Photo: Zoe Medranda/MileSplit Oregon
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As we head into the first weekend of May competition, we can't forget about last week's tremendous slate of underclassmen performances, especially in the sprints.
As this quartet fine-tuned things ahead of the homestretch of their in-state season, they were among the best in the nation and proved why they have what it takes to compete against anyone.
Take a look at this week's Future Stars!
The sophomore sprinter had a solid weekend on the oval, taking his talents to both the Ooltewah Meet Two on the 23rd and the Front Runner-Chattanooga Area Top 16 meet the day after. In Ooltewah, Cunningham won the 400m in 48.38, crossing over a second ahead of the rest of the field while notching his first-ever sub-50 performance. The next day, he won the 100m and 200m in 10.28 (PB) and 21.38, and now sits No. 1, No. 1, and No. 8 in all three events in state sophomore history. He's also the current state leader in the 200m.
It was a two-win type of day for Fraser at the Conference Meet #2 at West Craven High School, where the sophomore won her seventh and eighth races in the 100m and 200m. In the shorter of the two, the state leader ran 12.06, following that up with a 24.74 in the 200m later in the meet. Fraser sits No. 2 and No. 4 all-time among North Carolina's historically fast sophomores, behind names such as Shawnti Jackson and Tamara Clark. Through over a month of the outdoor season, Fraser is the fastest 100m runner in the state, and No. 7 nationwide.
Pearl (Miss.)
Class of 2028
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Pickett left the MHSAA 3A & 7A South State Championship with three wins, sweeping the 100m, 200m, and 400m in dominant fashion. Across all three events, there was no doubt Pickett would be the one to stop the clock, winning handily as he clocked 10.56, 21.22, and 48.66, respectively. Already the Mississippi sophomore state record holder in each of the three distances, he's No. 2 in the state's all-time record books behind Jordan Anthony, NCAA and World Indoor champion sprinter. He also sits No. 3 in both the 100m and 200m among the nation's sophomores, and No. 7 in the 400m.
After a stellar indoor campaign that saw her win the freshman 60m national title at Nike Indoor Nationals, Doggett is continuing to fire on all cylinders, this time shining at the GHSA A-3A Private Schools Area 2 meet in Sharpsburg, Georgia. Running 11.30 and 23.15, the freshman won by 1.3 seconds in the 100m and 2.15 seconds in the 200m. Already the freshman state record holder in both events, she is just .03 seconds from breaking Candace Hill's (Rockdale Co.) record of 10.98 and within half a second of Hill's 22.43 state record over 200m.
