Class 1A Boys
Ouachita Christian's boys track and field team is looking to win their fourth-straight LHSAA Class 1A State Outdoor championship. The Eagles have the firepower to bring home the hardware to Ouachita Parish.
OCS's Tate Hamby looks to lead the way for the Eagles after winning all four of his individual events (110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, high jump, and long jump) at the Region 1-1A Meet.
Going into the state meet, Hamby is ranked No.1 in three of events. The only event where he does not hold the No.1 ranking is the long where his season best of 22-6 is second only to North Central's Mckennis Savoie (23-1.5).
But Hamby isn't the only OCS Eagle with a No.1 ranking. Ryder Bentley (51-8) is ranked No.1 in the shot put, Ben Devall (152-7)is ranked No. 1 in the discus.
Logansport's Jamarcus Jones was called a "man among boys" by a long-time high school head coach who watched Jones compete at the Region 1-1A Meet. Jones is ranked No. 1 in both the 100m (10.24) and 200m (20.68).
If Jones is going to win both sprints, he is going to have beat the defending 1A champion in the 200m--Kentwood's Jermaine Brown (21.24). Brown was also the runner-up in the 100m (10.62).
In the sprint relays, Southern Lab is the team to beat. They have a season best of 43.28 in the 4x100m and 1:27.28 in the 4x200m. Both teams are ranked No. 1 in 1A.
Hamilton Christian, led by Kaleb Bigwood, has the No. 1 ranked 4x400m relay in 1A. Bigwood (47.63) has the fastest 400m time in 1A.
Highland Baptist's Tyler Blissett is set to compete in the distance triple like he did a year ago as a freshman. Blissett won the 1600m (4:39.12) and 3200m (9:59.95) and was the runner-up in the 800m (2:00.29).
In the horizontal jump, Delhi Charter's Tayven Carter is one to watch. He has the No. 1 ranked triple jump in 1A with a jump of 48-0. Carter is ranked No. 3 in the long jump with a season best of 22-4.5.
Girls 1A Girls
Louise S. McGehee's Kali Magana leads Class 1A in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m, but--luckily for half milers in 1A-- she will not be competing in that event today at the LHSAA Class 1A State Championships.
At the Region 3-1A Meet, Magana won the 100m (12.27), 200m (24.99), and 400m (56.16).
This is no surprise to anyone who watched her lead McGehee to the school's first track and field state championship a year ago.
In the distance events, keep your eye on Highland Baptist's Madalynn Salsman. She won the 800m (2:32.19) and 1600m (5:33.34) at the Region 2-1A Meet. She also finished second to her teammate Ella Blake in the 3200m. Salsman finished with a 13:10.40 while Blake, the defending state champion in the event, won with a 12:54.
In the hurdles, Central Catholic's Ava Claire Calais will be the favorite. She is ranked No. 1 in both the 100m hurdles (16.04) and 300m hurdles (47.28). She has won both events in the last four meets she has participated in and looks to her streak alive at the LHSAA Class 1A State Meet today.
Rheagan Butler from Opelousas Catholic is one to watch in the long jump. She has the No. 1 ranking with a jump of 17-8.5 and is coming off a Region 2-1A championship. Butler takes a six-meet win streak into today's LHSAA State Outdoor Meet.
While Northwood Lena's Nyasia Norman has the longest triple jump of the season with her District 3-1A winning performance of 35-0.5, she finished third at the Region 1-1A Meet. Haynesville's Zyariah Mosi won the Region 1-1A Meet with a jump of 33-5.
Keep an eye on a couple of freshmen in the 1A triple jump. Merryville's Avery Cournoyer (34-1) and Central Catholic's Jorden Geason (33-11.5) went No.1 and No. 2 at the Region 2-1A Meet.
If the chalk holds in the 1A girls discus, it looks to be a battle between Central Catholic's Addison Grizzaffi (122-0) and Ascension Catholic's Kaylee Brown (120-4).
Brown (37-7) could score some points in the shot put as well. Brown is ranked No.4 in the state. Plain Dealing's Brianna Newton has the No.1 ranking in 1A after a huge personal record throw of 39-2.5 at the Region 1-1A Meet.
Highland Baptist's Maegan Champagne is the No. 1 ranked pole vaulter coming into the state meet. She has a season best of 11-0 and will be looking to equal or surpass that today. She won the Region 2-1A Meet with a jump of 10-0.