Brianna Schwartz rarely ventures out of her state, but she has certainly proven herself as one of the nation's best distance runners over the winter and spring in 2014. The Shaler Area High School junior Schwartz will be the odds-on favorite to win a still very stout and deep field for the AAA state 1600 meter title in Pennsylvania this weekend boasting a season best of 4:45 (ran a 4:42 PR indoors).

With so many state championship meets scheduled for this weekend, difficult to do an adequate meet preview for all of them. However, we can do a quick rundown of the 4 individual athletes from each state meet that we are most excited to see compete for titles as the best in their respective states.

 

• Alaska
• Illinois (girls only)
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Missouri (Class 1-2)
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Tennessee
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

 

Alaska

 

 

 

Allie Ostrander, Kenai Central, JR

Season Bests: 10:03.66 3200m, 4:54.52 1600m, 2:15.95 800m

 

A top seed and favorite in all three distance races, Ostrander showed last week in her regional meet that the distance triple she is very capable of doing and running fast while doing it. Ostrander tripled with times of 4:54 in the 1600 (PR), 2:15 in the 800, and 10:17 in the 3200. An impressive solo run for Ostrander in the 3200 after really breaking through on the national stage with a runner-up performance of 10:03 to easily establish a new Alaska state record at the loaded Arcadia Invitational 3200. 

 

 

Naomi Welling, Thunder Mountain, SO

Season Bests: 15.49 100H, 45.68 300H, 36-5.75 Triple Jump

 

A potential winner in the 4A girls division for 3 different events as the top seed in both hurdles (100 and 300) as well as the triple jump, the sophomore Welling set two regional records last week with her triple jump mark of 36'5.75" being the sixth best all-time in Alaska state history.

 

 

Levi Thomet, Kodiak, JR

Season Bests: 9:00.68 3200m, 4:24.27 1600m, 1:57.91 800m

 

A Foot Locker Nationals finalist during the cross country season who just missed All-American honors with a 16th place finish at Balboa Park in San Diego, Thomet has the opportunity to pull off the distance triple like Ostrander but for the 4A boys as the top seed in the 3200 and 1600 as well as right there in contention as the second fastest entrant in the 800. Thomet nearly went under the 9 minute barrier for 3200 meters at the Arcadia Invitational, while has celebrated new PR's in the 1600 (4:24) and 800 (1:57). Will be interesting to see if he tries to go for it in the 1600 and lower that time under 4:20.

 

 

Leroy Elliot, West Anchorage, JR

Season Bests: 6'4.25" High Jump, 14.76 110H, 40.88 300H

 

Elliot is the Alaska state leader in the high jump and 110 meter hurdles, while his 300 meter hurdle time ranks him second fastest in the state. All his performances put him in great position to become an Alaska 4A state champion in three events. 

 

 

Illinois (girls only)

 

Emma Spagnola, West Aurora, SR

Season Bests: 13.83 110H, 42.95 300H, 19-1.75 Long Jump

 

 

Lena Giger, Highland, SR
Season Bests: 48'3" Shot, 151'10" Discus

 

 

Iowa

 

Stephanie Jenks, Linn-Mar, SO

Season Bests: 2:11.65 800m, 4:28.72 1500m, 9:26.87 3000m

 

Jenks nearly pulled off the triple at Drake.  She fell just short to Pleasant Valley’s Kaley Ciluffo in the 800m.  This weekend she goes at it again, looking to win all three this time.

 

Kiana Phelps, Kingsley-Pierson, SO

Season Bests: 179-7 Discus

 

Phelps ripped off a nation leading mark earlier this year.  The two time winner of the Drake Relays looks to grab her second state title in the event.

 

Albert Meir, Boone, SR

Season Bests: 4:13.30 1600m, 8:58.46 3200m

 

The overall state record holder in the 3200m returns after winning the 3200m a year ago. This year he will look to take home two gold medals after a second place finish a year ago in the 1600m.

 

 

Kentucky

 

Kianna Gray, North Hardin, JR
Season Bests: 11.53 100m, 23.72 200m, 56.26 400m, 14.02 100H 

 

Gabriella Karas, Martha Layne Collins, FR
Season Bests: 2:16.60 800m, 4:55.14 1600m, 10:45.23 3200m

 

William Mulloy, St. Xavier, JR
Season Bests: 4:12.40 Mile, 1:55.38 800m, 15:05 5K

 

Landon Young, Lafayette, SO
Season Bests: 173'9" Discus, 55'5" Shot

 

Maryland

 

Shania Collins, Huntingtown, SR
Season Bests: 11.80 100m, 23.73 200m 

 

Claudia Ababio, Clarksburg, SR
Season Bests: 45'10.75" Shot, 145'2" Discus

 

Ryan Forsyth, Severna Park, SR

Season Bests: 9:09.97 3200m, 4:18.06 1600m

 

Robert Carter, Long Reach, SR

Season Bests: 14.20 110H, 38.29 300H

 

Missouri (Class 1 & 2)

 

Morgan Prather, Penney, JR

Season Bests: 12.39 100m, 25.25 200m, 57.19 400m, 2:18.88 800m

 

Sophia Rivera, Brentwood, SO

Season Bests: 136'6 Discus, 45'0.50" Shot

 

Michael Wells, Cleveland NJROTC, SR
Season Bests: 10.49 100m, 21.59 200m, 48.29 400m

 

Sam Bailey, Lamar, SR
Season Bests: 181'10" Discus

 

Nebraska

 

Katelyn Gochenour, Marian, SO

Season Bests: 167'0" Javelin

 

Chloe Akin-Otiko, Bellevue West, SO

Season Bests: 11.74 100m, 24. 11 200m, 19-9.25 Long Jump

 

Kenzo Cotton, Papillion-La Vista, SR

Season Bests: 21.65 200m, 48.21 400m

 

Derek Zimmerman, Freeman, SR

Season Bests: 23-5.50 Long Jump, 47-10 Triple Jump

 

Nevada

 

Randall Cunningham, Bishop Gorman, SR

Season Bests: 7'2" High Jump

 

Reno Tuufuli, Liberty, SR

Season Bests: 61'5.50" Shot, 196'10" Discus

 

Tiana Bonds, Centennial, SR

Season Bests: 13.62 100H, 41.29 300H, 18-3 Long Jump, 24.34 200m

 

Vashti Cunningham, Bishop Gorman, SO

Season Bests: 6'3" High Jump

 

North Dakota

 

Brittany Brownotter, Bismarck, SR

Season Bests: 5:00.96 1600m, 10:57.91 3200m, 2:17.57 800m

 

Kayla Hochhalter, Carrington, SR

Season Bests: 133'10" Discus, 144'10" Javelin, 42'2" Shot

 

 

 

 

Landon Jochim, Century, SR

 

Season Bests: 10.80 100m, 21.72 200m, 47.78 400m

 

 

 

 

Daniel Asa, West Fargo, SR

 

Season Bests: 14.87 110H, 39.04 300H, 23-7 Long Jump, 154-0 Javelin

 

 

 

 

Oregon

 

Ella Donaghu, Grant, SO

Season Bests: 4:31 1500m, 9:24 3K

 

The State Meet record for the 3K was set a year ago at 9:32, a race that Donaghu was second in.  This year she comes in the favorite in both the 1500m and 3000m where she looks to revenger her loss with a possible new record.

 

Matthew Maton, Summit, JR

Season Bests: 3:49 1500m, 8:18 3000m

 

While Maton might break the 5A record in the 300m, it is his record to break.  Maton, one of the best distance runners, will be eying two individual victories in the 1500m and 3000m.

 

John Nizich, Central Catholic, SR

Season Bests: 222-9 Javelin

 

The nation’s top javelin thrower aims to pick up a state title after finishing third a year ago.

 

 

 

Gabrielle Kearney, Roseburg, JR

Season Bests: 166'0" Javelin

 

Pennsylvania

 

Tony Russell, West Chester Henderson, SR

Season Bests: 4:09.53 1600m, 9:00.34 Two Mile

 

Malik Jones, Ridley, SR

Season Bests: 21.44 200m, 47.06 400m

 

Brianna Schwartz, Shaler Area, JR

Season Bests: 4:42.10 1600m, 10:10.03 3200m

 

Ciara Leonard, Cheltenham, JR

Season Bests: 13.70 100H, 44.17 300H

 

Tennessee

 

Harrison Williams, Memphis University, SR

Season Bests: 10.91 100m, 14.36 110H, 37.88 300H, 49.17 400m, 6-8 High Jump, 16-0 Pole Vault, 22-4.25 Long Jump

 

Wesley Pectol, Greeneville, SR

Season Bests: 4:09.42 1600m

 

Janel Pate, Hillsboro, JR

Season Bests: 11.81 100m, 24.19 200m, 55.60 400m

 

Kelsey Delapp, Gibbs, SR

Season Bests: 12'4" Pole Vault

 

West Virginia

 

Amelia Paladino, University, SR

Season Bests: 4:45.34 Mile, 2:12.72 800m, 10:00.42 3200m

 

Mackenzie Leigh, Buckhannon-Upshur, SR

Season Bests: 138'8" Discus, 41'11.50" Shot

 

Jacob Kilgore, Spring Valley, JR

Season Bests: 49.44 400m, 1:56.21 800m

 

 

Christian Buckley, Poca, JR

 

Season Bests: 170'1" Discus, 57'0" Shot

 

 

 

Wyoming

 

Ricky Faure, Rock Springs, SR

Season Bests: 1:49.41 800m, 4:08.04

 

The first boy under 1:50 this year, Faure has among the best ranges in the country.  With a 48 second 400 and a 4:08 mile, the Rock Springs senior is lethal.

 

Dayanera Timberman, Kelly Walsh, SR

Season Bests: 17-8 LJ, 39-7 TJ

 

The defending state champ in the long jump popped off a new state best in the triple jump. She has her work cut out for her in the long jump in order to defend her title.

 

Carlos Salcideo, Rock Springs, JR

Season Bests: 10.63 100m, 21.78 200m, 47.97 400m

With the state leader in two events (the 100m and 400m), Salcideo hopes to add even more points to the Rock Springs total. Salcideo is poised for a great improvement from a year ago where his best finish was 4th (400m).

 

Jerayah Davis, Kelly Walsh, SR

Season Bests: 12.11 100m, 24.74 200m, 55.73 400m, 19-0.50 Long Jump, 5-4 High Jump