Bryce Foster finished third in the shot put last year at the Texas A&M HS Indoor Classic
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The Texas A&M HS Indoor Classic will be a sonic-boom way to usher in the new indoor track season. Some of the best athletes in Texas and others from around the country will be there to compete at a high level.
The entry lists and heat sheets won't be released until later this evening, but there are some athletes and some events we just know will be on point. Here are some of the events that will be hot and some athletes who you will want to watch out for.
- Events To Watch -
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Boys Shot Put
The boys shot put has been a very competitive event over the last several years. One thing the guys competing this weekend can hang their hat on is that dating back to 2013, the UIL 5A/6A state shot put champion has won this meet and many of the state meet finalists in all UIL classes compete at this meet.
Several of the top returning competitors from last year's indoor meet and the outdoor season could be in this year's competition. This weekend will set up another HUGE throwing season.
Athletes To Watch:
Bryce Foster, Maurice Westmoreland, Brayden Hodgest, and Jacob Tracy
Girls 400m
Last year, we saw two heavyweights compete in the same preliminary heat when Laila Owens and Bailey Goggans faced off. Owens ran a 54.76 indoor PR and a meet record as both girls qualified for the finals.
This year, Owens is back to defend her title and record and with possibly 40 plus heats of 400m races, she will get everyone's best. There could be nearly 20 girls run in the 56s.
Athletes To Watch:
Laila Owens, Ciera Wash, Dynasty McClennon, Hali Murphy, Bailey Goggans
Girls Shot Put
It's not only the boys who can chunk the shot put. The Texas girls will be good this season and there will be no shortage of depth in the event.
The top four throwers from last year's meet are all back and many of them are coming from the Houston area. Keep an eye on the girls throwing ring to see if there will be any 45-foot, or longer, throws this weekend. One thrower who could crash the Houston party is Paige Lowe from Midland. Lowe has emerged as the best shot putter in the state. The multi-sport athlete is usually in basketball season, but if she decides to seize her senior-year opportunity and attend the meet, her presence would only amp up the competition.
Athletes To Watch:
Amelia Flynt, KeAyla Dove, Nya Harmon, Kiana Lowery, Crystal Herpin
Boys And Girls 800M
This is the first year the 800m is on the schedule. It will be the first event up on the docket on Friday and it could have an effect on the entry list for some of the other races. It could take away from some of the 400m runners but could also increase the amount of milers.
For example, will athletes like Bailey Goggans run the 800m or 400m? We will soon find out and the show for both the girls and the boys in the event should be good.
Last year, there were only four girls to run sub-2:20 indoors and three of them return this season. There were only four boys to run sub-2:00 during the indoor season and just two returning this year who even ran 2:00.
One unfamiliar name to watch for is Darius Rainey. Rainey is a Florida high school transfer who ran 1:54.57 last year as a freshman and has already run 2:00.70 this indoor season.
Athletes To Watch:
Girls - Bailey Goggans, Rachel Anderson, Marissa Agee, Kennedy Wade, Emerald Jacobs, Amity Ebarb, Sasha Crawford, Vanessa Cerda, Caitlin Shaw
Boys - Darius Rainey, Robert Whitmarsh, Jackson Walker, Cody Fountain, Hayden Gray, Owen Likins, Victor Zuniga, Julian Tabares, Michael Abeyta
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- Athletes To Watch -
Bryson Stubblefield (811) competes in the 100m at the 2019 Region 3-5A Championships
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Bryson Stubblefield - Fort Bend Marshall - Stubblefield, a TCU commit, is a senior and the stage is his this year. He is the top returning Boys 60m performer from last season with his 6.83 PR. A third-place finish in the 100m at the UIL 5A state meet should have his confidence at an All-Time high to start the season.
Jayla Hollis - DeSoto - Hollis, an Arkansas commit, had an amazing junior season and should be looking to put the icing on the cake in her last go around. She won the 60H and the 200m at this meet last year and also ran a leg on the winning 4x400 relay. We don't know yet what she is running this weekend, but expect her to shoot for the win in whatever she does.
Carter Bajoit - The Woodlands - Bajoit is a Texas A&M commit who won the high jump event at last year's meet on his way to the UIL 6A state championship. He was arguably the best jumper in the state of Texas as a junior and will be looking to here win again and improve on his 6-8 indoor PR.
Claire Bryant - Houston Memorial - Bryant has had an awesome career that saw an unbelievable junior season. The Florida commit popped some big time jumps last year, but her ability to compete on the biggest stages was the true revelation to her talent. Her gold medal win at the Pan-American U20 Championships over the summer should have the humble jumper's confidence off the charts to begin the season.