GIRLS
Girls PoleValt:
Louisiana jumper (and current US #1) Morgan Leleux is the top seed this year clearing 13ft in each of her last 4 meets. The meet record at 12-6.5 (set by Neil Tisher in 2009) looks to be in jeopardy. No stranger to performing well in big meets, Mary Ashton Nall (Auburn) has been improving all season and should be someone to watch as well.
Girls Long Jump:
Shakeela Saunders (Va) is the top seed this year entering her PR of 19-5. While not at that distance yet this year, a warm outdoor meet could be the perfect setting for a great jump. St. Pauls (AL) own Lacy Dent is seeded 3rd and has already jumped 18-5 this season.
Girls Javelin:
In girls Javelin, some of the best in the nation will be in attendance this year. Top seed is current US #5 Jenna Baker (La) with a throw of 143-8 this season. Close behind is current US #6 Ashley Aldredge (La) with a throw of 142-10. Alabama favorites are Lacy Barger (US #10 - ColdSprings) and Shelby Builta (US #12 - Bayside).
Girls High Jump:
Katherine White (US #4 - St. Pauls) and Brionne Williams (US#5 - Hoover) are separated this season only by .25in. With less than a half inch seperating their best jumps this season, High Jump is hard to call for this meet.
Girls 400m:
The 400m field is led by Shakeela Saunders (Va) coming out off a 6th place finish at Nike Indoors with a time of 56.31. The rest of the competitors are all close and this should prove to be one of the more competitive races of the day.
Girls 4x400:
The girls 4x400 should be noted as a pre-state matchup between Smiths Station and Mountain Brook. Mountain Brook took the win earlier this season at the Montgomery Academy Invite, however Smiths Station now has the faster time.
BOYS
Boys HJ:
The field is led by current US #1 James Harris (Lanett) who cleared 7-3 this past week. He hopes to improve on this and with a good facility, it is a definate possibility.
Boys Triple Jump:
Kenyan Martin (US #5 - Pensacola) and Joshua Sigler (US #10 - Murphy) are prepared to continue the tradition of insane distances at the Challenge of Champions. With the current meet record at 50-04.5in though, these two will have to PR to break it.
Boys Pole Vault:
Nick Farell (US #5 - McGill) is chasing the Alabama state record this year. His senior year he has reached 16-0 and is hoping to go higher. They say competition is what vaulters thrive on and Nick will get it this weekend when current US #2 Paul Malquist (Ga) comes to town. Always a crowd favorite to watch, vaulting on Saturday should prove to be exciting.
Boys Javelin:
Current Mobile native and US #1 Ben Lapane (Murphy) will face off against US #8 Josh Cox (La). Lapane is on target to break the meet record of 196-10 set in 2003.
200m
Current AL #1 (and US #8) Keenan Brock (Carver) leads a tight field with Deandre Jacobs (La) and Darius Reynolds (NY) close behind. James Harris (Lanett) could be a darkhorse in the race and shake up the field.