-Written by Stuart Kantor
Kendrick Smallwood and Kody Blackwood
They are the nation's top 2 hurdlers, and their schools are only 30 minutes apart. Smallwood of Mesquite Poteet has the nation's top wind-legal time in the 110s at 13.49, just ahead of McKinney North's Blackwood's 2nd-place time of 13.56.
In the 300 hurdles, Blackwood owns the nation's #1 time (36.14), while Smallwood has the #2 time: 36.24. Each has a UIL gold medal (and a silver), and each will be competing for the University of Texas in the Fall.
With aspirations to compete professionally beyond the 40 Acres, keep an eye on the Longhorns' hurdle crew for the next few years. With incoming Fort Bend Marshall freshman Chris Brinkley joining Smallwood and Blackwood, expect UT to score significant points in the hurdles.