CCHS is sending three to state track and field meet Friday

The Central Catholic Eagles will send three competitors to Friday’s Class 1A State Track and Field Meet at LSU in Baton Rouge.
Sal Grizzaffi, Samarick Paul and Hallie Autin will finish their seasons on Louisiana’s biggest stage for high school competitors.
Grizzaffi, returning to state for the third consecutive year, will compete in the 1,600 meter run and 3,200 meter run. Paul will compete in the long jump and Autin, the 300 meter hurdles.
“He’s just running well right now,” Fuhrer said of Grizzaffi.
A year ago, he finished fourth in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 10:43.33.
In the 1,600 in 2014, Grizzaffi finished fifth at 4:54.67.
This year he is seeded sixth in the 1,600 meter run after running a 4:47.24 at regionals. His best time in the event is 4:43, which he ran at this year’s District 7-1A meet.
Grizzaffi is seeded third this year in the 3,200 at 10:36.66, which is a personal record he set at regionals.
“I really look for him to run better than he did at regionals, which was a PR,” Fuhrer said. He noted that Grizzaffi wasn’t seriously pushed in the event.
Scott Maggio of St. Mary’s of Natchitoches has the top seed in the 1,600 and 3,200 entering this year’s meet at 4:34.04 and 10:30.35, respectively.
However, Ascension Catholic’s Zach Capello, who is in both races, is the three-time defending champion in each event.
While Grizzaffi qualified in the 800 meter run also and was seeded eighth out of nine, Fuhrer said he and Grizzaffi agreed that he should withdraw from the event, factoring in among things such as saving energy for the 3,200 meter event, which Fuhrer said is likely Grizzaffi’s best event.
“We scratched him out the 800 to give him a better shot because it’s very tough to pull those three, especially a day like the state meet," Fuhrer said. It’s usually pretty warm. … Just for him to have a lot of confidence and be able to run a (1,600 meter run) and get that good break and come back and run a really good (3,200 meter run).”
Paul enters tied with James Jackson of Haynesville as the second seed in the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 4.5 inches.
Marlon Lewis of White Castle has the top jump at 21 feet, 8 inches.
Fuhrer said Paul, who originally was going to run sprints this season, tried jumping at the encouragement of Fuhrer.
The Central Catholic coach said Paul split time with baseball this season, but has really made strides in the last few weeks with personal records at district and regionals.
“Samarick’s just a gifted athlete, very coachable,” he said of the first-year track team member.
He has been able to get some more work in this week in preps for state.
“He’s ready,” Fuhrer said. “He’s a competitor.”
Autin, who enters state as the eighth seed with a time of 51.94, also has not seen as much time on the track as normal due to playing softball.
Fuhrer said Autin is athletic and likes to compete.
“She’s right there in the mix,” Fuhrer said. “The top two times are 49s, but the middle of the pack is all in the 50s.”
Fuhrer said with the week of practice she has gotten, hopefully she can move into at least the top six.
Frankie Griffin of Hamilton Christian has the top time at 49.07.