Preview: County track meet

Sevier County High will host this year’s county track meet on Thursday. The teams come into the county show down as their athletes are beginning to peak for regionals. Pigeon Forge and Seymour tuned up Tuesday in a five way meet at Seymour while Sevier County prepped with a meet at Powell. All teams needed a little unwinding after the previous rain-soaked week kept practices and meets to a minimum. In field events, look for Seymour to score heavy points with Jessi Peterson in the jumps and Danielle Wolfe in the discus. Pigeon Forge should get multiple placings in the shot. On the boy’s side, Anthony Serafine from Seymour and Billy Price of Pigeon Forge will square off on the jumps for first. Shane Canterbury will pace Pigeon Forge in discus and shot, but Scott Thomas (Seymour) has been showing improvement all season. Back on the track the girls distance events will feature Katie Clark (Seymour), Megan Cox (Pigeon Forge) and Shannon Arender (G-P). Seymour might dominate the hurdles with the likes of Jessica Elliott, Rachel Stooksbury and Peterson. The combinations will determine the relays as all four teams have shown promise this season, but Seymour has shown the most and should reap the most points from the baton passing. The boys will be harder to call. The three AA teams have gone neck and neck this year at meets. Pigeon Forge has done well head-to-head with the Eagles but has lost vital multiple scores when AAA schools like Sevier County get involved. The highlight of the night might be the Doughboy Dash, which will pit the chosen field event heavy hurlers from shot and discus against each other in a speed contest. It’s not to be missed if you’re a fan of the lineman returning the fumble sixty yards for a touchdown. The boy’s race should be tight; Sevier County should win but could have trouble with Seymour if it gets the right combinations put together. The girls meet will come down between the Bears and Eagles as well. Peterson has the potential to dominate point wise and a good day from her and strong support from the relays could put Seymour over the top. Sevier County will compete at the Volunteer Classic at UT on Saturday to begin a spring break run trip while the rest of the county teams take the break off from competition.