District track meets
Class 4A-6
When/where: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Leto
Teams: Alonso, Durant, Freedom, Plant, Plant City, Tampa Bay Tech, Wharton
Defending champs: Boys and girls, Plant
Boys event to watch: 110-meter hurdles. Alonso’s William Taylor-Haynes and TBT’s Caleb Chambliss finished first and second, respectively, last season; and also went 1-2 at the April 2 county meet.
Girls event to watch: Hurdles. Wharton senior Mikayla Barber is defending champ in both, but teammate Tyler Watson edged her in the longer race at the county meet, and placed second to her in a photo finish in the 100.
Class 4A-7
When/where: Noon Wednesday, Spoto
Teams: Bloomingdale, Bradenton Manatee, Newsome, North Port, Riverview, Sarasota Riverview
Defending champs: Boys and girls, Sarasota Riverview
Boys event to watch: Distances. Bloomingdale’s Andrew LeBlanc and Newsome’s Lars Benner likely will duel fiercely in the mile and perhaps 2-mile.
Girls event to watch: 800. As juniors last season, Bloomingdale’s Julie Roggeman and Sarasota’s Patricia Lewis finished first and second, respectively.
Class 3A-8
When/where: Noon Wednesday, Gaither
Teams: Blake, Chamberlain, Gaither, Steinbrenner, Hillsborough, Jefferson, King, Leto, Sickles
Defending champs: Boys, Jefferson; girls, Steinbrenner
Boys event to watch: Triple jump. Reigning state champ Jeremiah Green of Hillsborough enters his final postseason a couple of feet shy of the state record. He’ll try and catapult a few inches closer here.
Girls event to watch: 800. Gaither’s Rachel Cazares and Hillsborough’s Marilyn Hawkins placed first and second, respectively, at the recent county meet.
Class 3A-9
When/where: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Armwood
Teams: Armwood, Bradenton Bayshore, Bradenton Braden River, Brandon, East Bay, Lakewood Ranch, Lennard, Strawberry Crest
Defending champs: Boys, Armwood; girls, Lakewood Ranch
Boys event to watch: Pole vault. Brandon’s Silas Dobbins and Strawberry Crest’s David Kornitzer, 1-2 respectively at the county meet, literally could raise the bar on each other all afternoon.
Girls event to watch: Sprints. As juniors last season, Strawberry Crest’s Yasmine Gardiner and Brittany Barber placed first and second, respectively, in the 100 and 200.