Small school. Big Dreams. This week's finalists for MileSplit LA Boys Performer Of The Week all come from Class 1A, B, and C. Those three classifications will kick off state championships week on Thursday at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium. Congratulations to these finalists. The winner will advance to the poll for MileSplit LA Boys' Outdoor Performer Of The Year at the end of the season. This poll will close on Saturday at 9pm.
KINGSTON CULPEPPER (CEDAR CREEK)-- The eighth grader from Cedar Creek has blazed a trail-literally- in 1A for the past two weeks. Last week, he won the Region 1-1A with a time of 11.03. That tracks with the kind of performances Culpepper has been putting down all year. The week before, at the District 1-1A Meet, Culpepper was credited with a time of 10.54. That's the fastest time in 1A this year, and the fastest time of any eighth grader in the nation. In his 10 races this year, it's the only time Culpepper has broken 11.0. His previous season best was 11.01 in a fourth-place finish at the Port City Glass Relays at Sterlington.
JUSTIN SUIRE(HIGHLAND BAPTIST)-- Leads Class 1A in the discus (170-10) and the shot put (54-10.5). On Thursday, Suire looks to win his third straight LHSAA Class 1A state championship in the discus and his first state championship in the shot put. Suire has finished as the runner-up in the last two state championships. He finished second in the Division II Indoor Championships with a throw of 54-7.25. A year ago, he finished second with a throw of 47-0.25.
TERRANCE WILLIAMS (DELHI)-- On Thursday, Williams avenged his loss to Haynesville's Isaiah Washington at last year's Region 1-1A Championship. Williams held off Washington with a time of 38.68. That came a week after his season best of 38.59 at the District 1-2A Championships. Now Williams heads to the LHSAA State Outdoor Meet where he is the defending state champion in 1A. Washington, who finished third at the LHSAA State Outdoor Meet last year, will get one last crack at him.
GAGE HORTON (QUITMAN)-- Horton won the 400 meters (52.04), 800 meters (2:14.43), and 1600 meters (5:01) at last week's Class B Region 1 Meet. Horton has finished on the podium in both his junior year and sophomore year. Thursday, he gets his final shot at a state championship. And he will be the man to be all three races as he ranks No. 1 in all three events in Class B.
DEMARQUIS DURHAM (GIBSLAND COLEMAN)-- Strength and Speed. Durham has both as evidenced by his No. 1 ranking in Class C in both the 100 meter (11.05) and the shot put (43-9). Durham won the Class C-Region 1 shot put last week, but finished second to his teammate Deavery Durham in the 100 meters. Durham will be looking for his third consecutive win in the 100 meters at the LHSAA Class C State Outdoor Meet. Durham is also on the Gibsland Coleman 4x100 meter relay team which has the fastest time in Class C this year with a 46.19 at the Castor Invitational.
Small school. Big Dreams. This week's finalists for MileSplit LA Boys Performer Of The Week all come from Class 1A, B, and C. Those three classifications will kick off state championships week on Thursday at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium. Congratulations to these finalists. The winner will advance to the poll for MileSplit LA Boys' Outdoor Performer Of The Year at the end of the season. This poll will close on Saturday at 9pm.
KINGSTON CULPEPPER (CEDAR CREEK)-- The eighth grader from Cedar Creek has blazed a trail-literally- in 1A for the past two weeks. Last week, he won the Region 1-1A with a time of 11.03. That tracks with the kind of performances Culpepper has been putting down all year. The week before, at the District 1-1A Meet, Culpepper was credited with a time of 10.54. That's the fastest time in 1A this year, and the fastest time of any eighth grader in the nation. In his 10 races this year, it's the only time Culpepper has broken 11.0. His previous season best was 11.01 in a fourth-place finish at the Port City Glass Relays at Sterlington.
JUSTIN SUIRE(HIGHLAND BAPTIST)-- Leads Class 1A in the discus (170-10) and the shot put (54-10.5). On Thursday, Suire looks to win his third straight LHSAA Class 1A state championship in the discus and his first state championship in the shot put. Suire has finished as the runner-up in the last two state championships. He finished second in the Division II Indoor Championships with a throw of 54-7.25. A year ago, he finished second with a throw of 47-0.25.