AAAAA State Meet Preview

Not having the data available from the Sectional meets, let's take a look teamwise from the 5A 2019 Outdoor rankings. It seems Starrs Mill and an upstart Griffin HS squad may have the best shot at taking the team title. Eagle's Landing, defending champ Dutchtown, Rome and Stockbridge will look to disrupt and move up the Podium steps. 

100m- Xavier Parris of Kell HS has sped to the top time in 5A this season at 10.48, Justin McKithen of New Hampstead, Darryl Mathews of Griffin (huge team points at stake) and Josh Trice of Harris County should make it a photo finish.

200m- McKithen of New Hampstead is the fave w/ a pr this season of 21.42  Looking to challenge are Ja'Shaun Poke of Dutchtown, Jordan Barrow of Arabia Mtn, Parris of Kell and Mathews from Griffin

400m- Chuck Shawn Collins of Miller Grove comes in with the top sb at 47.54. Its going to be no picnic though with Poke of Dutchtown, Evan Jackson of Eagle's Landing and Mitchell Harris of Starrs Mill racing for big team points. 

800m- This is a big race for Starr's Mill, Morrow and Eagle's Landing. Harrison Fultz comes in w/ the top time at 1:54.16  On the outside looking in are Thaddee Barge of Clarkston, Domonic Macias of Union Grove and Jalen Bristol of Lithonia.

1600m- Sectionals was a Q' fest for the top runners in the 1600m. Nick Nyman has the fastest time in 5A this season going 4:17.15  Friendly rival Zach Jaeger from McIntosh is 1.5 seconds back at 4:18.74  Harrison Fultz of Starrs Mill could be a huge if he can finish 3rd or better. 

3200m- The 3200 is a virtual rematch between Nyman of Starrs Mill (9:22) anf Jaeger of McIntosh (9:26) Ty Duben of Starrs Mill could pickup big team points for the Panthers. Athanasius Tesfaye of Loganville is a canidate for a Bronze medal as is Collin Jones of Carrollton. 

110h- The 5A 110h is fairly wide open with 7 athletes separated by .28  Carl Stephens of Stockbridge HS has the top pr at 14.26. Expect it tight at the finish line with team mates Jakobe Hamilton and Montrell Millsap of Rome. 

300h- This should also be a heckuva race with 5 athletes having a shot at a Gold medal. Samuel Smith of Union Grove has the top time in 5A at 37.68 and is the man to beat. Challengers are Darryl Burton III of Miller Grove, Cameron Smith of Dutchtown and Carl Stephens of Stockbridge. 

4x100- A big race for Griffin HS for team points having a swift pr of 41.27. SW DeKalb, Dutchtown High School, Rome High School and Buford will be factors. 

4x400- 5A is extremely talented in the Boys 4x400 relay. Eagle's Landing has posted a time of 3:15.62 at Region. SW DeKalb, Dutchtown and Miller Grove have all went sub 3:18..

HJ- In the HJ, its a crucial event for Griffin's hope for a team title. Amanuel McDowell has a top bar of 6-8  and jumping mate Quez Miller cleared 6-6 at Sectionals.. Others having bars of 6-6 are Charles Jones of Ware County and Dekairi Brown of Grady HS. 

LJ- Amanuel McDowell of Griffin will seek to double in the LJ as he has a recent pr of 24-0.25, Sam Brown of New Hampstead is a smidge better this Spring having a 24-0.50  Tommy Wright of SW DeKalb pr'd at Sectionals like the above mentioned leaping out to 23-11

TJ- Cameron Hudson of Cedar Shoals is in another zip code in 5A being the top TJ'r in GA as he bounded to a sb of 50-1.75. Once again, McDowell of Griffin will be gunning for big team points having a recent pr of 47-9

PV- 2 men have ruled the PV this season in 5A with Grant Briscoe of Carrollton having pr'd at Sectionals with a bar of 15-7 and Stephen Smith of Cass HS at 15-4

Shot- This could be an interesting competition , as Justyn Loper of Whitewater has a sb of 55-3.50. Possible contenders are Keon Horton of Cedar Shoals and Robert Johnson of Carrollton.

Discus- This got very interesting as the 5A leader will not be going to State. Jalar Holley of Buford had the top Sectionals toss at 163-2. Jase Hunter of Eagle's Landing and Roman Harrison of Bainbridge have a good shot at Gold. 

Like the 5A Boys, not having the data available from the Sectional meets, let's take a look teamwise from the 5A 2019 Outdoor rankings as chance has it that 90% of the top 16 going to State are among the best in the Girls rankings. Things have changed after Region with short sprinter Alexa Rossum of Buford not able to compete in the 100/200 opening the door wide open for former State champ North Springs to take advantage of. Woodland (Cartersville) and speedy squads Maynard Jackson and Miller Grove could put some pressure on Buford & North Springs. 

100m- Queen Couch of Maynard Jackson (11.81) is the fave in this event with Alexa Rossum of Buford sidelined.  Saran Kouyeth of North Springs can't be conted at 11.85  

200m- Saran Kouyeth of North Springs is a slight favorite in the 200m dash with a pr of 23.97 @ Fulton County. But.. do not count out talented Kimberly Harris from Buford as she has national experience at 24.11

400m- Kimberly Harris from Buford is nationally ranked in the Indoor 400m at #2 (52.62) Will she push it at State this weekend at Carrollton? Everyone else is racing for the runnerup spot and team points. Team mate Trinity Price will be gunning for 2nd place and big team points. 

800m- Emoni Coleman from Miller Grove is the defending Champ with a sb of 2:15.03 Kayla Rose of McIntosh will seek to dethrone her (2:16.17) Allie Walker of Starrs Mill and North Springs' Alexis Lay will be factors. 

1600m- This is a big event for Woodland as they could ring up 18 points behind McKenna Trapheagen (5:00) and Angela Cochran. Mackenzie Walls of Veterans HS is a fierce competitor at 5:08  Rose of McIntosh should be in the lead pack and has some foot speed and don't discount Emoni Miller of Miller Grove..

3200m- This is a going to be a duel between Trapheagan of Woodland (10:55) and Walls of Veterans (11:02) Who will outlast the other?

100h- Darci Khan of Stockbridge HS (13.98) was 2018 runnerup and will seek to claim Gold  this weekend. Its going to be a race for 2nd between Rasunek Tyler-Thompson of Miller Grove, Sa'Mya Holloman-Lewis of North Springs and Faith McDowell of Stockbridge HS

300h- Khan of Stockbridge is a slight favorite in the 300h with a sb time of 42.69  Niya Benton- Andrews of Maynard Jackson cranked out a 43.73 at Sectionals. Jasmine Gryne of Woodland-Stockbridge ran great at Sectionals clocking a 43.80 and don't count out Ryah Jackson of Maynard Jackson..

4x100- Buford HS has one of the top times in the nation, but may be without their top sprinter Alexa Rossum.. North Springs cruised at Region and is waiting to pounce at State. Maynard H. Jackson is dangerous at 46.67 with Stockbridge and Miller Grove ready to take advantage of any miscues and move up.  

4x400- This race may determine the Girls 5A State Team Champ. Buford is very deep and may have the horses to finish in the top 2 if Alexa Rossum is not available. North Springs has a pr :01 behind Buford and could dethrone the Lady Wolves. 

HJ- Cornesha Cannady of Ware County leads all HJ'rs with a bar of 5-6  At 5-4 are Grace Webb of Woodland (Cartersville), Kimmely Johnson of Statesboro and Riley Johnson of Arabia Mtn. 

LJ- Lashanti Williams of Clarke Central is the top LJ'r in 5A this season with a mark of 19-8.25 achieved at Sectionals. Also w/ a mark of 19+ is Jadaja Baxter of Riverwood International at 19-5.

TJ- 3 5A gals have bounded to 38+ marks this Spring. Coming in as the favorite is Jahlia Evans of Rome w/ a recent mark of 39-5. Looking to supplant her are Shaianne Sipsey of Veterans HS and Sidney Sims from Fayette County. 

PV- In the Pole Vault, carrollton's Payton Phillips has the home pit advantage and GA's top bar of 13-7  Julia Colson of Starrs Mill and Kaleila Abrille of Riverwood will battle for runnerup. 

Shot- In the heaviest Shot field of all classes, Hannah Jackson of Kell HS has launched a bomb of 47-3 at Sectionals. 3 other gals have went 40+ including Morgan Johnson of Whitewater, Layla Senter of Decatur and Zaida Carson from Warner Robins HS. 

Discus- 3 throwers have exceeded 130+ this Outdoor season in 5A. Kamaria Horton of Eagle's Landing HS comes in with the best mark at 142-2  Hannah Jackson from Kell HS and Johnson from Whitewater will hope to push.