Meet Preview: Boys TTFCA Meet Of Champs Event Breakdown

Cordial Vann (6) will compete at the TTFCA Meet of Champions

The TTFCA Meet of Champions get started this evening with the 3,200m races at 7:00 pm.

Those will be two exciting races, but there are plenty of events to watchout for.

We have the boys you will want to watch out for in each event.

Boys Sprints

The boys sprint events should be quite eye opening. There are some very good entries and some who could be just getting things started for a couple of big upcoming national championship events.

Jordan Elie-Stuart (Houston Christian) is probably a name not many are aware of, but this weekend, that could change. Elie-Stuart hasn't been bad this season, but his performances were some that could easily get lost in Texas rankings. That was until his Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Championships. That's where he ran 10.61, 20.93, and 47.31.

There are other runners who had solid championship season runs like Eugene Bynum (Frisco Lone Star) and Taylor Briggs (McKinney North).  -10.76 w, 47.61 (5th at state)

Bynum ran 10.75 (w) in the 100m and 47.61 in the 400m where he was fifth at the UIL state meet. Briggs was just as impressive; he went 10.61 (w), 21.34 (w), and 47.72 for fifth at the UIL 5A state meet in the 400m.

Jayden Warren (Iowa Colony) was another impressive runner this UIL championship season. He helped Iowa Colony to the UIL 4A team title when he ran 10.59 and 21.07 in the sprints; he place third at the state meet in both the 100m and 200m events.

Cole Coppedge (Hebron) could be one of the top runners to look out for next season. He has a 10.36 (w) best this year, but consistency in his performances could be what he is looking for. He could begin with that this weekend. 

Cordial Vann (Frisco Heritage) is the one to lookout for. He won the Nike Indoor Nationals 60m with a 6.73. Vann was still on fire outdoors won Texas Relays going 10.33 (w) in the prelims and 10.46 in the finals for the win. His last race was April 13th at the Greenhill Open Meet 2024 where he ran 10.43.

Bynum is entered in the 400m and could be the favorite, however he will have some solid company.

Heath Grant (Willis) only managed a fifth place finish at the state meet, but he went for a 47.14 personal best. He could be chasing a 46 performance.

Making the 400m an intriguing event is having UIL 6A state meet finalist Mason Page (Round Rock) 47.11, Ayden Nyanasimeibi (Allen) 47.73; add Christopher Harris (San Antonio Cornerstone Christian) with his 48.26 and things will get good.

Boys 800m

Last year, the boys TTFCA boys 800m resulted in some very fast times. This year should be even faster. In fact, it could be one of the fastest 800m races in Texas history.

Freshman class national record holder Cooper Lutkenhaus has the state's fastest time of the year with his 1:49.84 run from the UIL 6A state meet. He ran that time despite a strategic race where he allowed himself to get boxed in.

With the talent level of the boys in this race, a tactical would be a tragedy. Smart race strategy and the execution could be key.

Seven boys in this field have already run 1:2 or faster and there are three in this field at 1:53.5 and under.

Runners to consider in this field: Luke Bone - 1:51.34, Alejandro Rosales - 1:51.41, Adin Lathrop - 1:51.63, Christopher Harris - 1:52.30, Ryan DuPlessis - 1:52.32, Matthew Gaitan - 1:52.43, James Boutte Jr. - 1:52.64, Chris Creedon - 1:52.84, Gavin Chapa - 1:53.18, Anthony Zapata - 1:53.17, and Todd Worth - 1:53.52.

The boys 1,600m will be another deep field. There is a caravan of DFW boys heading down to San Marcos with sub 4:15 performances.

In that group will be Angel Sanchez (Fort Worth Diamond Hill-Jarvis) - 4:13.08, Mark Nance (Dallas Highland Park) - 4:13.03, Elijah Rivera-Campos (Hebron) - 4:13.20, Parker Noffz (Marcus) - 4:13.80 along with a couple of Houston runners like Matthew Gaitan (Houston Lutheran South) - 4:12.63 and Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) - 4:14.67.

There are some Central Texas boys from the Austin and San Antonio areas who will be waiting for them and ready to run fast.

Dylan Schieffelin (Austin Vandegrift) - 4:14.87, Pierce Nowell (Vista Ridge) - 4:15.70, James Butler (Del Valle) - 4:15.87, and Joseph Wienen (Georgetown) - 4:16.06 are all capable and blazing fast boys who will help make the 1,600m a fast race.

The boys 3,200m is actually this evening at 7:00 p.m. and will set the tone for the meet.

There are a ton of blazers who will set eight laps on fire, but the sub 9:10 runners make the potential of a huge sub 9:00 race capable.

The newly minted UIL 5A state champion Joseph Wienen (Georgetown) is one of the entries that has already dipped under 9-minutes at 8:59.98.

He'll also have recently crowned UIL 6A 3,200m state champ and fellow sub 9-minute compadre Benjamin Montgomery (Bridgeland) to race with. Montgomery brings his 8:51 personal best to the line.

Joaquin De La Cruz (McKinney Boyd) placed third at the state meet in the 1,600m, but he also has a 9:02 3,200m on his resume. Dylan Schieffelin (Austin Vandegrift) has a 9:10.54 best Jack Sterrett (Waco Midway) at 9:10.39, and Angel Sanchez (FW Diamond Hills-Jarvis) at 9:14.44 who will help make this a race to see.

Boys Hurdles

There are some blazers in the boys 110-meter hurdles field.

Malik White (Northside Taft) is the top hurdler in the field. Despite a slight off day at the UIL 6A Region IV meet, his 13.6 ability should have him considered the favorite this weekend.

Owen Langdon (Austin Bowie) is another state wide top hurdler. He was fourth in the UIL 6A 300-meter hurdles, but he is also swift in the "high hurdles".

There are other sub 13-second hurdlers and state meet athletes in the 110 field. Andrew Jones (Klein Collins), Ewan Curtis (Argyle Liberty Christian), Hunter Vaughn (Prairiland), Jasiah Rivera (Kingsville King), Philip Reed (Plano East) and Bennie Haywood (Humble Atascocita) are just a few of the more than capable hurdlers who will keep things quick.

Boys 2,000 Steeplechase

The boys steeplechase could see a lot of first timers get their feet wet....literally.

However Jackson Staffors (Austin Vandegrift) - 6:16.07 and Diego Ramirez (Laredo United) were able to get solid marks at the Texas Relays and Gerardo Ramos (Clear Creek) ran up a 6:27 at the Sam Mosley Relays.

Boys Jumps

In the high jump, there are three boys who have 6-8 jumps or better.

Etoro Bassey (Katy Tompkins) has a 6-10 personal best from his district meet and he looks to at least get back up to that bar.

Chastin Clark (Cy Ranch) and Andre Pentecost Jr. have both cleared the 6-8 bar and look to go higher.

The boys triple jump is going to be exciting. There are some legit hoppers.

Jamitrius Jessie (Cy Park) is the top jumper heading into the event. His 50-4.5 is by far the best mark, but there are several talented boys not too far behind. 

Harrison Lowe (Katy Seven Lakes) enters with a 48-3.5, Jayden Thrower (Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill) has a 48-1.75, Kason Johnson (Mansfield Lake Ridge) entes with a 48-1.25, and Chastin Clark has jumped over 48-0.5.

In the long jump, many of the horizontal boys return from the triple along with Michael Henderson and his 23-7.50, Jayden McCoy and his 23-7.50, and Cordial Vann has a 23-10 from the Texas Relays.

Boys Pole Vault

There are three boys with bar clearances over 16-feet. 

The UIL 2A state champ Max Garvin (Joaquin) comes in with a 16-8 personal best jump. 

Robert Max Austin (Katy Seven Lakes) brings in a 16-3 personal best and SPC champ Nico Signorelli (John Cooper) brings in a 16-6.75 personal best that will not only push both Garvin and Austin, but keep the bars getting high.

Boys Throws

There are some strong boys competing at the TTFCA Meet of Champions.

In the shot put, Kyen Purser (Midlothian) comes in after a fourth place finish at the UIL 5A state meet. Purser comes in with a 60-9.75 personal best toss.

CJ Williams (Frisco Heritage) is another 60-footer in the competition. He comes in with a 60-3.75 personal best at the UIL 5A state meet for a runner-up finish.

Add high 50-foot throwers Cannen Kyle (New Braunfels Christian Academy) - 58-8, Aiden Reed (Poth) - 58-5.25, Ryan Stillman (Laredo United) - 58-5, and Jackson Grantham (Friendswood) - 57-1 who will make the shot put competition top notch.

Many of the top throwers will compete in the discus as well.

Purser is the top ranked thrower again, but he'll have Stanley Tunstall (Hallsville) and his 186-10 to keep him engaged and looking for further throws.

The Javelin will have a bunch of new throwers, but Jordan Bowling (FBCHA) has a 185-7.50 toss as the top entry.