CCHS duo to compete at state track meet

Two Central Catholic track and field competitors will return to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 1A state track and field meet Friday in the respective events they participated in a year ago.
Meo Knight, who finished as state runner-up in the high jump, along with Sal Grizzaffi, who competed in the 1-600 meter run and 3,200-meter run, also will return.
Knight will see a familiar field from a year ago as six of 2013’s nine competitors return, including state champion Jasmine White of Logansport and third-place finisher Hanna Lutrick of Ouachita Christian.
“They’re a little bit better, and I believe Meo is a little bit better, so it will be exciting to see how she does,” Central Catholic coach David Fuhrer said.
White and Knight both recorded jumps of 5-feet, 6 inches a year ago, but White earned the state title because she had fewer misses at a lower height. The 5-6 mark is Knight’s personal best.
The Logansport student enters state with the highest jump with a leap of 5-6, while Knight and Frankie Griffin of Hamilton Christian, who both jumped 5-4 at regionals, enter tied for second place. Knight won the regional championship and district titles.
“She’s just a competitor, so I’m looking for her to do real well and go out and compete tomorrow,” Fuhrer said. “Obviously her goal is to go out and win it.”
The Class 1A state record is 5- feet, 7.5 inches and was set by Carmia Carroll of Southern Lab in 2004.
“I believe she has a 5-6 or better in her,” Fuhrer said of Knight.
Grizzaffi returns to state after finishing seventh in the 3,200 meter run and eighth in the 1,600 meter run.
This year, Grizzaffi is seeded seventh in the 1,600 meter run with a time of 4:59.89 and is fourth in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 11:06.94.
A year ago, he finished in 5:05.86 in the 1,600 meter run and 11:10.65 in the 3,200 meter run.
Grizzaffi earns personal records of 4:54 in the 1,600-meter run and around 10:49 in the 3,200 meter run.
“He’s much improved over last year … 1A distance running is pretty good and (a) real solid field, and he’s one of them,” Fuhrer said. “He’s in that mix. Of course they have a few that have some really good times. He’s been training really hard and he’s looking to go out there, compete, set some personal records and see where he falls.”
The 3,200-meter run features five of the nine competitors returning from a year ago, including defending state champion Zach Capello of Ascension Catholic. Capello is seeded fifth this year after running a 11:07.39 at regionals. However, at state last year, he ran a 10:23.38.
Scott Maggio of St. Mary has the top time in the 1,600 meter run in 4:39.01. Capello won the 1,600 meter run last year with a time of 4:45.79.
Fuhrer said he thinks the tough field in the distance events will bring out the best in Grizzaffi, who already has dominated some meets this year.