Watch the 2022 LHSAA State Indoor Meet LIVE here!
What if I told you the No. 4 and No. 6 ranked US high school boys triple jumpers live 30 minutes away from each other in northeast Louisiana? It will never make an ESPN 30-for-30, but if someone did make a documentary on the 2022 high school indoor track and field season, Ruston's Brandon Green and Ouachita's Jeremy Nelson would be the stars of the show.
The familiar District 2-5A foes will write another chapter to the tale as they square off in the Division I triple jump at the LHSAA State Indoor Meet at LSU this Saturday. While the meet begins at 10am with the Division I girls pole vault, all eyes will be on the runway at 4pm when Green and Nelson battle for a state title.
It won't be the first time. The two battled in the 2021 LHSAA State Outdoor Meet. Green came out on top jumping 49-3.75. Nelson finished with a jump of 48-01.50.
Green (22-7.25) also comes into the state indoor meet with Louisiana's best long jump. His competition in that event will come from Southside's Dylan Sonnier (22-4) and Scotlandville sophomore Broderick Davis (22-3.75).
Ruston's Brandon Green talks about the LSU Last Chance Meet and facing a familiar foe at State
In the Division II jumps, Westlake junior Tristan Goodly is the favorite to win both the triple jump (45-7.5) and long jump (22-1).
Goodly's competition in the triple jump will come from Oakdale's Cade Dauzat (42-7.5) and University's Edan Stagg (41-1.75).
In the Division II long jump, Lake Charles College Prep's Braylen Walker (22-0.5) and Metairie Park Country Day's Jack Schwing (21-0.75) will be looking to surpass Goodly's No. 1 ranking.
The high jump has a couple of clear favorites in both divisions. Slidell's Jayden Averhart (6-6) is the favorite in Division I. Ville Platte's Michael Berry (6-4) is the heavy favorite in Division II where he is the only jumper to surpass 6-0.
Other high jumpers to watch in Division I include St. Amant's D'andre Taylor (6-4.75) and Tioga's Sherman Hawkins (6-4.75).
By nature, anything can happen in the pole vault, but Hammond's Beau Domingue (16-4.75) should have no issues winning another state championship. He is the defending Class 5A state champion outdoors, clearing just over 17 feet.
No other vaulter in Division I has cleared 14-0 this year.
In Division II the pole vault state championship is up for grabs as Acadiana Renaissance Charter's Lucas Owens, St. Louis' Mason Abshire, and Lafayette Christian Academy's Gabriel Dupuis all come into the competition with a best of 13-0.75.
Hamilton Christian Academy's Derrick Williams (49-9.25) and Lafayette Christian Academy's Micah Miller (48-7.5) are the favorites in the Division II boys shot put.
Catholic's Grant Griffin (54-8) is the heavy favorite to win his first state championship in the shot put. Zachary's Taishon Nelson (51-3.75) and Catholic's Prince Edwards (48-7.75) are other shot putters to keep an eye on.