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The 2019 Carl Lewis High School Invitational will be LOADED!
There are thousands of athletes from Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, and of course Texas. There should be some explosive performances from all over the field house.
Check out five things you should watch out for this Saturday.
Will Sprint Times Be Faster On New Track?
The previous track at Yeoman Field House was know for being fast as well as not so fast.
In the 60m and 60H, the times dropped on that track year in and year out were elite. However, for every event that had a lap or more wasn't known in the same light. The sharp and flat turns were tough to take and weren't conducive to producing fast performances.
Will the boards change things? The straight on this track is in the middle of the facility and not as close to the crowd. The track is also on wood that will provide some give and bounce to sprinters that could help make things fast. It will need it to live up to the history of the old track.
The banked curves will be a welcoming addition for athletes and coaches. Times in the 200m - 1600m could all see a lot more faster times than we are used to seeing at this meet.
Fast athletes also have something to do with the end results. Keeping an eye on the 200m and 400m results, last week's performances are signs that tomorrow could produce new records.
In the 200m, athletes like Mariah Ayers, Deja Shaw Huckaby, Dynasty McClennon, Brooke Givens, and Keondra Davis could provide fireworks. All of these girls qualified for the finals last week and ran sub 25s both days.
The boys will showcase Chris Ford, Ryan Martin, Nathaniel McRae, and Lance Broome who all ran well last weekend. Trey Hearts' 21.75 200m record from 2006 could fall this weekend.
Be on the watch for records to fall.
Potential Record Breaking Boys 400m
The meet record could fall in the prelims! Olympian, Kelly Willie's 48.92 was quite a performance on the former track. However, the new track could make it possible for his 19 year old record to go down.
Last week, we saw some big times posted. Nathaniel McRae won as he dropped a 49.02 in the prelims and then a 48.27 for the win. Then there is Moyo Oyebamiji who has a 46.77 outdoor PR. He ran a 21.63 for third place overall in the 200m last week, as he steps up a distance and could make a special race tomorrow.
Add Cameron Brown (48.66) and Sean Wilson (48.55) who both ran 48s last week, it could possible take a 48 to even make it to the finals.
Will Girls Hurdles Bring The Heat?
The girls 60H was one of the show stopping races last year and this year's race will be full big time hurdlers again. Georgia commit and decathlete record holder Anna Hall (CO), UIL 5A 300H champ Simone Watkins, UIL 4A 100m champ Ally Henson, and TAPPS 100H runner up Tamia Badal all headline the event.
All four girls were finalists last year and clearly went on to superb seasons. Now, they are seniors and are on a collision course towards tomorrow's finals.
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Will Girls Middle Distance Records Fall?
The girls 800m race has a couple of girls who could push for a new record. The current record is 2:15.47, which was set back in 2002 and it could be in jeopardy on the new track.
Last week, 2018 UIL 5A state champ Bailey Goggans ran 55.51 for the 400m and 5:004.02 in the 1 mile. She is entered in the 800m and those times are indications that she could be in shape to challenge the record.
Then, there is Oklahoma sophomore Daphne Matthews who has a 2:12.28 outdoor 800m PR. However, the ironic thing is she ran 2:15.97 last year as a freshman at the Texas Tech Under Armour High School Classic.
The 2018 UIL 6A 6th place finisher Liah Collins (PR-2:13.74) is also entered in tomorrow's 800m. Add her into the mix with the other girls and the race is primed for the record to fall.
The girls mile is another race that could see new records. The girls 5:06.96 standard was set in 2013 by Rebekah Topham. However, this race has the the makings of taking that down. Last year, freshman Libby McGrath and sophomore Jordan Mathis finished first and second going 5:11 and 5:14. This year, both girls are older, stronger, and faster.
Last week, McGrath ran 5:07.77 (5th)and Mathis went 5:16.30 (7th) and both girls could be eyeing the win and the record as they both have entered seed times of 5:00 and under.
They could have company with Riley McGrath, Krianne McBride, and Anna Casey entered for the race. Riley McGrath ran to a 6th place finish last week and McBride was 9th with both girls going sub 5:20. McBride is the 2018 AAU 1500m champ for her age group and is experienced in big races.
When talking big race experience, the same goes for Casey, who has the speed and endurance to run a fast mile. Casey has 1:00 400m PR, 2:12.90 800 PR, and a 5:05.14 1600m PR. Midway through her sophomore year, she already has three state championships on her resume. In the Spring, she won the UIL 4A 800m and 1600m state titles and this past November, she added the UIL 4A state XC title.
Shot Put Star Power
The shot put was a tough and competitive event last week on both the girls and boys side. Tomorrow's events will be the second edition.
Amelia Flynt, KeAyla Dove, Kiana Lowery, and Chrystal Herpin will bring the muscle for the girls. Flynt and Dove went 1-2 last week as both girls with Lowery threw over 41 feet.
The boys will be a good competition as well. With names like Patrick Piperi, Kyle Stulce, Bryce Foster, Brayden Hodgest, Sean Stavinoha, and Maurice Westmoreland last week's competition will be like a rerun. However, add PSJA Southwest senior Diego Trevino (2018 UIL 6A - 4th place) and this week's competition will be even better.
You can watch LIVE right here on MileSplit.com
You can watch LIVE right here on MileSplit.com
The 2019 Carl Lewis High School Invitational will be LOADED!