- May 2, 2024
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Jasmyn Dorsey finished sixth in the long jump with a distance of 5.18 meters. Photo by Ray Boone
Aaron Walton finished in 13th in the 200-meter dash premlims with a time of 23.27. Photo by Ray Boone
Camryn Cooney, right, gets ready for the start of the 4x800-meter relay. Photo by Ray Boone
Jordan Di Verniero finished eighth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.90. Photo by Ray Boone
Gianna Meoli finished eighth in the pole vault with a height of 2.7 meters. Photo by Ray Boone
Connor Sheedy finished ninth in the pole vault with a height of 3.6 meters. Photo by Ray Boone
Region 1 of Class 4A track is one of the toughest regions in the state of Florida. So much so that it’s earned its own nickname: The Region of Death.
“It’s great because you know you have to perform in order to get out,” Spruce Creek coach Martin Mowery said. “And if you get out, you know you have a chance at placing in the state meet because you’ve already gone against some very stiff competition.”
The down side: Top athletes, ones who would advance to the state meet in a different region, don’t get out.
In order to give those athletes a chance, however, the FHSAA instituted a new rule for the 2018 season. Instead of just the top four in each event advancing to the state meet, to remaining top eight finishers in each event from all four regions will also qualify via an at-large bid. Texas and California are two large states known to use this rule.
“It’s giving kids who deserve to be at states a chance to get there,” Mowery said.
Several Hawks were able to punch their ticket to the Class 4A State Meet, held May 4-5 at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, at the regional meet on Thursday, April 26, at Flagler Palm Coast High School.
Senior Camryn Cooney, who run for UNF in the fall, advanced in the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200 meter run, finishing third in each event. Several Hawks athletes have received entry into the state meet via the new rule.
“You’ve almost got to be a super start to get out of this region,” Mowery said. “It’s just a shame, though, that some regions are able to send some kids to the state meet while we can’t. This at-large bid really helps us because we are going to get more kids in.”
