Lemon Bay opened this year’s state track and field competition by scoring a medal on Thursday during the Class 2A state championships at the University of North Florida.
Mantas senior Owen Tannehill landed the area’s first medal by finishing fifth in the shot put with a toss of 15.55 meters (51-0 ¼ feet).
Lemon Bay’s two other qualifiers were Cooper Adcock and Joe Scott. Adcock took 17th in the pole vault after clearing 3.30 meters (10-10). Scott took 13th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 49.51, which was an improvement on his qualifying time.
In all, the Sun Preps area is sending a 38-athlete contingent to the three-day event in Jacksonville.
Venice will be sending the largest group, thanks to a pair of relay teams. In all, the Indians will be competing in 10 events (6 boys, 4 girls).
Charlotte is also sending a relay team and will be competing in 10 events, as well, thanks to Sidney Rootz qualifying in three separate individual events.
The Class 3A meet, which involves Charlotte and Port Charlotte, will get under way Friday while the Class 4A meet — Venice and North Port will take place on Saturday. Here’s a look at who is competing from each of those schools:
CHARLOTTE: Rootz and Aarontae Wesley are spearheading the Tarpons effort. Rootz, a senior, will take her chances in the shot put, discus and javelin with the javelin being her best avenue to the podium after she qualified fifth in that event.
Wesley, a senior burner, reached states in the 100- and 200-meter dashes and will run anchor on the Tarpons’ 4x100 relay team.
Trenton Curliss (javelin), Leah Hunnius (pole vault), Gianna Hutto (long jump) and Angela Sanchez (pole vault) also reached states. Hunnius qualified sixth in the pole vault and is the Tarpons’ next best candidate for a podium finish. Hutto qualified ninth in long jump, so she could find a medal with a good day. Sanchez is just outside but has a chance after qualifying 10th.
NORTH PORT: Damian Howard will vie for a medal in the 100-meter dash after qualifying eighth. He will also compete in the 200, where he qualified 11th.
Malia Hambrick (800-meter run) and Alivia Tison (javelin) will also be in play for medals. Hambrick qualified seventh while Tison was ninth.
PORT CHARLOTTE: The Pirates’ lone state representative will be Ashley McKenzie. The sophomore qualified 14th in the 800-meter run.
VENICE: Matthew Groves is the name to know for the Indians. The senior is a member of both qualifying relay teams (4x400, 4x800) and also qualified in the 200- and 400-meter dashes. Both relay teams have good shots at medals while Groves will definitely be in the thick of the competition in the 400, where he qualified fourth.
Chase Graziadei (pole vault) and Christopher Priede (400-meter hurdles) will also be hunting medals. Graziadei qualified fourth in his event while Priede was fifth.
The 4x400 and 4x800 relay squads each qualified with the third-best time.
Four girls will compete in individual events on Saturday. Atarah Robinson has the best podium shot of the quartet after qualifying ninth in the 800-meter run. Kyla Freddolino (discus), Paige Evans (long jump) and Michelle Croney (400 hurdles) also reached states.
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