John Robinson running a 10.62 season PR in the 100 making him the favorite

Landmark Christian appears to be a solid favorite for the team title. They got star power in both sprints and distance and enough depth to get a bunch of points on the relays too. They'll be tough to match, but their one weakness might been the field events so they likely won't be leading after the first two days. If somebody can rack up points and put a big enough gap on them, they could be beatable. If anybody can challenge them, it'll likely be Wesleyan or Hebron Christian. Both of these schools favor to score big points in the field events or distance events. The problem is they could cancel each other out and not get a big enough lead. But if one of them shows up ready to go this weekend and has a big first two days, they could walk away with the biggest trophy. Wesleyan also has a ton of projected points in the hurdles they're relying on while Hebron has some sprints and a little more on the relays. Rounding out the scoring appears to be a 3 way battle with Brookstone, Athens Academy, and Savannah Christian Prep. All 3 schools are balanced with points to gain in several events, they just don't have the projected firepower up front that the top 3 schools have. Whoever has the biggest day or the fewest misses will likely end up with the trophy.

Sprints

Landmark is ready to bring home a bunch of points here. But one false start (or dropped baton) and things get really interesting. Taylor Gullatte and Malia Campbell are the two stars of the meet in the sprints and appear to be in position to sweep the sprinting events. And they could do so as they're both freshman. But therein lies the problem, they're both freshman. They've never done this before and things can be different at state. Can a more experienced runner like Quinn Wall or Jadyn Singleton steal the show on Saturday? Singleton was impressive last year placing 4th and 2nd in the 200 and 100. Elizabeth Cowley also clearly has the strength to handle multiple rounds of the meet given that she's also running the 800. In the hurdles Nea Sanders as the favorite will look to get the double win, but it's by no means an easy victory in either event. In the 100 there are 6 other girls who are within a second of her led by teammate Sade Ojanuga. And in the 300 Macy Murdock and Sydney Glee are also at 46.00 or faster and could challenge for the win.

Distance

This will be a classic battle of youth versus experience. While Shari Brown is the new kid on the block who has run some fast times and looks to put up some important points for her team, Cara Joyce is here for her swan song. Joyce has been a staple at the front of this classification for years and it'll be weird not seeing her name in results next year given how consistently good she has been. These two will battle in the 1600 and the 800, but don't count out Luna McCauley in the 16/8 or Brooke Browning in the 1600. Both are seniors who have good times and experience as well. But Browning may have her eyes on Saturday's final in the 3200. It's earlier in the day than it's ever been before and that could be a challenge for some athletes if it's really hot. If Browning struggles in the heat look for Sarah Harrison or Elizabeth Shaylor to pick up the victory.

Field Events

Maggie Byrd and Georgia Piper are slated to duel in the high jump and this is an event where almost anything can happen so don't count any chickens yet with 7 other girls over the 5 foot barrier. Long Jump has 7 girls within 15 inches of each other. So the virtual meet is by no means a perfect predictor there. Ellison Chadwick is the only one over 18 so far this year and should be considered the favorite. But behind her it's very bunched with important team points possibly on the line. Nea Sanders will look to get the win for her team in the triple jump before she starts her hurdle events in her quest for a triple win and huge team points for her school. She's the slight favorite but Jordan Kelly is right there with her and it could come down to that 6th jump, let's hope it does! Libby Jackson is almost a foot clear of anybody else in the Pole Vault, but state still takes it's toll on you and with the bar moving 6 inches at a time, anything can happen. In the throws Imani Washington is the star of the show as she looks to finish out her high school career in style at the state meet trying to complete the double this year after almost pulling it off last year. Claire Harrison and Destinee Lanham from FPD could challenge her  in the discus or Veronika Babbitt and Kelsey Long could challenge in the shot if she's not at the top of her game.

Relays

Landmark is looking for big points here and could possibly sweep all four relays. They're the favorite in 3 of them, but they only won two of them at sectionals so nothing is locked up yet. They'll need to make sure they position themselves at least close to the from for all of them to make sure their team points are not in jeopardy. And let's hope we don't see anybody do anything with the baton to warrant a DQ! In the 4x1 they'll be challenged by Hebron and Mt. Paran while in the 4x2 they'll be challenged by Brookstone and Hebron. The 4x4 they have a big enough lead as I assume ll of their stars are on it, but they'll be tired by then after a long meet and Brookstone, Atlanta International, or Wesleyan could swoop in and steal it if they falter from fatigue. The 4x800 is kind of anybody's guess as far as who has the best team for state. Not every team has necessarily run their true A squad yet and so the virtual meet only tells part of the story. But Athens Academy is the only team sub 10:00 so far this year and Landmark and Hebron Christian both have the distance stars to compete. However, don't sleep on Wesleyan who got 3 girls to this meet in the open 800. If they have a 4th they could be dangerous.

Landmark will look to complete the team sweep with their boys team where they are approximately just as much of a favorite. They aren't quite as sprint heavy as the girls, but they're a little better in the hurdles and much better in the field events. They could have an early lead and then nobody will be able to catch them. Athens Academy, Whitefield Academy, and Holy Innocents' are all about even in their pursuit of knocking off Landmark. Holy Innocents is very distance heavy with their star runner expected to put up big points. Whitefield also has some big distance points to get but has a little more balance and could score in a lot of events which makes them dangerous. And Athens Academy is the most complete team of all of them with projected points in every discipline. If a couple of their kids can step up and win an event or two they're not projected to win, they could go home as team champions.

Sprints

John Robinson is the star of this show. The defending state champion in both the 100 and 200 has been here before and knows how to handle the pressure. But he will be challenged because Alex Wynn and Keith James are right behind him in the 100 and Remington Adams is close enough to make a bid in the 200. In the 400 there are 4 guys all under 50 and any of them could win it. Max Tucker is the slight favorite but will definitely be challenged by Jamari McIvory, Micah Dennis, and Barry Young. In the hurdles Brady Roper and Kyle Roberts are the favorites to each win one of the hurdles, but both could potentially sweep the events or neither of them could win as they're being challenged by Ian Tukes and Boles Middleton for the wins.

Distance

Joe Sapone is the current star, but Taylor Wade is the emerging star in these events. Sapone shouldn't have much trouble getting his two wins in the 1600 and 800, but watch out for John Ryan and Max Tucker to challenge in the 8 while Jackson Scruggs and Wade could challenged in the 16. Wade is the favorite for the 3200 and has looked very good and ready to bust out all spring. But Scruggs could take him down and he's not even safely clear of his own teammate Peyton Golden.

Field Events

Keondre Glover and Patrick Shelley are the two highest jumpers in this competition. Both have cleared at least 6-6 and will look to do battle. This could come down to fewest misses in the end. Landmark looks to get some very important team points in the long jump with Joshua Smith and Dennis the favorites to go 1-2. And in the triple jump Smith is the heavy favorite for that one. But if he falters don't RJ Johnson and Glover could come away with the win. In the Vault, Brenden Vanderpool has been on another level this year. But Carson Mckenzie and Zack Colquit have both been over 13 feet this year too so it's not a done deal. And Johnerio Holt is favored to win both throws. He could be challenged by DJ Chester in both events though so it's definitely too early to crown him, especially in the shot put.

Relays

Mount Paran is the team to beat in the short relays as they have the fastest time all year in both. Eagles Landing will look to take them down in the 4x100 while Landmark will look to knock them off in the 4x200. And speaking of Landmark, they're the favorite to take home the win in the 4x400 as well so big team points are at state for them and if it comes down to the last event for the team title, expect them to bring their A game. In the 4x8 Mount Pisgah has the top time of the year, but Darlington and Athens Academy are close enough to make a push. And let's not forget Whitefield is the cross country champions and could easily be saving their top distance kids to run it for the first time at state.