It's been a great year for Texas hurdles, and two guys who have lead that group all season especially in the 110H have been Marcus McWilliams and Chevis Armstead.
They first hit the track together in 2015 when they ran side by side at UT during the Texas Relays. Putting on a show and setting nation leading marks in the event. McWilliams would out-lean Armstead in that race 13.63 to 13.64.
In the weeks following that race, McWilliams and Armstead never saw each other, but each one continued to drop fast times in the 110H & 300H. Adding to the hype for the highly anticipated showdown in the 6A State 110H, by luck of the draw, they were seeded next to each other once again and in the EXACT SAME lanes as Texas Relays.
In the UIL State rematch it once again came down to a lean at the line in a race decided by the smallest of margins. It was McWilliams winning by the 1000th of a second over Cy-Falls hurdle star Isaiah Lucas with identical 13.37 times and Armstead 3rd in 13.40.
Interesting note from that race: Armstead looked like he had a slight lead into the final hurdle, where he couldn't get over clean but managed to blast straight through it. Impressively keeping his composure to still run 13.40 and post one of the fastest times in the nation.
Now you may be asking why I am writing about a rematch AFTER the State Championship?
Tomorrow (Sat, 5/23) marks the first ever TTFCA Meet of Champions where Chevis Armstead and Marcus McWilliams will be side by side AGAIN for their 3rd head to head race of the season. AGAIN they are side by side. AGAIN in lanes 5/6. In the last 2 races it was Lane 5 that came away with the win. Is it foreshadowing to now see Armstead in that position?
Thankfully for all the Texas Trackies and die hard track fans nationwide, we will be LIVE Streaming the Meet of Champions! Don't miss the final Texas HS race for these two hurdle titans! Their races this season decided by a combined .04s!!! McWilliams looking to end his season on top before leaving to run for UH and Armstead heading north to Syracuse.
13.34 is the fastest time ever run by a Texas HS athlete, and they need a 13.38 (wind legal) time to break into the US Top-10 ALL TIME! Two of the best in the nation face off tomorrow, and it is a MUST WATCH race!
Related Links
- Watch the 6A 110H Race
- UIL State Results
- Meet of Champs Heat Sheets
- Marcus McWilliams' Athlete Profile
- Chevis Armstead's Athlete Profile