The state championship meets are next weekend, May 10-12, at three different sites – Albany, Carrollton and Rome. This week we break down the four largest classifications.
Class AAAAAAA (Valhalla Stadium, Berry College, Rome) Teams to watch: (Boys) Westlake, Wheeler, Marietta, Parkview (Girls) Westlake, McEachern, Campbell, Marietta, Shiloh. Athletes to watch: (Boys) Cameron Murray, Westlake, 110 and 300 meter hurdles; Rainey Anderson, Westlake, 110 and 300 meter hurdles; Javaughn Moore, Wheeler, 100 and 200 meters; Justin Long, Parkview, 200 and 400 meters; Nicholas Ramey, Brookwood, 200 and 400 meters; Brian Hauch, Parkview, Pole vault (Girls) Kennedy Simon, Westlake, 200 and 400 meters; Tia Jones, Walton, 100 meter hurdles; Jaleah Alston, Campbell, 100 meters; Jazmine Hobson, 100 and 200 meters; Elizabeth Funderburk, Colquitt County, 3,200 meters The skinny: Westlake swept the girls and boys titles last season. The girls have won four out of the last five state titles and have a good shot at a three-peat, but will be pushed hard by Campbell, McEachern, Marrietta and Shiloh. The boys will fight it out with Wheeler, Marietta, Parkview and Brookwood.
Class AAAAAA (Grisham Stadium, Carrollton) Teams to watch: (Boys) Allatoona, Alpharetta, Richmond Hill (Girls) MLK, Stephenson, New Manchester Athletes to watch: (Boys) Sam James, Richmond Hill, 400 meters; Anthony Adams, Grovetown, Triple jump; Jacob Smith, Allatoona, 100 and 200 meters; James Brown, Drew, Long jump (Girls) Shatara Johnson, Drew, 400 meters and Long jump; Courtney Long, Allatoona, Pole vault; Simone Harper, Stephenson, 100 meter hurdles; Kayla Hunt, MLK, 200 meters; Reese Crawford, Centennial, 300 meter hurdles; Alexia Boyd, Heritage, Long jump The skinny: Both the boys' and girls' titles appear to be up for grabs. The Mays girls have an outside shot but MLK, Stephenson and New Manchester look like the favorites. The Allatoona boys could repeat but will be challenged by Alpharetta and Richmond Hill.
Class AAAAA (Grisham Stadium, Carrollton) Teams to watch: (Boys) Dutchtown, Cedar Grove, Fayette County, Southwest DeKalb, Miller Grove
(Girls) Buford, Stockbridge, North Springs, Maynard Jackson Athletes to watch: (Boys) Nicholas Edwards, Southwest DeKalb, Discus and Shot put; Darius Scott, South Effingham, Triple jump; Jeremiah Pierce, Carrollton, Discus; Pache Caldwell, Riverwood, High jump and Long jump; Seth Holloway, Fayette County, 100 and 200 meters; Trey Johnson, Fayette County, 400 meters; Williams Jones, Lithia Springs, Long jump (Girls) Jayda Drake-Howard, North Springs, 100 and 300 meter hurdles; Saran Kouyeth, North Springs, 100 and 200 meters; Kennedy Lewis, Riverwood, 100 meters; Nykah Smith, Maynard Jackson, 200 meters; Darci Khan, Stockbridge, 100 and 300 hurdles; Trinity Price, Buford, 200 and 400 meters; Alexa Rossum, Buford, 100 and 200 meters; Trinity Rossum, Buford, 100 and 200 meters; Kimberly Harris, Buford, 400 meters The skinny: The Buford girls are the defending champs and the Wolves will be hard to beat. But North Springs will be in the hunt as well. The boys title is up for grabs, with Fayette County looking to have the inside track.
Class AAAA (Valhalla Stadium, Berry College, Rome) Teams to watch: (Boys) Chapel Hill, Sandy Creek, Marist, Luella, Jefferson (Girls) Chapel Hill, Woodward Academy, Westover, Marist, Henry County Athletes to watch: (Boys) Latrell Murray, Luella, 110 and 300 hurdles; Tanner Duffin, St. Pius X, Discus and Shot put; (Girls) Miriam Waters, Woodward Academy, 100 and 200 meters; Akera Benton, Jefferson, Long jump and Triple jump; Alex Potts, Woodward Academy, Pole vault; Journey Gurley, Madison County, Pole vault; Jada Grant, LaGrange, Long jump; Kayla Alexander, Long jump; Chapel Hill; Sadrea Mabry, Carver-Columbus, Long jump; India Turk, Howard, Long jump and Triple jump; Olivia Moore, Pickens County, Pole vault The skinny: Chapel Hill could pull off the sweep. The Panther girls won the title last season and are a threat to repeat, though Woodward Academy will pose a challenge. The boys will be in the title mix as well, along with Sandy Creek and Marist, which has won three of the last six championships.
