16 Athletes Primed To Win Their First State Championship!

There is nothing quite like the first state championship feeling. After going through the performance lists and heat sheets, MileSplit LA has identified 16 athletes, who could potentially be making their first trip to the top of the podium at an LHSAA State Championships. 

Olivia Woods (St. Thomas More)--Woods, who is only a sophomore, is Louisiana's best female pole vaulter. Due to LHSAA transfer rules, she was not able to compete as a freshman. She is making the most of her return to high school action. She should win easily on Saturday and if she does, we expect it to be the first of many.

Emma Smith (Delcambre)--Another sophomore who is a rising star in the sport of track and field. Smith should pick up her first state championship in the Division II girls' high jump. Smith comes into the meet with a season best of 5-5 and is the clear favorite in the field. However, there are talented jumper

Mackenzie Hayes (Northlake Christian)--Hayes is an eighth grader at Northlake Christian. She is the No. 1 ranked long jumper in Division II with a season best of 17-1.50. Based on her body of work during the 2025 indoor season, it's obvious that she is a MileSplit LA Future Star. We do not expect the moment to be too big for her on Saturday. 

Rafael Cuartas (Houma Christian)--Cuartas is the overwhelming favorite in Division II with a season best of 6-2.25. There is only one other jumper in the field who has cleared 6-0 this season. In his last state championship-the 2024 LHSAA State Outdoor Meet--Cuartas finished third in the Class 2A boys high jump. We predict that he will make his first trip to the top of the podium at a state championship event on Saturday.

Aidan Anding (Ruston)--When we talked to Anding after his season-opening jump of 22-11 at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier, we asked him why it was important for him to compete in track and field during his senior season when he could go ahead and start getting ready for his college football career at LSU. Anding said there were still goals out there that he wanted to achieve. One of those goals is a state championship, which we think he will accomplish on Saturday, but that's not all. Anding is going after Brandon Green's school record in the long jump. And he has Green's full blessing. 

Leilani Hudson (Lafayette Christian)--Has a season best of 35-8 in the shot put. That is over three feet better than than her closest competitor in the Division II girls shot put. 

Zion Smith (Airline)--Smith has won All-American honors in summer age group competition, but doesn't have a state championship on his resume. That may change on Saturday as Smith is the No.1 ranked 60m hurdler in Division I. Smith has a season best of 8.04 at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier where he finished second to his River Cities Track Club teammate Jaden Youngblood. 

Cameron Brazzle (Lake Charles College Prep)--Brazzle was a big reason that LCCP was in position to win a state indoor championship last season before the Trailblazers were disqualified in the final event of the meet. Coach Jackie Rhine said that the team would be back-and they are-as the clear favorites to win the part. The Trailblazers are expected to score 26 points in the field events. Part of that is Brazzle taking care of his business in the triple jump where he is the No. 1 ranked jumper in Division II with a season best of 45-9.25. But, that mark came way back during Week No.1 of the La. high school indoor season. Will Brazzle be able to help the Trailblazers take care of some unfinished business at the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse on Saturday? We think so. 

Reese Prevost (Thibodaux)-- Prevost is the only pole vaulter in Division I who has cleared the 14-0 mark. While Prevost will be keeping an eye on a group of three who have cleared 13-0 or better, it sure looks like Prevost will be collecting his first state championship trophy on Saturday. 

Grace Keene (Northshore)--How about winning an indoor state championship as a freshman? It could happen for Northshore's Grace Keene who has the fastest 1600m time in Division I during this indoor season. Her season best of 5:09 is ranked No.3 all-time for Louisiana high school freshmen girls. 

Gionni Wiltz (Slidell)--Wiltz put on a show during Week No. 1 of the La. High School indoor season. That was way back in early January at the LSU HS Classic. Wiltz's performance was highlighted by his winning high jump of 6-9.75. That mark ranks as the No. 15 jump in the nation. Later in the meet, Wiltz

Leland Crawford (Jesuit)--It's been a long journey back after running 4:15 as a freshman at the Texas Distance Festival as a freshman. It was great to see Crawford back competing at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier, where he made his return and opened his 2025 senior track season. It was a successful return as Crawford won the 1600m with a time of 4:26. Now, he has an opportunity to add state champion to his resume. 

Phillip Wright III (Destrehan)--As successful as Wright has been during his high school track and field career, it's hard to believe that he does not have a state championship under his belt. He finished second in the 60m a year ago and went on to earn All-American honors at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, where he ran a time of 6.76. Wright, an LSU Football signee, runs so hard and so fast it's been hard to keep his body healthy for the duration of the high school season to make it to an LHSAA State Championship meet. Wright is a favorite in the Division I boys' 400m where he is one of two sprinters who have run under 50 seconds this year. 

Joelle Adegboye (Mandeville)--Adegboye has looked sharp in her hurdling technique starting with Week No. 1 and the LSU HS Classic. The momentum has carried her to this point where she is the No.1 ranked 60m hurdler in Division 1. She looks to make her first trip to the top of the podium on Saturday if she can hold off a talented field. Adegboye has a season best of 9.09 at the LSU HS Qualifier. 

Aaliyah Lane (Warren Easton)--Lane has won numerous National Championship titles as she has come up through summer age-group competitions. Saturday will mark the first time that Lane will have a legitimate opportunity to add state champion to an already impressive resume. Lane has a season best of and leads Division I with the fastest time in the Division I girls 800m with a 2:18.84. It won't be easy. You can bet that St. Joseph's Michelle Daigle, the defending champion in the event, is going to make her earn it. Daigle has a season best of 2:20.

Brandt Blanchard (Jesuit)-- Blanchard has had an impressive indoor season. First, running a 28 second final 200m to win the 1600m at the LSU HS Qualifier. Then, holding off Mandeville's Brayden Berglund in the 800m at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier. Blanchard won with a personal record 1:56.20. Tomorrow, Berglund will get another crack at Blanchard and Blanchard will get his first crack at a state championship. No matter what the outcome is in this one...it promises to be must watch race.