* Aria Pearce is a big freshman name to watch out for this year in the sprints
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Every year it seems that there are a handful of underclassmen who rise to the top of the leaderboards.
While we're just over a month into the new indoor campaign, there are already plenty of Future Stars in the making, from the jumps to the sprints and maybe even over to the 800 meters.
Here are four of the nation's top rising stars who have already begun putting their competition on notice.
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Hamilton Southeastern (IN)
Class of 2027
In just a few short races this season, Schmitz has made his presence known. Over the weekend at the KYA HS Indoor Classic, the freshman Schmitz held on for second in a fast 800m race, crossing in 1:54.10, his first time ever under 1:55.
If a PR wasn't enough, it was also a brand new freshman class record and the sixth-fastest time in Indiana indoor history. Although he didn't pick up the win, Schmitz can still hold his head high knowing he lost to the fastest guy in the nation this season.
Plus, he's still the second fastest athlete in the country. In addition to his 800m talent, the young Lion also ran 49.49 and 1:20.78 for 400m and 600m.
Obviously, all three blazing times lead the entire freshman class.
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Wayne (OH)
Class of 2027
We're not even six weeks into the indoor season and Averette-Brown has already got 12 races under his belt, with all of them resulting in a top three finish.
The Warrior freshman has already clocked 6.89 in the 60m and 21.87 for 200m this winter, with both times leading his class.
He's run under 7.00 five times and has set a PR in the 200m three times this season, doing so in just four races.
Not to mention, he clocked 51.93 in his lone 400m race; that performance was the seventh-fastest time among the nation's freshman. Needless to say, Averette-Brown is going to be a name we talk about a lot over the next four years.
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Deep Creek (VA)
Class of 2027
One may consider Gatling to be a 'jack of all trades,' thanks to her all-around talent in both the jumps and the sprints.
For example, Gatling has cranked out a 7.29 for the 60m, putting her fourth-best in a very star-studded freshman class.
That's not all, though. She can jump, too. With a clearance of 5-8 and a leap of 18-0.75 in the high and long jump, Gatling sits comfortably at the top of the high jump leaderboard and is ranked second in the long jump.
It's pretty obvious, but she can do it all. Keep an eye out for this well-rounded athlete to continue to make noise throughout her track & field career.
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Rock Creek (KS)
Class of 2027
In middle school, the sprinting sensation lit up the track everywhere she went, beating fellow middle schoolers, high schoolers and even collegians.
Now she's a freshman at Rock Creek High School and looking to continue her dominance. So far, Pearce has run the 60m, 200m and 400m, leading the nation's freshman class in each of the three.
The reigning Emerging Elite Nike Outdoor Nationals champion in both the 100m and 200m has run 7.56. 24.08 and 56.39 in December.
Out of all high schoolers, Pearce sits 14th, second and seventh on the national leaderboard, respectively.
