What It Means
Distances
Maier is continuing his heck of a senior season. Yesterday's time is good enough to be his second fastest during last year's track season.
Maier's sophomore season saw him run to one of the best distance runners in the country. Last year, was sub par when comparing to his standards. His current ranking from yesterday could mean that Maier is back and this could be the year he really turns things on.
Lindhorst's time also ranks as one the top times of his career. As last year's track season was one to remember for him as he qualified for state in both the 1600m and the 3200m, this start could mean an even better season for him.
The success from the rest of the runners from yesterday could also mean this season overall could be FAST.
On the girls distance side, Cook's time means that she will be one of the top runners in the state this track season. Cook demonstrated her abilities on the cross country courses, but she just might be even better on the track.
The amount of girls who ran sub 12 yesterday is another sign at how fast this season could be. We saw outstanding competition all year long during cross country, but this track season could yield even more excitement and fast times.
With distance specific meets like the Lovejoy Distance Festival, Texas Distance Festival, and the Vandegrift Vipers Distance Festival, distance running during the Texas high school track season could be even more significant then possible ever.
Sprints
Runners with nine of the top ten times in 100m and seven of the top 10 in the 200m have all graduated on the boys side. That means things are up for grabs this upcoming season.
O'Conner placed 5th at last year's UIL 6A state meet in the 200m, and he ran PRs of 10.68 and 21.05 last year. His 6.85 and 21.69 could be signs that he is of to a faster and better start to 2019. Drayden is also off to a hot start as he went 6.90 and 21.31 this weekend. Last year, he won a TAPPS 100m state title as he went 10.52 and 21.33 on the season.
Last season, McRae was one of six Texans to go sub 47 and one of three of them to return this season. His 48.2 shows he is on the early track to getting back to the 47s and eventually back to the 46s.
In the 400m finals, four of the finalists ran to PRs and are off to another possible fast 400m season in Texas.
The girls sprinters could possibly be the show of the 2019 track and field season.
This weekend was evidence of that.
Alexis Brown JaEra Griffin, and Mariah Ayers all ran to state meet medals last year. This year, they are all off to good starts to 2019. They could help lead the charge this season.
Two other big time sprinter performers from A&M were Jayla Hollis and Rosaline Effiong. Both girls were unable to run on the varsity level for their schools last year. Hollis was restricted from the varsity level because she transferred. Effiong suffered an ACL injury that disabled her from running all season long.
Hollis blazed to two big time wins in the 60H and the 200m. She could potentially be on pace to two state titles this spring if she is able to continue her pace and health.
As a sophomore in 2017, Effiong was second in the 200m at the UIL 6A state meet. Last year, was a huge hit as she was on pace to climb the national rankings in both the 200m and the 400m and possible state titles before her injury.
Effiong qualified for the finals in both the 200m and the 400m at A&M. She ran to third place in the 200m finals with a time of 24.40.
With many of the NTC Elite girls being members of the DeSoto track team, that means this could be another DeSoto dominated year. The DeSoto girls are on a three year state title streak. The last time they didn't win the UIL 6A state track and field championship was the last year they didn't win the 4x400 relay, that was in 2015.
In 2015, they failed to qualify for the state meet in the 4x400 relay. They were leading the team standings in points heading into the 4x400 relay. Converse Judson was in second at that point and they eventually won the 4x400 relay propelling them to the state title.
At the beginning of this year, DeSoto appears to be in good shape in the 4x400 and for another state championship.
Field
The Field events in the Houston area are in for another season of big time throws.
Piperi, Stulce, and Foster will all get several practice and competition against each other. All three athletes are from the Houston area and will get to go head to head at several indoor meets and outdoor meets.
Piperi and Stulce were both at the state meet last year and Foster is slated to be right in the mix for state meet births as well. Stulce and Foster are not only in the same region, but they are also in the same district, ensuring the last three to four meets of the year will see them go head to head with the end of their season being on the line.