Aaron Ernest wins the 100m dash at the 2011 Mobile Challenge of Champions. |
The 2012 Mobile Meet of Champions is here again and as the only "true" invite in the state, it is again a showing of some of the best athletes in the southeast.
This preview is of athletes currently slated to attend the 2012 Meet. Scratches and late additions are not taken in to account.
Girls
100 Meter Dash - Three girls in the field are under 12 seconds this year with Mikiah Brisco of Baton Rouge leading the event with a seed time of 11.74 (2011 LA State Championship). She has run 11.99 this year. Aleia Hobbs (McMain, LA) fllows closely behind at 11.84 with Fredricka Jordan of Anniston HS rounding out the top three and the top Alabama girl entered.
400 Meter Dash - The girls have two under 55.00 with Jasmine Ducre (US #8, Picayune, MS) the top seed. Marquita Stalbert of McDonogh should give tough competition.
800 Meter Run - Destiny Jenkins (Athens Christian) is the top seed at 2:15.28. Two Alabama athletes (Kathryn Lazarchick and Veronica Lyle) are seeded two and three at 2:15.78 and 2:16.02 respectively.
1 Mile Run - Karisa Nelson (T.R. Miller) leads the field with 5:02.84. However, Sage Blackwell (McGill-Toolen) is a strong favorite running 5:03 last week at the Sugar Bowl Classic.
2 Mile Run - Four girls entere the event with times 11 minutes and under. Carmen Carlos (10:25.30)is the field favorite to win with a seed time 30 seconds ahead of the number 2 seed.
100 Meter Hurdles - Kendell Williams (US#1) is making the trip from Marietta, Georgia this year. If you don't watch another race on Saturday, make sure you see her run the hurdles.
4x800 Meter Relay - Like the 2011 season, Mountain Brook and McGill-Toolen will be going head to head again as the top seeds. The only question is will both teams run their top legs or will they sub for fresh legs?
High Jump - Kendell Williams (Kell HS) cleared 6-0 early on this season and is the top seed. Chardonae Fuqua (Hoover) is the top seeded Alabama girl at a close 5-9.
Pole Vault - Megan Clark (Columbus HS, GA) is the top seed at 13-0. Her current season best is 12-2 which is below the #2 seed 12-7 of home field favorite Chanel Krause (St. Pauls).
Long Jump - Kendell Williams (Kell HS) ....(last time I promise -- shes also the current World Youth Heptathlete Champion 5225 pts) is seeded at 20-05. Lacy Dent (St Pauls) at 19-02, is the top seeded Alabama athlete.
Triple Jump - Four girls enter the competiton have gone past 38ft. Lacy Dent (St Pauls) is the top seed at 38-10.
Boys
100 Meter Dash - The entire field is under 10.70. The top two seeds Jeryl Brazil (Loranger, LA) and Devante Washington (Lafayette, LA) enter the meet at 10.26 and 10.32 respectively. The top Alabama seed is Tracy McKinney (Smiths Station HS) at 10.65.
200 Meter Dash - Tawo Amba-Etta (McEachern HS, GA) is the top seed at 21.17. He is also running the 100m so not sure how fresh his legs will be against #2 seed Alexander Reese of (Lassiter, LA) Cameron Luper is the top Alabama seed at 21.66
400 Meter Dash - If you dont go sub 49 no need to apply her as the entire field is 48 point or better. Kavarha Holmes (Breaux Bridge HS, LA) is the top seed at 46.31. The top Alabama seed is Quincy Smith at 47.49. Also in the field is Jekaryus Redwine (Oak Mt) and Nigel Cribbs (Hoover).
800 Meter Run - This event could be interesting. The top seed is Cameron Thornton (1:49.62) but has a current season best of 1:52 which puts him squarely in the reaches of the next three seeds - Tretez Kinnaird, Carson Chambliss, and Donnie Lee.
1 Mile Run -Ten guys are seeded at 4:25 or better.
110 Meter Hurdles - One hundredth of a second seperate the two top seeds. The top seed (14.26)is Devon Williams (Kell HS), brother of top 100H top seed Kendall Williams, and a talented hurdler in his own right. The second seed (14.27) is Morgan Cormier (Brother Martin, LA). This should be one of the closest races of the day.
4x100 Meter Relay - McEachern HS (GA) is the top seed at 40.95. Smiths Station and Auburn HS is the second and third seed both in at 41.56. Auburn HS is the favorite as they have beaten both McEachern and Smiths Station this year.
4x400 Meter Relay - Four teams at 3:20 and under leaves the field wide open. One bad split by a leg could open the door for any team to win this. Smiths Station (3:19.25) and Hoover (3:20.38) are the top Alabama teams entered.
4x800 Meter Relay - The top 3 teams are under 8:00. Smiths Station is the top seeded Alabama team at 7:59.66
High Jump - Two guys are close to 7ft. The meet record is 7ft (2008) but high jumpers have had a tough time in recent years here.
Pole Vault - The best vault field in a few years with seven guys over 15ft with two of them being 16ft or better. It could be a LONG day at polevault with that many people at a high bar. Austin Eceknroth is the top seed (16-2) but most Alabamians will remember #2 seed Foxworth (St. Patrick) from Indoor competittion in Birmingham.