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Runner's focus pays off with another state title

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By DAREK SHARP

dsharp@tampatrib.com

Published: May 20, 2009

PLANT CITY - Running a fast mile can take a lot out of even the best athletes, and having to run another even-faster 800 meters without getting much rest is not the formula for success.

John Mitchell decided to, in effect, ditch the former and concentrate on the latter - and the result was his second state championship.

A year after the budding superstar gave his school a state title in the mile, the Durant senior added another crowning achievement by winning the 800 at the Class 4A state track and field meet, held May 9 at Winter Park.

"Last year it was nice to win the state, but my times in the mile weren't really progressing this year," Mitchell said. "I didn't make a big jump there so I really focused on the 800. It's looking like the better option."

Mitchell, who will head to the University of Florida on a running scholarship, showed that the shorter and speed-showcasing distance is indeed his thing. Not only did he win the two-lap race but he did so going away.

Through the first lap Mitchell was in seventh out of 16 runners, but he quickly moved to second after the next turn and finished in a time of 1:52.93. That was nearly two seconds ahead of Kurt Samuel of Orlando University, who edged out a tight pack of three runners battling for second place.

"That's the whole key to the 800," Mitchell said. "You have to sit back and not wear yourself out on the first lap. It's a tactical race; you have to go out slower. I didn't get to perform last year, but I think I made up for it."

Mitchell was a surprise winner of the mile in 2008, then did not compete in the 800, though he did qualify. He did not qualify for state in the mile run this time around but that turned out to be another tactic.

As the schedule for most track meets goes, the mile run takes place early in the evening and the 800 is held less than an hour later. That's not much recovery time.

"There's just no reason to kill myself by trying both," Mitchell said. "It would have been more like 30 minutes between races if I'd have qualified for both. Running the mile really takes a toll on your legs, and the 800 is pretty much a dead sprint for that second lap."

Given the 90-plus degree heat, the strategy paid off smartly.

Mitchell's next competition - after a couple of rare weeks off - is likely coming at the June 19 Nike Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

Durant also qualified its 4x400 relay team to the state and it gave the Cougar boys their second-best result from Winter Park. The team of Marsalis Freeman, Michael Williams, David Claypool and Mitchell finished in 11th place.

Other members of the Cougar boys team who reached the state meet were Dexter Barge, 14th, high jump; and Keiron Bovell, 15th, 200 meters.

Grace VandeGrift got points (top eight) for the girls team with her seventh-place effort in the mile. VandeGrift completed the distance in 5:17. Trinity Thompson's tremendous senior season ended with a 14th-place finish in the 400-meter run.

Plant City triple qualifier Jasmine Pope was ninth in the 200-meter preliminaries, barely missing out on a spot in the finals. Pope was 10th in the 100 and 14th in the long jump.

The Raiders got points out of two events, and Erika Kolakowski was part of both. The senior finished eighth in the 800 meters and also ran with the 4x800 relay team with Currie Dickerson, Cristina Corzine and Emily Hoy. The relay squad also finished eighth.

Chad Hansen was 15th in the shot put for the Raider boys.

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