TRISTEN HARRIS COMPETES IN THE LONG JUMP AT THE NORTH TEXAS SHOWCASE
Several Louisiana athletes opened their 2024 indoor season in Birmingham, Al this weekend at The Galleria Games.
West Feliciana junior Tristen Harris had a statement opener by winning both the 60m (7.61)and the 200m (24.60) in the 15-16 girls division.
There is another Louisiana sprinter in the same age group to keep an eye on. Zachary sophomore Talar Johnson finished No.7 in the 60m (7.83) and No. 13 in the 200m (25.72).
St. Louis High's Hannah Boullion opened up her season for the second year in a row at The Galleria Games. Boullion earned a silver in the 15-16 girls 400m with a time of 57.23.
Boullion, who is a junior, has a personal record is 56.70, which she set at last year's Last Chance Qualifier. That time is No. 4 all-time for sophomore girls on in the MileSplit LA rankings.
Louise S. McGehee's Kali Magana finished second in the 17-18 girls 800m with a time o 2:19.61. In the 60m, Magana finished No. 11 with a 7.83. However, her fastest time came in the prelims when she ran a 7.77.
Scotlandville's Sade Gray picked up her second personal record in as many weeks. Last week, Gray got a PR in the the 60m at the Fastrak Athletix High School Indoor Challenge in Houston, Tx.
READ MORE!: SCOTLANDVILLE'S SADE GRAY OPENS INDOOR WITH A 7.51! LA#7!
In Birmingham, Gray set a new all-time best in the 200m (24.28) finishing second. Gray broke her old personal record of 24.59 which was set at New Balance Indoor Nationals last March.
Joining Gray on the podium was Mandeville's Reese Johnson who had a personal record of her own in the event. Johnson, who committed to the University of Notre Dame in recent weeks, ran a 24.62.
Gray finished fourth in the 60m with a time of 7.57.
Add Warren Easton's Germain Smith-Mata to the list of sprinters opening up his indoor season as fast or faster than the end of the year in 2023. While his 6.77 in the 17-18 boys 60m was good enough for second place, it was only .01 off of his personal record set in February at the LHSAA State Indoor Meet.
Looking back to the same race in the same venue a year ago, Smith-Mata is well ahead of where he started a year ago where he had a winning time-and a meet record- of 6.85 in the 15-16 boys 60m.
Another sprinter who seems to be in mid-season form already is John Curtis' King Taylor. Taylor ran US#4 time of 48.31 in the 400m with a 48.31. The time is No. 8 all-time in the MileSplit LA database.44-8.5 in the boys triple jump and finished ninth overall. All of these performances are state-leading marks.
Louisiana had some athletes represent in the field events as well. Lafayette's Destiny Hooper finished third in the girls high jump with a 4-11.75. John Curtis' Kyron Sumler had the same place in the boys division with his effort of 6-2.75. E.D. White's Benjamin Rodrique jumped
Louisiana track and field fans will get to see most of these athletes in person at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse on Saturday, January 6th at the LSU High School Classic. If you are not able to make it to Baton Rouge, be sure to catch all of the action LIVE on MileSplit Louisiana.