Key match-ups:
4x100:
The 400 meter relay features what could be a preview of the 5A state meet as Banneker takes on Region 6AAAAA rivals Southwest Dekalb and Mays. Campbell, which has clocked 42.01 this season, figures to affect the outcome as well as 4A season leader Grady and 5A's Heritage.
100 meters:
The meet's marquee event, the century, showcases a group of six sprinters with verified sub-11 times, lead by Clark's 10.41, Mays' Romartis Bell's 10.76, Southwest Dekalb's Terryon Conwell's 10.84, North Cobb's Cornelius Scott's 10.80 and Devin Granville's 10.81 and Columbia's Antonio Manson's 10.88.
200 meters:
The deuce has the top four times across all classifications in this early season. Clark's 21.17 leads a group that includes Terryon Conwell of Southwest Dekalb, 22.11, Scott of North Cobb, 22.14 and Jacquez Sloan of Grady, 22.31.
400 meters:
Southwest Dekalb's other Conwell twin, Terry, leads the quarter milers with a 48.08 entry time. Challengers include Banneker's Kden Johnson, 49.60 and several looking to make the race interesting, including Grady's Jamond Glass, Riverwood's Makai Richardson and Marvin Kinsey, Salem's Kanome McIntosh and Conwell's Southwest Dekalb teammate Raymond White.
110 hurdles:
Heritage's Dayo Akindele leads the short hurdles with his 14.87 pr. Others angling for first position over the 39-inch barriers include Berkmar's Demetrus Wright and Pebblebrook's Willie Ramsey.
300 hurdles:
Southwest Dekalb's Terry Conwell leads the intermediate hurdlers with a 39.50 entry mark. Challengers include Grady's Ronquavious Cullins, Arabia Mountain's Dennis Jordan and Campbell's Mahkai King and Tahj Huitt.
800 meters:
Grady's Drew Davis leads the half milers, posting 1:58 twice indoors. Also vying for gold are Campbell's Geoffery McCullough, Southwest Dekalb's Shonto Williams and Washington's Frederick Avery.
1600 meters:
The mile pits Heritage's Jallah Galimah, who enters with a 4:42 in this early season, against Grady's Davis, Banneker's Alvin Baptiste and Southwest Dekalb's Lucas Sanabria.
3200 meters:
The two milers, who kick off the meet early in the morning during the field events session, are expected to be led by North Cobb's Jordan Wehner, 10:15, Campbell's McCullough, 10:22 and Heritage's Galimah, 10:26. Others looking to medal include Grady's Aidan Goldston and North Cobb's Caleb Griffin.
4x400 Relay:
Region rivals Southwest Dekalb and Banneker, ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in Georgia this season and No. 10 and No. 13 in the nation, square off for round two. The teams dueled two weeks ago at Westlake's Lions Showcase, with the Panthers outlasting the Trojans 3:20.40 to 3:20.75. Other foursomes seeking to approach or break the 3:20 barrier include: Campbell, Grady, Mays, Berkmar and Salem.
Discus:
The meet's strong men will be lead by Salem's Quintin Maddox, who enters with a pr of 162-6. Maddox's challengers include Campbell's Isaiah Rogers, Southwest Dekalb's Montavius Coleman and Heritage's Seth Fallen and Marquis Davis as well as Berkmar's Jamal Davis.
Shot put
The 12-lb iron ball is likely to travel nearly 60 feet after it leaves the hands of Campbell's Rogers, who leads entrants with a pr of 57 feet. Southwest Dekalb's Coleman and Timerick Cook are looking push Rogers for the win and to medal.
High jump
Henry County's Marquez Souder leads the leapers with a personal best of 6-6. Other high-flying back archers include Grady's Orlando Riley and Tarik Knox and Southwest Dekalb's Tariq Bradford.
Pole Vault
Grady's Tavion Morris leads the pole vault entrants and is expected to battle with Berkmar's Jovanni Ajax and Antoine Dean.
Long Jump
Looking for soft landings will be three of the state's early long jump leaders: Akindele of Heritage, 22'4, Scott of North Cobb, 22'3.5, and Sloan of Grady, 22'0. Akindele and Sloan faced off a week ago at Griffin's Ross Invitational, with Akindele winning the event and Sloan finishing third. Lithia Springs' Lasheon Strozier has a pr of 22'3.
Triple jump
Lithia Spring's Strozier and Heritage's Dayo are expected to battle in the triple as both athletes have personal bests upwards of 47 feet. Jumpers looking to medal include Southwest Dekalb's Bradford, Mays' Kenneth Fullard, North Cobb's Larry Bryant and Alcovy's James Bell.
