There is nothing like some good old state vs state battles in meets like the Great Southwest Classic. Every year, it puts the best each state has to offer against one another and this year will live up to the history.
This year, Texas will once again be represented by some of our top sprinters who happen to be ranked amongst the best in the nation.
The 43rd Annual Great Southwest Performance Lists are out. You can watch LIVE right here on MileSplit and read on for our takeaways from the performance lists.
Flannel and Blackmon Lead Texas Charge
UIL two time 6A sprint double winner Kynnedy Flannel is going for it all in her final rounds of prep races. The last time we saw her was just a few weeks ago in Austin as she ran 11.35 and 22.95 to repeat her sprint double from 2017. Flannel who has been gradually returning to full strength following an early season ankle injury looks to be rounding out in good form. She will attempt to take her double up performance streak to the Great Southwest Classic (GSW) and knock off some big time sprinters.
Kennedy Blackmon will also be doubling up as she has done most of the year. Blackmon is the UIL 6A runner up in the 200m when she placed second to Flannel in the 200m. However, she does claim the champion title in the 400m. The fire started burning way back in the indoor season for Blackmon and the flame is still heavily lit at this point in the season. With season bests of 23.57 and 53.68, Blackmon is a serious contender for the GSW and will help lead the Texas girls over the weekend.
Both Flannel and Blackmon along with the other quality Texas speedsters will have their hands full against the field. More specifically, they will have to handle top sprinters Briana Williams of Florida and Arria Minor of Colorado. Williams leads all entries in the 100m as she boasts a wind legal 11.13. She enters with wins at the Carifta Games, Florida Outdoor State Finals, and the Adidas Boost Boston Games. Williams also has the second fastest 200m entry with her wind legal 23.11.
Minor brings in her 22.89 200m time that she ran legally at the Colorado state meet. She also has the top 400m time of 51.92 from the same meet. Minor won both events last year at the Great Southwest and has expectations of doing so again.
Both Williams and Minor will be huge challenges the Texas girls, but Texans can never be counted out!
Anthony Schwartz Goes For Sub 10.00
Anthony Schwartz of Florida only has a couple of runs left in him as a prep before he moves onto the gridiron in the NCAA. Schwartz is the #2 all conditions 100m runner in the nation behind Texas Kalon Barnes.
Schwartz has been waiting for the prime opportunity to go for a sub 10 second 100m. A few injuries have set him back over the last year, but as of now, he is healthy. His 10.07 +2.5 earlier in the year shows that he has he wheels to do it, he just needs the right competition and hope for a couple of other things to line up right.
It was thought that Barnes or one of the other Texas Speedsters with the capability to run with Schewartz would enter the field and go for broke in an all out 100m with Schwartz. It didn't happen, nevertheless Schwartz will still attempt it.
Not so fast! Before we crown Schwartz, don't forget about the Lone Star State boys that will be heading to the GSW. Lancaster junior Tylin Jackson is the closest Texas sprinter to Schwartz that is entered in the meet. His 20.97 is nearly a half second off of Schwartz' best, but Jackson just needs the right race. He has been putting in valuable work on the Lancaster relays along with his individual event duties. There shouldn't be too much of a work load for Jackson at this meet enabling him to really be fresh and focus on his race.
See which track and field stars will represent Team Texas at the 43rd Annual Gardenswartz Great Southwest Classic Track and Field Classic Outdoor.