Simeon Adams from Drew could have a very big weekend
Wow. I can't believe it's already the state meet week. The regular season kind of comes in a few different phases and all of them seem like a whirlwind in different ways. We start off with the indoor season which already has plenty of question marks as you never know who is going all in on indoor and who is saving it for outdoor. So each elite performance seems like a fun surprise. Then we move on to the regular outdoor season where you never know what you're gonna get in terms of weather but it seems like everybody is just competing all of the time. Results are pouring in and elite performances are found all over the place. But then championship season brings with it a whole new vibe as teams try to get as many athletes as they possibly can through the rounds and to the state meet. Region and Sectionals always have their casualties as this sport is built on multiple rounds of qualification, and managing those rounds is a part of it at all levels. It's not who can run the fastest, jump the highest, or throw/jump the farthest in one effort, championship season is about managing those rounds and being able to perform consistently so that you can show the best of yourself at the state meet.
After the meets this weekend, the 2A Virtual meets are updated to reflect the sectional results. So now that we know who all is competing at the GHSA 2A State Championships, let's focus on what we're going to see at these meets. Don't forget to check the meet hub all week as it gets updater through the end of the weekend with our full coverage!
State Meet Hub
Boys Team Race
There is a pretty clear favorite in this one, but it's not an easy win. Athens Academy has the edge as they are propelled by big points in the Distance, sprints, and jumps. That should also mean some relay points for them as well. They're very strong and have good balance. But you still gotta show up when it's time to compete. And if they have any struggles, then Appling County is right there waiting to swoop in with a good bit of projected points of their own. Appling is very strong with their sprints and relays, but that usually means they have very little room for error. At this point I'd say it's more likely Athens holds on even if they don't have a perfect meet, but Appling is certainly a clear favorite for 2nd and definitely in the hunt for the win. The battle for the final podium spot should be a good one. Landmark, Drew, Vidalia, and Worth all have a shot at a trophy. Landmark is fairly balanced which means they have a lot of room to improve if things go their way. Their strongest discipline is distance and relays but they could improve on that if Ian Tukes wins both hurdle races and that would all of a sudden put them in the mix. Drew and Vidalia are also fairly balanced in the sprints, hurdles, and relays while Worth County is looking for big points in the field events as Jumps and Throws are their strongest events meaning they could be the day 1 leader.
Boys Top Athletes to Watch
Austin McGee is the favorite in the 100 while Christopher Swint is one of the top guys in the 400. Those tow could each have one individual sprint title when they meet in the 200. But the 200 is a very crowded race and Simeon Adams actually has the fastest PR this year so it's anybody's race there. In the 100 Adams and Kameran Warren will challenge McGee while the 400 is a really tight one with Jermain McMillan and Camden Hickox also in the mix for the win.
In the distance events we should see state XC champion Zechariah Prater do battle with state XC runner up Will DeLoach in both the 1600 and 3200. Those should be two very close races and could see either athlete come out on top. In the 800 though there were 5 different guys who ran 2:00 at the sectional meet and 6 guys all within 1.3 seconds of each other based on season PR, so this thing is wide open. Teammates Warren Trawick and Jayden White have the fastest PR's on the season but this is anybody's race.
The hurdles is an interesting event. Ian Tukes and Jerkarean West have the fastest PR's on the year, but both finished well back in the sectional results merge. Not sure what happened there but I expect them both to be back contending for the win at state this week. If I'm wrong, then you could see Caleb Martin and Jaydyn Young feeling strong after putting up the fastest times over the weekend. Lots to be intrigued by in this one.
In the field events, the high jump should give the crowd some excitement as Kenyatta Bennett and Bryan McClendon do battle while Hoke Lucas is the clear favorite in the pole vault. The triple jump should be a good battle as Taborris Denson and Kavon Conciauro are within a couple of inches of each other while Jeremias Heard and Caden Marsh have solid leads in the discus and shot put respectively.
In the relays expect several teams to be fighting for important points overall as Appling county appears to have to most points to lose while all of the other team title contenders will have a team in at least one relay race trying to move themselves up the final standings.
Girls Team Race
The girls team race looks to be a clash of the titans type of battle. Landmark and Athens Academy are set to duel all weekend and will likely outscore the rest of the teams by quite a bit. Landmark did a little better at sectionals, but Athens looks a little stronger based on PR's. There's no telling who is the favorite we just need to sit back, watch the show, and let the chips fall where they may. Landmark has big points coming in the sprints, hurdles, and distance while Athens is more focused on Distance, Throws, and jumps. They both will look to score some big points in the relays too. They're not impossibly far ahead that nobody can catch them, but it's unlikely that anybody will. Towers is probably the best bet as they have quite a few points coming in the hurdles and the relays. Booker T Washington and Fannin County could be the teams battling it out for the final trophy as Washington is strong in sprints and relays while Fannin is strong in distance and relays.
Girls Top Athletes to Watch
Get ready for some firepower in the sprints. Madeline Cooper, Rhimani Duffie, and Malia Campbell are the 3 big names and the favorites in their respective events of the 100, 200, and 400. But they all 3 meet in the 200 which could end up being an epic race in the end. Cooper gets to race Campbell's sister Moriah in the 100 while Duffie also will try to win the 400 as her and Malia will also face off against Shari Brown who is attempting the always challenging 400/800 double.
Brown's biggest challenge in the 800 will be finding a way to beat Maya Davis who is sub 2:10 already this year. After a 400? Yikes that's tough to do. But brown is no slouch as she's run 2:13 and 57 this year. But Davis could also be tired as she's trying for the distance triple and is the favorite in the 1600 and 3200 as well. I don't really expect her to be challenged in either if she's on her game, but Brown is also a strong 1600 and will probably give Davis a race to add to her already busy weekend. And Lindsey Holloway is also a very good runner in her own right and will be ready to roll in that 3200.
Madeline Cooper and Moriah Campbell will also battle in the 100 hurdles where Cooper is a pretty big favorite, but in the 300 hurdles Campbell has the fastest time of the year with Cooper not racing that one. But Macada McDonald and Jada Patterson could be trying to take advantage of Campbell's tired legs by the time she gets to the 300 hurdles as they both ran faster at sectionals.
In the field Veronika Babbitt is a heavy favorite in both of the throwing events and Josie Collins will also try to get big points for Athens Academy as the favorite in the high jump. In the Pole Vault Sophie Scruggs is the class of the field and should come away with the win.
In the relays, Landmark will battle it out in with Towers, Athens, and Appling.