Team Champions
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2015 Boys 5A State Champs Ft Bend Marshall and 6A Champs Manvel are practically right down the highway from each other, but logistics are not all they share. They both had a successful 2015 and are returning some top talent and are looking to defend their titles. Marshall scored the most points ever by a Texas team champion in 2015 and they return several relay members. They also boast some of Texas' top sprinters and hurdlers. Look for Coach Banks (Texas Coach of the Year) and staff to have the Buffs primed and ready for the 2016 campaign. Manvel who used an exciting 2015 4x400 finale to help seal their team championship return every single member of their State Championship team. Yes, that's right, every member of their relays and each individual qualifier. Reginald Hemphill- Mapps, D'Vaughn Pennamon, Deontay Anderson, and D'eriq King are all football teammates looking to repeat at the state meet. The meet in Austin will be their last team competition with one another and their other teammates before they take off to college as they are committed to play football at Texas, Ole Miss, and Houston respectively. Coach Crumedy and staff will have another fun and exciting year.
Houston Power
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The top three 6A Shot Put finishers all return and all were Houston area throwers. The Woodlands' Adrian Piperi is the defending USA Youth and IAAF World Youth champion as well as the 6A Shot and Discus champion. Piperi returns for his junior year and looks to repeat and improve on his 66-10 and 192-11.25 PRs. Piperi has started 2016 off with wins at Texas A&M High School Indoor Classic and the Carl Lewis Invite leading to a US #2 toss of 66-9.25. So, how far can Piperi throw? "I'm looking to get up to about 75-0 by the State meet." Ft Bend Hightower's Gabriel Oladipo placed second in the Shot at State and made the USA World Youth team in the Discus. He also returns for his junior year, with hopes to improve his already impressive resume and PRs of 58-5.75 and 192-2.75. Returning for only his sophomore year is Katy Cinco Ranch's Blake Kuithe. Kuithe had a fabulous freshman season ending with a bronze at the State meet. He also is looking to continue his success and improve upon his place and his 57-2 and 170-0 PRs. Kuithe has already topped his Shot PR by placing 2nd at the Texas A&M High School Indoor Classic and tossing 59-1.5 for #11 in the nation.