SAC Championships
Where: Fivay High
When: Field events, noon Thursday; running finals, 4 p.m. (The pole vault was held Wednesday)
Teams: Pasco County public schools
2009-12 girls champion: Wiregrass Ranch
2012 boys champion: Land O’Lakes
Skinny: The Bulls have earned at least a share of the SAC girls championship the past four years. With distance runner Nikita Shah leading the charge, Wiregrass has a good chance of extending that streak to five. Shah broke the meet record in the 3,200 last season (11 minutes, 17 seconds). She will be the favorite to repeat in that event as well as the 1,600. Wesley Chapel’s Courtney Prengaman, a state champion last season, set the meet record last year in the high jump (5 feet, 6 inches). For the boys, Land O’Lakes ended a two-year run by Mitchell last season. The competition should be tight again with Pasco, Mitchell and Wiregrass Ranch looking to recapture the title. Pasco will be led by state champion Janarion Grant, who won the long jump, while the Bulls and Mustangs are known for their depth across the board.
Favorites
Long jump: Pasco’s Alfreda Steele and Janarion Grant; triple jump: Wiregrass Ranch’s Hannah Eder, Ridgewood’s Tim Bennett; shot put: River Ridge’s Brittany O’Leary and Hayden Krautner; discus: Sunlake’s Alli Hudson, Wiregrass’ Jonathan Coyne; high jump: Wesley Chapel’s Courtney Prengaman, Zephyrhills’ Jordan Roberts; 4x800: Wiregrass Ranch’s boys and girls; 100 hurdles: Ridgewood’s Tayler Jenkins; 110 hurdles: Anclote’s Jamaree Reid; 100: Zephyrhills’ Kara Young and Jordan Roberts; 1,600: Wiregrass Ranch’s Nikita Shah, Land O’Lakes’ Tyler Stahl; 4x100: Zephyrhills, Pasco; 400: Land O’Lakes’ Hallie Grimes, Ridgewood’s Max Livingstone; 300 hurdles: Pasco’s Savanna Martinson, Anclote’s Jamaree Reid; 800: Mitchell’s Emily Kerns, Mitchell, Anclote’s Spencer Guerette; 200: Zephyrhills’ Kara Young and Jordan Roberts; 3,200: Wiregrass Ranch’s Nikita Shah, Land O’Lakes’ Jake Poore; 4x400: Wiregrass Ranch, Ridgewood
Kiwanis Invitational
Where: Hernando High
When: 4 p.m. Friday
Teams: Bishop McLaughlin, Central, Crystal River, Foundation Academy, Hernando, Lecanto, Nature Coast, South Sumter, Springstead, Tampa Catholic, Weeki Wachee, Winter Springs
2012 girls and boys champion: Nature Coast
Skinny: Nature Coast has historically dominated this meet. The Sharks have won four of the past five boys titles, interrupted only by a Wiregrass Ranch win in 2011. The Shark girls were a major force last year because of their depth, and that shouldn’t change Friday. They’re favored to win the 4x800 and 4x100 relays, Crystal Burchhardt is the odds-on favorite in the 3,200, and Bronte Cameron should lead the pack in the 100 hurdles. Brianna Horn will have a shot at the 800, competing against Springstead’s Erin Blackwell and South Sumter’s Morgan Feldt. Burchhardt should also have a good race with Feldt in the 1,600. Nature Coast’s Ashley Gentz will face stiff competition in the 100 against Springstead’s Wilena Little. For the boys, Springstead should provide a major challenge to Nature Coast. The Eagles are favored to win the long jump, triple jump, high jump, 4x800 and 800. Bobby Harris, who broke the school record in the high jump Tuesday at Central, will attempt to repeat his leap of 6 feet, 9 inches.
Local favorites
Long jump: Central’s Aysha McCants, Springstead’s Abrahm Paulding; triple jump: Springstead’s Ty’Rhonza Harris and Bernard Ndedi; high jump: Springstead’s Bobby Harris; pole vault: Weeki Wachee’s Steven James; 4x800: Nature Coast girls, Springstead boys; 100 hurdles: Nature Coast’s Bronte Cameron; 100: Springstead’s Wilena Little;
4x100: Nature Coast girls and boys; 800: Springstead’s Richard Toth; 200: Springstead’s Wilena Little, Nature Coast’s Frank Villaizan; 3,200: Nature Coast’s Crystal Burchhardt and Cody Van Natter; 4x400: Springstead girls