Eric White Jr. running the 200m earlier this year. He's one of the sprint favorites

The event Hub where we will have the live streams, meet previews, live results, photos, videos, interviews, and meet recaps of all 8 of the 2022 GHSA State Track and Field Championships. Check it out:

2022 State Event Hub

1A Public Meet Preview

As you can see from the scores up above, we've got a very tight team battle on our hands with this one. Montgomery County is the favorite, but only slightly. And any of the top 5 teams could realistically pull this off. Gordon Lee hits hard in the field events and distance so they should have a pretty big lead going into Saturday and will be anxiously waiting to see if they hold on. Meanwhile Commerce, Drew Charter, and Armuchee will likely battle for the final two podium spots. But this is state and anything can happen.

Sprints

Madeline Cooper is the star coming into these things and is the favorite to win the 100 and 200 with PR's of 11.85 and 24.94 which makes her appear to be almost uncatchable. But you never know, crazy things happen at state. Jada Hyman is the favorite in the 400 and could step down in distance to knock her off and take over as star of the meet. In the hurdles Montgomery will also be relying on Marley Bell to score them some big points towards their team title goal. In the other hurdles event Destiny Barksdale is the favorite to take home the crown.

Distance

Welcome to the Armuchee show. Shelby Green and Marissa Kimple decided to focus on different events this year as Green is favored to win the 800 and Kimple is favored to win the 3200. But they meet and go head to head yet again in the 1600 in what should be a classic. The two teammates have consistently shown they can run with some of the best in the state all class. And here they have an opportunity to put up 38 big points for their team who will be trying to use it to propel them to a trophy. 

Field Events

Rylee Maxwell is the only athlete who has cleared 5-4 all year in the high jump. So if she is on top of her game she should come away as the state champion. But anything can happen in the high jump, that's for sure. The long jump on the other hand is more likely to have the athlete with the best PR win. This year that's Tadreuna Rogers, but she's only 1.5 inches ahead of Bell from Montgomery who will have team points on her mind. Keep an eye on this one. Bell is also favored to win the triple jump to help her team score some big points. In the Vault Lauren Massey from Commerce looks likely to take the win. And in the throws Arilyn Lee will attempt to bring home two gold medals and put up some big team points. 

Relays

Drew Charter is going to try to use their depth to win some relays and get themselves on the podium. They're favored to take the win in both the 4x1 and 4x4 while also favored to get 4th in the 4x2. Dublin is favored to get the win in the 4x200 though as they have the top time on the year of 1:46.66 which is 1.5 seconds than the next best. In the 4x800 Commerce will look to get some very important team points but don't count out Armuchee who will likely have Green and Kimple on the relay and try to secure 10 very important points for themselves.

As you can see from the team score projections, Montgomery County is the overwhelming favorite this year on the boys side. They've got firepower and variety so they'll be tough to catch. Commerce, Drew, and Georgia Military appear likely to battle for the remaining 3 podium spots rather than contend for the win, but it's state and you just never know. Commerce comes in with a lot of balance while Drew is relying heavily on the sprints and relays which can be a risky strategy. Georgia Military is more distance than anything, but also has some sprints points they can put up to secure a spot on the podium.

Sprints

Cameron Wallace and Eric White Jr. both have the fastest times in the 100 and 200, but Wallace did not win his sectional and White did. White is also favored to do well in the 400 but his teammate Zachary Harris is actually the slight favorite to win it as they look to give Drew enough points in the sprints to put themselves sin podium contention. Trey Garnto is the favorite in the 110m while Phillip Baynes is a slight favorite in the 300m hurdles.

Distance

Walker Bloodworth will look to bring home the title and important points for GMC in the 800 as the top seed. But expect Nathan Hallar to be a major player in the other two events. Kzon Dennis actually has the fastest 1600 time of the year and is also favored to get 2nd in the 800, so he's got the speed to win the mile. But Haller is looking good this spring and is the only athlete under 11:00 and considering how far under he is, expect him to have more in the tank for an attempt at the double win in the 1600 as well.

Field Events

Teddy Swanson is the slight favorite in the long jump and Montgomery County looks to pick up big points in the triple jump with Xavier Brantley and Ahmad Carter slated to go 1-2. Somehow the high jump, one of the most finicky events, went chalk at sectionals. But of course that must mean chaos will ensue at state, right? Christian Terrell and Ian Hobbs are both slated for the top spot and something will have to give. Lambdin Hardy is the heavy favorite in the pole vault, but that's another event where anything can go off script at state. KenWan Felton looks to be the top overall thrower as he slated for 1st in the shot and 2nd in the discus while Ramontei Dardy is favored to take the wing throwing the heavy frisbee.

Relays

It should be no surprise that Montgomery County is favored to get the win and 20 huge team points in both the 4x100 and 4x200. They're also slated for 3rd in the 4x400 and 4x800 while Drew Charter is favored to get the win in the 4x4 and BEST is favored to get the win in the 4x8.