2022 Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational
The Texas A&M Bluebonnet High School Invitational resumes for it's second edition after a year hiatus following the inaugural meet.
This season, with the UIL schedule being moved up a week, we are already seeing very impressive marks a little earlier than we typically see them.
Many coaches, relay teams, and individual athletes seemed to prepared through the first couple of weeks of the track and field season. The Texas A&M Bluebonnet HS Inv. will be an early season litmus test for many.
Overall, the meet is loaded with some of Texas' top talent per events. We have narrowed the list down to a couple of events we think are must see views.
Boys 100m
The boys 100m just might be the one individual event with the most UIL state meet medalists and event champions from last year.
Caden Durham (Duncanville) is the top returning runner from last year's UIL 6A state met race. He won the bronze medal in 2023 and will make his season debut individually.
Two 200m state champions from last year are also entered who will make this event special. Jelani Watkins (Humble Atascocita) won the UIL 6A state title in 2022 and 2023 and Kendrick Jones Jr. (Lake Belton) won the UIL 5A race.
Additionally, Brayden Williams (Duncanville) ran 10.65 last week and Landis Callis-Williams also checks in a 10.65 this season.
Girls 200m
A qualifier for the 2023 state meet in both the 100m and 200m, Taylor Jackson (Fort Bend Elkins) is tied for the state lead in the 200m. Joining her at that mark is 2023 UIL 6A 100m state champion Celeste Robinson (Cypress Ranch) at 23.77. They are both off to strong starts and will clash this weekend.
No stranger to winning state meet medals is Nita Koom-Dadzie (Kingwood). An injury at the Region 3-6A meet prohibited her from returning to the state meet last season, but she already has things clicking this year; she ran 23.73 indoors for 200m.
Boys Pole Vault
San Antonio Reagan senior Sam Abati was jumping sky high last year and is already at it again in 2024. His 17-1 clearance leads the Texas outdoor rankings and if they put him on the runway with the wind at his back, look out...or should I say look up!
Katy Cinco Ranch vaulter Hudson Clark has the 16-4 bar in his back pocket this season. Add Robert Max Austin (Katy Seven Lakes) and Tomball Memorial freshman Ben Haywood who have both cleared 16-0 this season and Abati will get the most comp he's had all outdoor season.
Girls 800m
This event will be heavily contested.
Gia Kurp (The Woodlands) is ranked TX No. 2, so far this year with a 2:12.65 from last week's Sam Mosely Relays.
State meet finalist Taryn Bailey (DeSoto) will also compete in the 800m this weekend; she went 2:10 last season.
Hailey Johnson (Lake Creek) is another state meet finalist from 2023. She brings a 2:11 personal best to the event.
Other girls with fast half-mile resumes from previous seasons are Sophia Nguyen (George Ranch) at 2:12, Emma Wade (Vista Ridge) at 2:13, and Stoya Laydevant (The Woodlands) at 2:14.
Already with fast times this season, Tiffany Mugubi (Shadow Creek) and Madison Peters (Pearland) have already gone 2:14, Grace Kowalski (Conroe Grand Oaks) has run 2:15, and Darasimi Odelowo (The Woodlands) has dropped a 2:16.
Boys 3200m
Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) is the top entry of the event. His state meet qualification last year and his 9:07 SB makes him the early favorite, but he will have his work cut-out for him.
Dylan Schieffelin (Austin Vandegrift) ran 9:09 last week at the Viper Distance Festival and is right behind Montgomery's pace as he will make things interesting.
There is good depth in this field as it could have several boys vying for the win. Brayden Schick (Austin Vandegrift) at 9:15 and Sam Golla (Clear Lake) with Ryder Darcey (Katy) check in at 9:19; they lead a posse of 9:22 boys, so we should have a solid chase pack.
The UIL 6A cross country runner-up Hudson Haley will add an extra dimension to the race. He ran 9:22 last weekend.
Boys 300H
The four fastest boys in the state so far this year are all entered in the meet.
Jayden Keys (Katy Tompkins) at 37.22, James Ledbetter (Katy Jordan) at 38.03, Andrew Jones (Klein Collins) at 38.09, and Alex Moore (Mansfield Timberview) with a SB of 38.12 will all be guys to look out for.
Girls 300H
Richmond George Ranch has a couple of girls who should impact this event. Karen Goodman has the TX No. 3 mark of 42.99 and teammate Elle Collins has dropped a 44.75 this season.
Aaliyah Booker (The Woodlands) and Aryssa Rodriguez (La Porte) have both dropped 44s with their 44.68 and 44.75 respectively.
The entries include two hurdlers who have medaled at the state meet in Lillian Harden (Bridgeland) and Yierra Flemings (Cameron Yoe) making this event even more intriguing.
Harden is an Iowa signee and Flemings is an A&M signee and they can both fly!
Boys Throws
Kyen Purser (Midlothian) is already off to a good start to the season. He has season best of 184-7 in the discus and 60-9 in the shot put.
Expect good throws from Adam Carter (Katy) and Tyler Willis (Katy) as well as Tyler Grant (Conroe Grand Oaks).
Watching Purser and Humble Summer Creek's Khyren Duhon in the discus could be worth the price of admission alone. They could challenge the 200 foot barrier this weekend.
Girls 4x100 Relay
The top ranked team in the state is Duncanville. Their 45.27 is the mark everyone is chasing as they look primed and prepared for the season and they'll bethe target this weekend at Bluebonnet.
The win won't come easy. There are three other teams with sub 46 second performances this season. Lancaster enters with a 45.69, Shadow Creek has a 45.96, and Humble Summer Creek is right there with a 45.98.
Not too far behind them is DeSoto (46.28), Bridgeland (46.60), and Katy Paetow (47.63).
Boys 4x100 Relay
The boys sprint relay has been downright out of hand kind of fast this season as five schools come in with sub 41 second performances on the season.
State leaders Atascocita (40.37) is closely followed by Katy Tompkins (40.62), Duncanville (40.66), The Woodlands (40.76), and Fort Bend Ridge Point (40.85) making this the premiere event to watch.
There are six other teams who have run 41-mid and faster already. DeSoto (41.26) and Pearland (41.37) could easily join the 40-point club this weekend. Then Randle (41.38), Conroe (411.42), Conroe Grand Oaks (41.56), and Katy Paetow (41.65) will all attempt to lower their season best markes as well as try to make it into the finals.
Boys Long Jump
Jayden Keys has been as consistent as they come in this event over the last three years. He has three state meet medals in the event and a plethora of 23/24 feet jumps.
Last year, DaKorien Moore proved he is a top leaper in the state and will get to showcase that for the first time this year at Bluebonnet.
Jhase McMillan (Katy Tompkins) is the teammate of Keys and another one of several boys capable of launching 23 footers. He has a seasons best leap of 23-3.75.
Boys 4x800 Relay
League City Clear Springs is off to a great start to the year with a state leading 7:49 in this event. That is an elite performance, especially for the month of February. With that, they should be considered the favorite for the Bluebonnet win.
Two programs with many of the fastest 4x800 runs in Texas history will also be in the race. The Woodlands and Strake Jesuit know how to run this race and will give Clear Springs a push.
Last year's Texas Relays 4x800 champion Austin Lake Travis ran the TX No. 5 all-time performance of 7:45.75. They are loaded once again as they only graduated one of the four members of that team.
Coach Pat Darcey is known for his Katy Lady Tigers 4x800 teams, but he has a talented boys quartet this year. They rean 7:54 last week to win the Bubba Fife relays and that could have just been a tune up for this weekend.
Katy Cinco Ranch ran 8:02, just missing out on cracking the 8:00 barrier. Expect them to crack it at Bluebonnet.