On the boys side, Sean Hooper and Jake Merrell have been two of Texas' most versatile runners over the years. While Hooper sprints distances as short as the 60m, he also competes in mid-distance events such as the 800m, and he runs them all in elite times. Merrell, on the other hand, starts at the 800m and runs all the way up to the 3,000m. Both guys are national-level athletes and could square off again in the 800m.
Johnson, Neely, and Jordan will lock horns again in the Region 18 Qualifier 400m
The boys 17-18 400m has three more of Texas' top runners scheduled to compete. Jadon Johnson, Cameron Neely, and Quivell Jordan are all 47.0 runners. At the Southwestern district championships, Johnson of Westside Baptist Church TC won in 47.36. Two DeSoto High School teammates finished second and third, with Neely of DeSoto Swift TC in 47.94 and Jordan of Elite Endurance TC in 48.30. Jordan also won the 110 and 400 hurdles.
Ian Gilmore will look to win the Region 18 Qualifier in the 400m for 15-16 year old boys
Mesquite High School's Caleb Boger will compete in the 15-16 year old boys 100m and 200m races. While representing MFBC Striders, Boger won both races at the Southwestern District championships in 10.78 and 21.77. Boger just completed his sophomore season with a trip to the UIL 6A state meet, where he competed in the 200m.
Chace Biddle is young, but like Boger, he shows that he might be one of Texas' future stars. Biddle, who trains with the JA Jets, won the Southwest District Qualifier in both the 200m and 400m for the 13-year-old boys. With times of 23.89 and 53.81, look out for Biddle to go even faster at the Region 18 Qualifier.