Boys track preview

By JOEY KNIGHT
Published February 27, 2007

Boys Track Preview

Granted, the local prep track season may have formally begun with Saturday's Steak 'n Shake Invitational, but to us, a track meet in February possesses the same awkward feel as pre-Thanksgiving basketball.

When temperatures get a tad higher, so will the collective gear of the area's top track and field athletes. With that in mind, here's a look at some county hurdlers, high jumpers, dashers and discus throwers expected to make noise in the 2007 postseason.

Distance Runners

Keegan Bixler, Newsome, So.: Won 3,200 at Steak 'n Shake

Richard Blake, Berkeley, Jr.: 5th in 3,200 at 2A state meet

Baker Burchfield, Wharton, Sr.: 4th at 4A cross country meet

Pedro Carela, Wharton, Sr.: 2nd in 3,200 at Steak 'n Shake

Tyler Greathouse, Berkeley Prep, Fr.: Top-15 placer at A cross country meet

John Foster, Hillsborough: 8th at 3A state meet in 800

Ciprian Mejia, Sickles, Jr.: 11th at 4A cross country meet

Connor Revord, Jesuit, So.: 3rd in 1,600 at 2A state meet

Derek Wehunt, Sickles, So.: 4A qualifier in three events

Hurdlers/Jumpers/Vaulters

Drew Franklin, Jefferson, Sr.: Runnerup in 300 at Steak 'n Shake

Kyle Garrison, Jefferson, Sr.: High jumper runnerup at Steak 'n Shake

Jay Lassiter, Armwood, Sr.: Region top seed in 110 high hurdles last season

Chris Luther, Riverview, Sr.: Region qualifier in 110

Terrence Mitchell, Hillsborough, Fr.: AAU national champ in long jump

Erik Moser, Wharton, Jr.: 6th at 3A meet in pole vault

Thomas Parrott, Plant, Sr.: District champ and state qualifier in pole vault

Luke Rorech, Plant, Sr.: 3A state finalist in 300; district high jump champ

Greg Saint-Juste, Wharton, Jr.: 3rd in 300 at Steak 'n Shake

Sprinters

Phillip Boles, Gaither, Sr.: 4A state finalist in 400, 4x100

Hunter Clasen, Jesuit, Sr.: Defending 2A champion in 400

Charles Griffin, Freedom, Sr.: On 4x400 team that placed third at state

Lovell Jackson, left , Plant, Jr.: District champ in 100

Keyon Jones, Freedom, Jr.: On 4x400 team that placed third at state

Aaron Lake, Sickles, Sr.: Region qualifier in 400

Dentarius Locke, Riverview, So.: State qualifier in 200 as freshman

Tarel Sampson, Hillsborough, Sr.: Region qualifier in two events

Mykael Suber, East Bay, Sr.: Hand-held time of 10.59 in 100 last year

Josh Walton, Robinson, Sr.: 2A state finalist in two events

Marc Williams, Hillsborough, Jr.: State qualifier in 400, 4x400

Throwers

Torrey Davis, Armwood, Sr.: 5th at 3A meet in discus

David Piccirilli, Jesuit, Sr.: 5th in shot put at 2A meet

Frank Scott, Blake, Sr.: Fourth in discus at 3A meet

Kashief Steen, Hillsborough, Sr.: 5th at regionals in shot put

Jamie Van Pelt, Plant, Jr.: Had throw of 142-7 in discus at Jan. 20 meet

Teams (Based on informal poll of county coaches)

1. Wharton

2. Jesuit

3. Gaither

4. Sickles

5. (tie) Hillsborough, Plant, Chamberlain

[Last modified February 27, 2007, 05:48:22]