The 2020 3A boys runners-up, University Lab, have a shot at moving up the rankings this Tuesday, but it will be no easy feat. The state meet is fated to be a duel between Lab and Parkview Baptist.
University Lab returns a strong team, especially the highest returning individual from last year. Last year was John Hall Hays' first-ever year of competition and he demonstrated to the entire state that he came to play. He was one of the best freshmen in the entire state that year and finished 5th. Right now, he stands as the fastest individual in 3A over E.D. White's Owen Tauzin.
John Hall Hays taking 4th at the East Baton Rouge Metro Championships
- - -
The rest of Lab's squad is in a great position to land themselves within the top ten and secure a win. Blayton Bernard, Connor Agustine, and Daniel Lee have a chance to accomplish this feat. They are almost evenly separated with Bernard coming in at 16:09 for the season and Lee rounding out this trio at 16:58.
What poses the greatest threat for Lab is its 5th man, Matthew Heinse. He is separated greatly from the pack and Parkview and other runners may take advantage of this sizable gap. If Heinse has a good day, he could secure the win for his team.
Parkview Baptist is a more tightly wound group that could take advantage of the gap present in Lab's team. Leading this team is senior Wyatt Whipp and freshman Aiden Monistere. These two finished side-by-side at the St. Michael Warrior Run a pose as a nasty 1-2 punch. Monistere recently had this standout race and I am curious to see if they can replicate this performance at the state meet. On top of that, these two could both have a shot for a podium position.
Aiden Monistere at the Watson High School Meet
- - -
Following up on those two are Kohl Feucht. He is more of a stand-alone runner in the team, but he is not too far ahead of his teammates. Feucht has the opportunity to take home an all-state honor after finishing 12th in 2020.
Closing out the team's top six are Konnor Broussard, Caleb Whipp, and Ethan DeLatte. This group gives Parkview Baptist some comfort because they have three runners that are close together that also close out the top five. If one of these runners is having a bad day, then the other can easily pick up the slack.
As mentioned before, Owen Tauzin of E.D. White holds the second-best time in 3A and could find himself on the podium on Tuesday. He has been consistent all season with times floating around 16-flat. Tauzin finished 10th in 2020 and is surely hungry for a podium position this year.
Do not leave Dax Boudreaux of Erath out of the conversation, he last competed during the middle of October, but he is one of the top runners in 3A. His best performance came from the McNeese Cowboy Stampede 5k where he finished 2nd in a time of 16:46, which converts to a 16:04 3 mile.
More recently, Brock Cormier of West Feliciana and Franklin Roemer of Loyola College Prep have claimed times around 16:40 and could sneak into the top ten at the state meet.