By Kyle LoJacono
Hallie Grimes was in seventh place midway through the 400 meters final April 24 during the Class 3A regional track and field meet at Leto.
The Land O’ Lakes junior had to finish in the top four to earn her third straight state berth.
“When I saw where I was I was like, shoot, I got to go,” Grimes said.
And she did just that on the third turn with 200 meters remaining.
Grimes, who had captured her third district title the week before, ran like no other in program history to place third in 55.91 seconds, breaking her own program record by 0.96.
“I knew this was going to be a tough race,” Grimes said. “The competition is so good, especially even compared to last year and the year before that. I was ranked fifth, so I was really worried and knew I had to run the race of my life. … I felt some pressure and expectations, and I knew that anything could happen. I’m so happy I get to run next week.”
Grimes said she was surprised to see she had broken 56.
“My goal was to run 56 here at regionals and then 55 at states, so I’m more than happy with that,” Grimes said.
Grimes scored six of the Gators’ 10 points to place 21st at the 38-team meet. Junior Kassidy Wallace added the other four points by taking fifth in the triple jump (35-feet, 5-inches).
The Land O’ Lakes boys totaled 33 to tie for sixth and sent three athletes to states.
Senior high jumper Kyle Forchion finished as regional runner-up by clearing 6-06, four inches better than his previous personal record (PR).
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be going anywhere,” Forchion said. “I thought this was going to be my last meet. I thought I’d be fifth place at best. Some people had bad days, and I had my best day. … I didn’t even scratch once until 6-08. After I cleared 6-04 they said I was going through, so I was jumping just to jump and had no pressure.”
The 6-foot-4 Forchion joined the team as a sophomore and will be competing in his first state meet.
“It’s everybody’s dream to go to states and compete their senior year,” Forchion said. “Not everyone gets to do it. I get to do it, and I’m very happy.”
Junior Tyler Stahl earned state berths in the 1,600 (4:24.99, second place) and 3,200 (10:01.73, fourth).
“Getting there in both is really special because all these runners are great,” Stahl said. “I didn’t think I could keep up with everyone, but then I just stopped thinking about it and just thought about the next step.
“I’m the only one from Land O’ Lakes to qualify in two events, so that’s really special, and then I get to go with two of my teammates, so that’s going to make going to states better too,” he added.
Senior pole vaulter Colin Defant took fourth and the last state qualifying spot by clearing 12-06 and winning a jump-off with Sebring’s Byron Cobb.
The 3A state meet is May 3 at the University of North Florida.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
