BENTON'S BRODY HUTCHISON (14) IS AN ATHLETE TO WATCH AT BENTON'S HOME OPENER TODAY!
For most intents and purposes, today is opening day for outdoor track and field across the state. In North Louisiana, many teams will head to North Bossier Parish for Benton's Shamocus Patton Relays.
LAST YEAR...
The Airline Vikings, led by Jeremiah Boudreaux, took home the hardware from the Week No.1 meet. That didn't sit with the host Benton Tigers, who are District 1-5A rivals with the Vikings. Read more about last year's meet in the article below. Click this link to access last year's results-- 2024 results Shamocus Patton Relays.
READ MORE: Jeremiah Boudreaux Leads Vikings to Win in Outdoor Opener!
MEET ENTRIES...
Here are the entries for this year's meet..
2025 Shamocus Patton Meet Entries!
IT'S MILLER TIME!
Last year, Benton pole vaulter Miller Malley had the opportunity to put his name on the record board in the hallway of the Benton Track & Field Complex. He did this after winning his first state championship at the 2024 LHSAA Class 5A State Championships with a jump of 14-11.25.
Now, Miller (14-5.25) opens his final season of outdoor track and field at Benton fresh off his LHSAA D1 state champion with a jump of 14-5.25.The quest for 15 feet begins today at his team's home meet.
AIRLINE IS GOING TO ZION!
Malley wasn't the only state champion from Bossier Parish. Airline senior Zion Smith won his first state championship in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.22. He ran even faster in the prelims posting a time of 7.99.
HOLD THESE TIGERS!
Other Tigers to watch include junior Brody Hutchison, who is coming off an impressive indoor campaign. Hutchison had personal records in both the 800m (2:01.85) and 1600m (4:33) during the indoor season. He finished fifth in the LHSAA D1 State Indoor Championships in the 800m with a time of 2:02.
Last year, Hutchison struggled in the cold and windy conditions at the Shamocus Patton Relays. He finished seventh in the 1600m with a time of 4:51. Look for a much better showing today.
If Hutchison is going to win the 1600m this year, he is going to have to beat the defending champion in the event--Parkway's Andrew Kent. Kent won in terrible conditions last year with a time of 4:41.92.
Also, keep an eye on Airline's Jayden Williams, who finished just ahead of Hutchison in the 800m at the state indoor meet in the 800m
On the girls' side, keep an eye on Benton's Kyla Daux and Claire Allen. Daux (2:30) finished tenth in the 800m at the LHSAA D1 State Indoor Championships. Allen finished 11th in the 3200m with a 12:16.
THE BEST IN THE BOOT!
If you want to see some of the best athletes in the state, you are going to need to get there early and head toward the field events. Ruston's Aidan Anding is Louisiana's No. 1 returner in the boys' long jump. He had a best last season of 23-9 at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Championships when he finished second to Scotlandville's Broderick Davis, who is now competing for the University of Tennesse.
Later this year, Anding will be competing in the SEC as well as he is an LSU Football signee.
In the discus, Parkway's Devon Oliver is Louisiana's No.1 returner in the event. Oliver, who has signed to continue his football career at Yale, had a best last season of 176-4 which came at the Region 1-5A Meet.
Airline's Shelby Ledet is coming off an incredible freshman season where she finished as the runner-up at the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor Championships with a jump of 5-5.75. Ledet's best jump last season came at the Haughton Buccaneer Relays where she had a jump of 5-6. That puts her at No. 3 in Louisiana heading into the 2025 season.
The jump of 5-6 also puts her at No. 2 on Louisiana's all-time list for freshmen girls in the high jump.
NORTH DESOTO'S JUMP MAN
North DeSoto senior Javonte Taylor was a double winner at last year's Shamocus Patton Relays. He won the high jump with a clearance at 6-4. He also won the triple jump with a mark of 44-10.
Taylor is coming off his final high school indoor season where he finished in the top eight in three events--long jump, triple jump, and high jump.
RELAYS WITH A NEED FOR SPEED
There should be some fast action in the sprint relays. Ruston's 4x200m finished second at the LHSAA D1 State Indoor Championships with a time of 1:30.
Leading Ruston's sprint corps will be Anding, Dylone Brooks, and D'Joryen Jenkins
SPEAKING OF SPEED
Top sprinters on the girls side look to be Airline's Jaycie Wallace and North DeSoto's Taylor Clark. In the hurdles, top entries are Haughton's Kinsley Brotherton and Airline's Janiyah Boudreaux.