hil_boystrack022707

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, 00:39:27]