BACK ON TRACK: Top runners, jumpers and more to watch for four-day FHSAA track at UNF

The track is back.

The Florida High School Athletic Association championships return to the First Coast this week, rolling into the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium for the four-day state track and field meet.

Class 1A hits UNF's distinctive and super-speedy blue track Wednesday, followed by Class 2A on Thursday, Class 3A on Friday and Class 4A on Saturday.

Barring weather issues, field events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. all four days, with the 4x800-meter relays at 4 p.m. and the remainder of the track slate starting at 6 p.m. and continuing through the evening.

The Times-Union previews some of the top storylines.

FIVE REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP-WINNING TEAMS

Bolles boys, Class 2A

Can the Bulldogs repeat? Bolles ran away with Region 1-2A last week, including two relay titles, a first place for Parker Adams in the 3,200 and another one for Cincinnati signee Garrison Butler in the shot put. Montverde Academy and Fort Lauderdale Calvary Christian, among others, loom as top challengers.

Bolles girls, Class 2A

Seeking their fourth consecutive FHSAA championship, Bolles faces a daunting opponent in national superpower Montverde. But the Bulldogs can count on numerous high finishes, particularly in the field events. Throwers Zee Curtis and Terrell McCoy, long jumper/sprinter Evie Freeman and triple jumper/pole vaulter Presley Wolfe are strong podium candidates.

Creekside girls, Class 4A

The Knights finished atop Region 1-4A last week, edging favored Niceville in style by sweeping the flat individual runs. Janay Moorer (100, 200 and 400), Sarah Rose (800) and Alyson Johnson (1,600 and 3,200) joined hurdler Brittney Jennings in the win column. Expect a showdown with Miami Southridge and Niceville for the team title.

Fleming Island boys, Class 3A

Balanced and deep, the Golden Eagles topped Region 1-3A with three event victories: Kaylib Singleton in the 200, Roman Mollicone in the 800 and the 4x800 relay. This should be one of Fleming Island's best-ever finishes, even though catching American Heritage and Miami Northwestern will be no easy feat.

Ponte Vedra girls, Class 3A

How did the Sharks win Region 1-3A? Simple: They did it with distance. Lindy White, Daisy Ross, Sofia Bushkell and Hilaree Vega attained a rare 1-2-3-4 in the girls 3,200, collecting 29 points from a single event. Add Katherine Kelly's pole vaulting and it's a positive picture for Ponte Vedra, though Miami Northwestern and Fort Lauderdale Dillard are the overall favorites.

FOUR NORTHEAST FLORIDA EVENT FAVORITES

Alyson Johnson, So., Creekside

The Knights' distance star could be about to add to her trophy collection in Class 4A. Her 3,200 seed time is nearly 30 seconds quicker than the competition, and she also holds the fastest time entering the 1,600.

Jake Officer, Jr., Episcopal

Holding off Montverde Academy's chasing trio and several local contenders won't be easy, but Officer enters in top form in the 800 after winning both that event and the 1,600 at regionals. His seed time of 1:55.05 is fastest in the Class 2A race.

Matt Ryan, Sr., Nease

He's won team and individual titles in cross country, and the boys 3,200 for Class 4A might be next. Ryan holds the No. 1 seed at 9:06.41, and with Riley Smith of Gainesville Buchholz out of action, the main threat likely comes from Jonathan Leon of Oviedo Hagerty.

Presley Wolfe, Sr., Bolles

It would be a surprise if the Bulldogs' senior doesn't end up on top in the girls pole vault for Class 2A. Unbeaten this year except the Florida Relays and FSU Relays, she's cleared 12 feet, 5 1/2 inches in districts.

FOUR LOCAL CONTESTS TO WATCH

Class 4A, girls 400

Creekside senior and Miami commit Janay Moorer enters as the No. 1 seed at 53.62, while Fletcher sophomore Zyaire Thomas stands second at 54.29. Watch for Mandarin's Kyla Skinner and a host of down-state challengers near the front of the pack as well.

Class 2A, girls 800

The top seed is Jackson's Kennedy Hill, with a time of 2:15.52. Second on the list is Episcopal's Brooke McCoy at 2:16.84, coming off a final-four appearance with Eagles girls lacrosse. Add Baldwin's Kennedi Proctor, Bishop Kenny's Taylor Lawhon and Alexis Holmes and Bolles' Charlotte Joseph and Isabella Lee, and there could be a lot of local points.

Class 2A, boys 400 hurdles

It's Tiger vs. Tiger at the head of the field. Neiko Garnes (54.17) and Joseph Bargeron (55.81) hold the top two seeds and a 1-2 finish for Jackson is a real possibility.

Class 2A, girls 4x800 relay

At 9:31.77, Bishop Kenny is the favorite coming in, fielding most of the team that won a cross country title in November. But Bolles and Episcopal will be near the head of the pack trying to chase the Crusaders down.

FIVE POTENTIAL FRESHMAN-YEAR CHAMPIONS

Camille Andrews, Fr., Creekside

She's one more part of a very strong Creekside lineup. Andrews enters with the fourth seed in the Class 4A girls pole vault and a personal best of 11 feet from the Bob Hayes Invitational.

Kalia Bing, Fr., Bishop Snyder

A clear favorite in the Class 1A girls long jump. Also a promising sprinter, she won the Region 1-1A long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 6 3/4 inches, 10th-best in Florida for all classes this year and third in the national MaxPreps list for the 2027 class.

Ezra Huber, Fr., Bartram Trail

Though seeded only fifth in the Class 4A boys pole vault, Huber has proven he's a contender this year, twice clearing 14 feet, 5 1/4 inches in competition.

Coral Sklenicka, Fr., Providence

She vaulted her way onto the radar with a personal-best 9 feet, 10 inches in the Region 1-1A meet, and receives a top-five seed for the Class 1A event.

Destiny Williams, Fr., Palatka

Seeded first in the Class 2A girls high jump, she's coming off a first-place clearance of 5 feet, 3 3/4 inches at the Region 2-2A event in Mount Dora.

FIVE ELITE OUT-OF-AREA ATHLETES TO WATCH

Kai Evans, Jr., Lake Minneola

The overwhelming favorite in the boys 400-meter hurdles for Class 3A, Evans holds the United States' fastest high school time this year with a 51.73 at the Hawks on the Hill Open.

Preston Kuznof, Sr., Port Orange Atlantic

Only one high school javelin thrower in the nation, Paul Catalanatto of Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic, has thrown farther than Kuznof's 214 feet, 11 inches. Watch for him in the Class 2A meet.

Aleesa Samuel, Jr., Somerset Academy

Her 13.12 is the fastest wind-legal time in the girls 100 hurdles in American high schools this year. But Thalia Waters of Delray Beach Atlantic ran even faster, a wind-aided 13.10, in regionals last week. Their matchup in Class 3A could be a classic.

Zamarii Sanders, So., American Heritage

He's a nationally-ranked sprinter with a top time in the boys 200 of 20.50, set just last week. Sanders enters as the No. 1 seed in a very fast Class 3A race.

Michelle Smith, Sr., Montverde Academy

The Georgia commit is simply the top high school hurdler in the nation in the girls 400-meter distance. Her seed time (57.07) is almost four seconds faster than anyone else in the field, and her season best of 56.82 at the Louie Bing Invitational is the top U.S. time by a 1.16-second margin.