Boys Preview
Garison Breeding has jumped over 48 feet twice this season
Triple Jump
In the triple jump, we will see one of the best athletes in Texas HS track and field. Midland Christian senior Garison Breeding is having a great season. He has two elite meet wins on the season with a win at Texas A&M (48-8.75) and prior to that (49-4.75) at Houston at the FasTrak HS, Youth & Masters Opener. Keep an eye on the triple jump pit to watch the US No. 2 triple jumper in action.
Shot Put
Last week, we talked about the girls shot put competition at Carl Lewis. Well, this weekend, we have a potential heavy weight bout with the boys shot put competition. Some of the best throwers in Texas will be in one ring shooting for the top spot and possibly pushing one another to top throws. Viewers of this competition could be clinging on each throw from these competitors.
Bryan Rudder senior and Texas number 1 Kevin Kindt will bring his 59-2.75 PR from last weekend to Tech and he could be looking to gain a couple of inches to get to the 60 feet mark. The Sam Houston signee is the US No.9 shot putter and he could make a push up the national rankings.
Brayden Hodgest, the No. 2 thrower in Texas isn't far behind Kindt's top throw. He beat Kindt heads up at A&M, but he sits in the second spot. Hodgest, an Arkansas signee has acknowledged his desire for a state title and for that to happen, it could begin this weekend. Hodgest has a SB and PR of 58-11.
Jacob Tracy is another big time Texas thrower. The Austin Lake Travis junior tossed a PR 60-3.5 and finished sixth at UIL 6A state meet in both the shot and discus. Tracy is a big time thrower in Texas and he will add some drama to this competition.
Do not over look La Joya's Alex Rodriguez. He is a big time thrower as well and is a just add water type combustible type of thrower. He is off to a great 2020 start with his 58-3.25, good enough for a Texas No. 3 ranking. If any of the guys look past him on Saturday, they could be looking up to him at the awards stand.
D'Carlo Calderon finished second at A&M 400m
400m
Texas is know for fast 4x400 relays, that means, we have a lot of guys who can run the 400m. The Texas Tech boys event will have very good 400m runners, and one favorite who is actually be true 300m hurdler.
Lancaster senior Dillon Bedell is the UIL 5A 400m state champ from last year. The Baylor signee competed in the 200m at A&M to work on his speed and now he could be ready to flex his muscles with a solid 400m peformance.
The other favorite who is the hurdler in the 400m is D'Carlo Calderon. The Laredo United junior is the Texas No. 2 ranked indoor 400m performer this season. His 48.25 from two weeks ago still sits as the fourth ranked time. Calderon is a versatile runner. He is entered in several events this weekend, but if he has the energy and fitness remaining, he could dip in the 47s this weekend.
Triston Read (9) is having an excellent indoor season
800m
The boys 800 is another event that could prove to be on FIRE! It has some established stars entered and some potentially ready to make names for themselves all in one.
Perhaps the top entry is El Paso Hanks senior Michael Abeyta. The Oregon signee is coming off the best cross country season in his career and perhaps the most healthy one. That is a huge sign for the super star runner. Abeyta has displayed his range, strength, and speed for three and a half years. This weekend could be the start of a great 2020 season for Abeyta.
Entering this weekend, he is the fifth best 800m returner (coming off an injury riddled 2019 season) and has an indoor PR of 1:57.65 and outdoor PR of 1:53.54.
Decatur senior Triston Read will be a good adversary this weekend. He was the bronze medalist at last year's UIL 4A state meet and also had a good cross country season.
This indoor season, he has already dropped a 1:58.43 and a 1:57.87 to go along with a 50.23 400m PR last weekend in Arkansas. Read has already run as fast this indoor season as he ever has outdoors.
Keller's Cooper Cawthra from Keller has his progression arrow pointing up with a 2:00 at A&M and 1:59.26 at Arkansas on his indoor and will also be a factor in the race.
Pearland Dawson senior Joshua Benford is another athlete to keep an eye on. He ran 51.13 in the 400m and 2:01.98 in the 800m way back on December 8th. Now, that he is more than a month further into his fitness, this weekend could be the opportunity for Bendford to make some noise and hit another level. Benford has a 1:56.33 800m PR from outdoor and he could rewrite his overall PR this weekend.