12 Mount Dora H        5:14.57 
 11  Rodriguez, Julia              12 Unattached          5:14.61 
 12  Henderson, Mariah             11 New Tampa Wi        5:18.00 
 13  Bartlett, Autumn              10 Unattached          5:20.87 
 14  Zboyan, Courteney             10 Unattached          5:21.09 
 15  Way, Lara                     11 Velocity Str        5:24.98

Boys Mile

Event 20  Boys 1 Mile Run Classic
===============================================================================
     Classic:  4:08.91  1987        George Kersh, Tallahassee, FL              
 National HS:  3:59.51  2001        Alan Webb, South lakes, VA                 
USATF Junior:  3:51.30  1966        Jm Ryun, U. of Kansas                      
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Villarreal, Cameron           12 Unattached          4:09.24 
  2  Dwyer, Henry                  12 Athens Acade        4:12.34 
  3  Ivankovic, Andre              12 Unattached          4:15.65 
  4  Farmer, Kenan                 11 Unattached          4:16.25 
  5  Langston, Zack                11 Unattached          4:17.12 
  6  Albright, Zachary             11 Unattached          4:18.62 
  7  Navarro, Daniel               11 Unattached          4:19.18 
  8  Pineiro, Keneth               11 DeLand Roadr        4:19.25 
  9  Flowers, Jordan               11 Unattached          4:19.58 
 10  Spiers, Will                  12 Unattached          4:22.49 
 11  Demarest, Brent               11 Unattached          4:22.98 
 12  Deleva, Anthony               11 Coral Glades        4:23.46 
 13  Magee, Matt                   12 Unattached          4:24.14 
 14  Arias, Carlos                 12 Unattached          4:25.15 

Girls 3200

Event 31  Girls 3200 Meter Run Classic
===============================================================================
 National HS:  9:48.59  1996        Kimberly Mortensen, Thousand Oaks, CA      
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Tinkey, Grace                 12 Unattached         10:51.61 
  2  Rodriguez, Julia              12 Unattached         11:04.34 
  3  Dawson, Elizabeth             11 Unattached         11:18.28 
  4  Heitling, Ashley              12 Mount Dora H       11:20.40 
  5  Bartlett, Autumn              10 Unattached         11:30.04 
  6  Zboyan, Courteney             10 Unattached         11:32.59 
  7  Hammond, Sarah                10 Unattached         11:51.01 
  8  Fox, Scarlett                 12 Unattached         11:59.00 
  9  grace, shannon                 9 Unattached         12:17.58 

Boys 3200


Event 32  Boys 3200 Meter Run Classic
===============================================================================
 National HS:  8:34.23  2008        German Fernandez, Riverbank, CA            
     Name                        Year School                 Seed           
===============================================================================
  1  Demarest, Brent               11 Unattached          9:12.64 
  2  Arias, Carlos                 12 Unattached          9:22.73 
  3  Pineiro, Keneth               11 DeLand Roadr        9:24.66 
  4  Marquez, Brandon               9 Unattached          9:34.08 
  5  Medrano, Salvador             12 Unattached          9:42.38 
  6  Fay, William                  12 Atlantic HS         9:42.80 
  7  Carroll, Thomas               12 Flagler Palm        9:45.64 
  8  Thornton, David               12 Bradwell Ins        9:48.86 
  9  Deleva, Anthony               11 Coral Glades        9:53.05