While every event at the state meet is important and fun to watch and each has its little elements and story lines that interest different individuals, but here are five events that should be labeled "Do Not Miss." If you are a true fan of Track and Field you won't want to miss these events.
1. 4x800m Relay
Friday at 1:30pm
The girls from Alter have a four second lead on the rest of Division 2 right now, but that doesn't really mean a whole lot at the state meet since anything can happen. What Alter does have in their favor is that they know how to place well in the state meet. Since 2004, Alter has either finished first or second all but one time (2006 when they finished 5th). During this span Alter has three first place finishes and three second place finishes. Over the last four seasons Alter has won the 4x800 Relay on odd years and finished second on even years, so if history tells us anything it is that Alter has a great shot at bringing home the gold in the first track event.
2. 4x400m Relay
Prelims on Friday at 4:00pm
FInals on Saturday at 3:10pm
As in 2010 it will very likely take a sub 4:00 effort to crack the podium, which is the way it should be. Seven teams have already run below 4:00 and another three have gone sub 4:02. This will likely come down to an all out battle between Stivers and Bishop Hartley. Both schools have gone sub 3:55, with Hartley just slightly ahead with a 3:54.53 to Stivers season best time of 3:54.78. Hartley won the 4x400m Relay last year in a Division 2 State Record time of 3:49.94 and return three of their four legs this year. Can Stivers and Hartley push each other to another Division 2 State Record this year?
3. 100m Hurdles
Prelims on Friday at 2:00pm
FInals on Saturday at 1:10pm
Nine girls in the field have run sub-15 seconds in the hurdles. Of those nine, three of them have run sub 14.50. Those three are: two time defending state champion Jerica Sanders of Lake Catholic (14.24h and 14.27FAT), current Division 2 state leader and two time state meet runner-up, Bridget Doughty of Bay (14.19) and current Division 2 State Record holder in the 100m hurdles and 300m hurdles, Bishop Hartley's Chelsea Scott (14.30). Scott had the fastest time in the state last year when she posted a Division 2 State Record time of 14.02 at the Region 8 meet, but false started in the finals of the state meet. This race could go to any of the three as all have outstanding credentials. The big questions are, can Scott get some redemption from last year's false start? Can Sanders capture her third straight title? And Can Doughty finally be the bride after being the bridesmaid twice?
4. 800m Run
Saturday at 2:25pm
Taylor Hatfield of Zane Trace returns to defend her title and her Division 2 State Record mark of 2:08.91. This race is going to be tight as only 5 seconds seperate the sixteen athletes. Besides Hatfield, other top contenders are Kaele Lightfoot of Minerva, Rebekah Branham of Circleville, 2010 bronze medalist Hannah Fleck of Celina, Queen Elder of Stuebenville, Karlie Lieberth of Crestwood, Tessa Weigand of SV-SM, and Maria Moore of Woodridge.
5. 3200m Run
Saturday at 2:40pm
After winning the 1600m run last year, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy senior Christina Blair decided to bump up to the 3200m Run. Blair currently has the fastest time in Division 2 at 11:03.81. Others that could challenge Blair are Elizabeth Heinbach of Indian Hill, Sammi Vaugn of Crestwood, Morgan Willis of Woodridge, Mattie Moncayo of Lexington and Sarra Taylor of London. What will be interesting to see is if the re-run at Ravenna on Tuesday has any impact on how well the ladies do from Region 5 as they will have run two 3200m Runs and a 2800m Run in a span of 8 days.
