By Kyle LoJacono
The Class 3A state track and field meet will see a pair of second-time competitors from Central Pasco County.
Land O’ Lakes’ Hallie Grimes finished third in the girls 400-meter with a time of 58 seconds, while Sunlake’s Travis Manecke qualified by placing third in the boys shot put (46 feet 10 inches) and fourth in the discus (141-11).
Manecke, who attended Wiregrass Ranch last year, is the only Seahawk to reach state, but the junior wasn’t happy with his performance.
“I wish I could have thrown better,” Manecke said. “I usually throw better with good competition like there is here, but just not today. … My elbow has been hurting, which is probably my technique. I’ll work on that before states.”
Last year Manecke finished 12th in the discus (130-4) at states, but didn’t qualify in the shot.
Grimes returns to states with the hopes of finishing better than fifth-place performance she had in 2011. She said she thought 58 would put her in the top four, which earns a spot in the last meet of the season.
“I just wanted to get in the top four,” Grimes said. “I didn’t care what place. I set such high expectations getting to states last year as a freshman.”
Grimes said she will go into states with more confidence now that she has experience at the ultimate meet. She is also running the 400 differently than a year ago.
“Last year, I’d never run the 400 before, and I’d kind of guided it out until there’s 200 left and went for it and got tired out,” Grimes said. “This year I’m sprinting out and keeping stride and going for it in the last 100.”
Grimes earned all six of the Gators’ team points on the day. The Land O’ Lakes boys earned 21 to tie for 10th place, while Sunlake took 19 to tie for 12th.
Three Gators boys will join Grimes at states by finishing fourth in their events. Travis Nichols finished the 3,200 in 9:46.36, pole vaulter Ian McKenzie cleared 13-6 and Chris Wilkinson posted a 1:59.47 in the 800.
The 3A state meet is May 4 at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.
