John Ehret rising senior Armani Cargo is the fastest high school sprinter in the state of Louisiana. If there was any doubt, he removed it this weekend in Hammond, La. at the AAU Region 11 Qualifier by running an unprecedented time in the 200m.
While Cargo made a statement at the LHSAA Class 5A state championship by winning both the 100m (10.45) and 200m (21.15) in May. On Saturday, he put an exclamation mark at the end of the statement by winning a 200m final littered with past and present state champion sprinters. Cargo's time in the finals was 21.13.
But it's what he did the day before in the prelims that had spectators at the Southeastern Louisiana Track & Field Complex buzzing.
Cargo surprised even himself with his preliminary time of 20.76, which broke the meet record of 21.32 set by River Cities' Kynoz Smith in 2011.
"I was shocked to run that time, myself because I got out the first 100m but I came off the curve and slowed down a little bit, but I sped back up," Cargo said. "When I heard the time, I was like 'no way.'"
Yes, way.
The 200m meet record time at the AAU Region 11 Qualifier is just one of the highlights for Cargo this summer. A little over a week ago, the John Ehret defensive back committed to Tulane University.
"Coach (Willie) Fritz and his staff recruited me hard," Cargo said. "It felt like family and home."
While his time as a member of the Green Wave football team will come, Cargo has a few more pressing concerns as he prepares for AAU Club Championships and the AAU National Junior Olympics in Des Moines, Iowa later this summer.
Cargo was asked what he will be working on in practice as he prepares to run against the nation's best.
"My speed endurance, you know," Cargo said. "Getting out of the blocks good, drive phase, and finishing strong."
If the success of Louisiana sprinters at last year's AAU National Junior Olympics is any indication, Cargo could see some familiar faces in the finals.
Germain Smith-Mata, Jermain Brown, and Ra'hji Dennis all made the finals of the 15-16 boys 100m. It is believed to be the first time in history three of the eight finalists at a national junior olympics were from Louisiana.
Brown--as well as Krosse Johnson--pushed Cargo in Saturday's AAU Region 11 Qualifier 200m final. Brown, who finished up his sophomore season at Kentwood by winning the Class 1A 100m state championship (10.62), finished second in the 200m on Saturday with a 21.25. Johnson was third with a 21.34.