While the majority of state championships were held over the past few weeks, this weekend offers some of the best. California, Virginia and Indiana highlight the national calendar, while Michigan, Kentucky and Wisconsin take place as well. See who the top athletes and teams are in each state and make sure to keep checking MileSplit all weekend long as we bring you top coverage of each state championship.
Weekend Preview (5/30 - 6/1)
California State T&F Championships (CA)
California State T&F Championships: Meet Page / Official Website / Start List
No other state meet in the entire country can top the talent and depth of the California State T&F Championships. Well Texas might have a shot, but from top to bottom California is simply outstanding in nearly every event. Leading the charge this year is perennial powerhouse Long Beach Poly (CA). The squad has a chance to win both the boys and girls team titles, as well as numerous individual and relay events.
Freshman Akawkaw Ndipagbor (Long Beach Poly, CA) and Joey Hughes (Long Beach Poly, CA) lead the charge for the girls and boys teams. Ndipagbor is the top ranked girl in the 400m dash, while teammate Jasmine Joseph is ranked #2. Both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay squads are ranked number one as well. On the boys side Hughes is ranked number one in the 400m dash, while having a shot to win the 200m dash as well. The LBP boys relay squads are ranked first in the 4x100m relay and second in the 4x400m relay behind Dominquez (CA).
In the distance events all eyes will be on California's trio of stars. German Fernadez (Riverbank, CA) looks to break the state records in the 1600m and 3200m events after running his stellar duo of 4:07.62 and 8:45.08 last weekend. Christine Babcock (Woodbridge, CA) ran a national federation record last weekend in the 1600m run in 4:36.57 and should be trying to improve upon that this weekend. Meanwhile, Jordan Hasay (Mission Prep, CA) looks to push the ten minute barrier in the girls 3200m run, but could receive a strong challenge from Laurynne Chetelat (Davis, CA), who ran a 10:05.95 3200m last weekend.
Back to the sprints, the girls 100m hurdle will be a sight to see. Julian Purvis (St. Elizabeth's, CA), Vashti Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, CA) and Briana Stewart (Logan, CA) all have a shot to win the event, while assuming the weather is right, a new U.S. #1 should be produced as well. Thomas and Stewart will be busy in field event action as well, as Thomas is the top seed in the long jump and triple jup, while Stewart is ranked third heading into the triple jump and is entered in the long jump as well.
A new U.S. #1 marking could come in the girls 300m hurdles with Ericka Nowell (Perris, CA) entering the competition with a strong seed time of 41.88 and going head-to-head with some very talented hurdlers. In the open 100m and 200m dash events, Ashton Purvis (St. Elizabeth's, CA), Yasmin Woodruff (St. Mary's Academy, CA), Jessica Davis (Highland, CA) and Magen Del Pino (Clovis West, CA) offer up one of the greatest 100m/200m fields in state history.
While so much will be taking place on the track, off the track some performers could earn or further U.S. #1 marks in their respective events. U.S. #1's Nico Weiler (Los Gatos, CA) and Anna Jelmini (Shafter, CA) will be looking to improve upon their seasonal bests. Weiler is currently ranked U.S. #1 in the pole vault and looks to clear 17-00 once again this weekend. Jelmini looks to do much the same, but in the girls discus. Her U.S. #1 mark of 183-11 is one of the top throws of all time. Coming anywhere near that mark would easily win the state title.
Indiana State T&F Championships (IN)
Indiana State T&F Championships: Meet Page / Official Websites: Boys - Girls
One class, two evenings of championship action. Indiana does it right when putting on their state track and field championships. Friday night the top girls in the state will go head-to-head, while the boys portion of the championships takes place Saturday evening. Under the lights, the best going against one another, how much better can it get.
Numerous events headline the schedule, but none are as deep up top as the boys shot put. U.S. top five thrower Brandon Pounds (Lawrence North, IN) and 60+ foot putters Jakob Engel (Portage, IN) and Tyler Hiatt (Noblesville, IN) all square off against one another. While Pounds is the respective favorite, a giant toss from Engel or Hiatt could pull off the upset.
In other field event action, Pounds' female teammate Felisha Johnson (Lawrence North, IN) looks to clear the 50 foot mark in the shot put. She'll have intense competition from Meghan Kessler (Crown Point, IN), who enters the championships with the number one seed. Kevin Schipper (FW Bishop Dwegner, IN) and cross-town rival Corey Shank (FW Northrup, IN) should provide some stellar action in the boys pole vault. Schipper cleared 17 feet last weekend, while Shank has shown consistency over 16 feet for nearly two years now.
On the track Ben Davis (IN) looks to dominate the boys action. The sprint powerhouse is the top ranked squad in both the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay, while star sprinter Matthew Terrell (Ben Davis, IN) is ranked as the top 100m and 200m dash participant. However, the squad should be challenged by perennial powerhouse Warren Central (IN). Central's top performer is D'Juan Richardson (Warren Central, IN), who will be looking for a state record in the 110m hurdles and a state championship in the 300m hurdles.
With Foot Locker champion Michael Fout (LaPorte, IN) out for the season with an injury, that leaves the door wide open for new state champions in the 1600m and 3200m events. Drew Shields (Fishers, IN) has stated his case all season long, and enters as the pre-race favorite in the 1600m run. Shields is also entered in the 800m dash and will help guide his squad in the 4x800m relay. Meanwhile, Alex Banfich (Culver Academies, IN) looks to close out her storied high school career with double gold in the girls 1600m and 3200m races. She is the clear cut favorite in each, but deep fields in Indiana never let a star athlete rest.
Elsewhere, Candyce McGrone (Warren Central, IN) leads all sprinters in the girls 100m and 200m dash events. McGrone will be looking for double gold, as well as helping her squad's relay teams. Hannah Farley (Park Tudor, IN) could provide some amazing highlights as well, entering as the top seed in the 400m dash, as well as anchoring her team's 4x400m relay, which enters with the top seed.
Kentucky State T&F Championships (KY)
Kentucky State T&F Championships: Meet Page / Best Coverage (KYTrackXC.com)
Michigan State T&F Championships (MI)
Michigan State T&F Championships: Meet Page / Official Websites: Boys - Girls
The Michigan State T&F Championships are a bit different than many. There are upper and lower peninsula portions to the meet, as well as having different locations for each division. With all the top athletes spread out across the state athletes will be going off of blind faith to prove whether or not they are the best in the state regardless of class.
While track events generally garner the most attention, this year could see a handful of field events stealing the show. Michael Martin (Detroit Central Catholic, MI) leads the way in the DI boys shot put competition. Martin's been over 60 feet in the event a few times this season and will be looking to earn a top five U.S. ranking. Meanwhile, Joe Wesley (Marine City, MI) is the top vaulter in the state. Wesley will be looking to clear at least 16 feet at the DII boys event. Ariel Roberts (Ann Arbor Pioneer, MI) is another one to watch, nearing the 6 foot barrier in the girls high jump this season.
Roberts will also take part in the DI girls long jump and 300m hurdles. In the 300m hurdles Roberts is the top seed, followed closely by teammate Paige Madison. Both athletes will be challenged by Leslie Aririguzo (West Bloomfield, MI), who looks to close out her storied high school career with wins in both hurdle events.
Rebecca Addison (Grand Haven, MI) is the one to watch in the DI girls distance events. Addison is the top seed in both the 800m dash and 1600m run. Freshman Dynasty McGee (Flint Southwestern Academy, MI) is another star to watch after taking the Michigan track and field scene by storm this spring. McGee is a top three seed in both the 200m and 400m dash events. Tia Brooks (East Kentwood, MI) in the shot put, Jackson High School (MI) in the 4x200m and 4x400m relay and Meggan Freeland (Parma Western, MI) in the DII girls 1600m and 3200m runs are others to watch.
On the boys side, Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) and East Kentwood (MI) should battle it out in the DI sprint relays. The two squads are ranked 1-2 respectively in the 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay and 4x400m relay. Pioneer is also the top ranked team in the 4x800m relay. Elsewhere in the DI competition, Justin Heck (Monroe, MI) ran an impressive 1600m/3200m two weeks ago at regionals, entering state being ranked in the top two in each event. Isaiah Ward (Detroit Mumford, MI) is ranked #1 in the 800m dash and will look to guide his squad to a 4x800m relay title, while Darryl White (Romulus, MI) looks to further his fantastic sprint season with titles in the 100m and 200m dashes.
Bobby Aprill (Dexter, MI) and Maverick Darling (Ovid-Elise, MI) should dominate the DII and DIII distance events. Both athletes are ranked #1 in the 1600m and 3200m events and should be looking to leave their mark on the Michigan State record books one last time. Will Cranford (Inkster, MI) is the top seed in the DII boys 110m hurdles, while Zach Hill (Allendale, MI) is the top seed in the DIII shot put and discus throws, perhaps being the top all-around thrower in the state.
Virginia State T&F Championships (VA)
Virginia State T&F Championships: Best Coverage (MileStat.com)
With so many great athletes and teams taking part in the Virginia State T&F Championships this weekend, it would be fairly easy to miss a lot of what takes place. However, MileStat.com's Brandon Miles has done excellent build up towards the VA Championships. It's all covered on his site HERE.
Wisconsin State T&F Championships (WI)
Wisconsin State T&F Championships: Meet Page / Official Website
The final weekend of the season is finally upon the athletes in Wisconsin. Some big marks are expected, especially in the field events. U.S. top ten long jumper Marcus Jenkins (Milw. Bradley Tech, WI) goes for gold in his signature event, looking to clear the 25 foot barrier like he did earlier in the season. Clay Gosse (Appleton North, WI) and Jared Jassin (Kettle Moraine, WI) go head-to-head in the boys DI shot put. Both athletes came within less than a foot of breaking the 60 foot barrier at their state qualifying competitions and will look to top that mark this weekend.
Two of the most impressive athletes in Wisconsin track and field this season have been Paul Annear (Richland Center, WI) and Becca Buchholtz (East Troy, WI). Despite both being in Division II, they are the best all-around jumpers in the state. Annear looks to pull off the jump triple, by winning the high jump, long jump and triple jump. He is currently ranked first in two of the events and second in the other, while being the only Wisconsinite with a chance to break seven feet in the high jump this season.
Buchholtz is in a similar position, ranked as the top female in all three jumps heading into this weekend's competition. Jessica Maroszek (Seymour, WI) is the top ranked thrower in the state, launching a 147-01 discus mark last weekend and clearing 45-00 in the shot put.
On the track, Lindsay Schwartz (Watertown, WI) looks to help her squad score some big points, entering the state meet ranked number one in the 100m and 300m hurdle events in Division I competition, while her squad's 4x400m relay is ranked number one as well. Maya Vazquez (Arcadia, WI) could run in the 55 second range in the girls DII 400m dash, while Kayla Wagner (Baldwin-Woodville, WI) and Ashley Beutler (Belleville/New Glarus, WI) should dual it out in the girls DII 1600m and 3200m events.
On the boys side the top track event of the weekend could very easily be the DI boys 4x800m relay. Seven teams are ranked within two and a half second of one another, all under the 7:58 barrier.
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