Preview

This 81st annual gathering of top Texas talent, combined with just enough national-class talent from other states to keep it interesting, kicks off on Friday and concludes on Saturday, with elite high school events often taking center stage in a meet that also includes college and a few “pro” events. On tap is the full complement of field events, a select menu of individual track events (100, 110/100 hurdles, 1600, 3200, 2000SC), and much of the best action in the relays - 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, SMR, DMR.

While the quality is always high, with some teams choosing to skip the event each year because of where it falls in the season, this year an unfriendly calendar has it at the start of the window for, and in some cases the same day as, District meets - the first step in advancing to the State meet on May 9-10. Therefore the depth isn’t what it could have been, but there will be plenty of talent on display and head-shaking performances for the always enthusiastic crowd to enjoy.

Let’s take a look at some of the premier events this year:

Boys Discus Throw - Saturday 1pm
How does 5 of the top 6 throwers in the US sound? Is this a regular season meet or some sort of nationals? Covenant Christian sr Alex Adams got off a big 209-8 toss early in the season and has sat on the lofty US#1 perch ever since. He’ll get plenty of heat from US#2 Ardmore OK sr Geoffrey Tabor, with a season best of 204-9 (lifetime best 209-5) and looking to rebound from a tough Texas Relays outing in cold and wet conditions last year which hampered this lightning fast thrower. Red Oak sr Corwin Pace is “only” US#4 with his 193-9 and is coached by the great Michael Carter. US#5 Humble jr Matt Kosecki, a strong-armed javelin thrower with age-group nationals victories under his belt, has a 193-8 PR. Rounding out the top five contenders is Norman OK jr Cameron Tabor, with a US#6 188-5 and Team USA credentials from last summer’s World Youth Games in the Czech Republic. The Tabors are cousins, with both fathers having played in the NFL. Others to be reckoned with include Michael Barbas and Tyler Washington.


Girls 1600 Meter Run - Saturday 3:25pm
Based on prior years' high school results for those entered, this may look like a solid event - but it has turned into potentially much more. The biggest surprise, maybe in the whole country, has been Greenhill freshman Chelsey Sveinsson (pronounced Swenson). She first got national attention during cross country by qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals. Then just three weeks ago, Sveinsson stepped to the line for the Nike Indoor Nationals freshman mile, and WHAM!, really made some noise with a 4:49.37 winner to move to #8 on the all-time US freshman in/outdoor Mile list and #4 on the Texas all-time list. For good measure she won the “elite” 800 the next day in 2:11.52 with a 60.3 first 400 and has since run US#1 2:08.46 in the TSU Relays 800 and 4:55.74 for 1600 last week at St Mark’s Urschel Invite.

That’s not all. Vista Ridge soph Ashley Isham has handled some tough competition this season, including a 4:59.28 victory at the Jesuit-Sheaner meet against the season’s deepest field, her first time under 5 minutes. Alvin sr Brittainy Robertson finished 4th in state 5A cross country and brings a 4:58.16 best to the table. Lamar sr Halsey Fowler clocked 4:57.28 last year and while off that form so far, should be in the mix. And if Sveinsson wasn’t enough from the freshman crowd, Christway’s Nia Fluker ran 2:09.77 as an 8th grader at last year’s USATF Jr Nationals (that’s right, against the 19 & younger set, including some college athletes) while Heritage’s Aly Nielson has a 10:44.32 for 3200 meters this season.


Girls Pole Vault - Friday 4pm
The best in all the land are here! Vandebilt Catholic LA sr Rachel Laurent has a 14-0 clearance, good for #3 on the all-time high school list. Then Mansfield jr Shade Weygandt vaulted 13-9.5 at UTA last Friday, a new US junior class record and #4 just behind Laurent on the all-time list. The friendly rivals have clashed at the Reno Pole Vault Summit (Weygandt won) and NIN (Laurent) already this year - here’s a fun look at how they “match up”.

In fact, vaulting in our area (Texas and surrounding states) is top-of-the-line, with the girls taking 5 of the top 6 places at NIN, including Laurent’s win. Lafayette LA soph Kathryn Barousse in 5th was one of those and will be in Austin. Grace Prep soph Jordan Oddo (12-1) and others round out this great line-up.


The Relays
They didn’t name it Texas Relays for nothing. It’s hard to know who might stack which events, but rest assured that the sparks will fly in all of them. At the end of last season, Texas boys squads held 7 of the top 10 US times in the 4x100, the top 7 in the 4x200 and 3 of 5 in the 4x400. On the girls side, California swept the top 4 in the 4x100, followed by 4 Texas teams - but Long Beach Wilson was one of the West Coasters and will be here. In the 4x200, it was Texas holding the top 4 spots, while it was 4 of the top 10 in the 4x400, with LB Wilson also in the top 10.

The distance and medley relays will also be good. Southlake Carroll will have multiple state champ Colby Lowe and C.J. Brown in both the Distance Medley and the 4x800.


Boys Shot Put - Saturday 11am
With many from the outstanding discus field also in the shot, it’s no surprise that it will also be a barnburner. In fact, 5 of the top 8 throwers in 2008 will step into the ring at Mike Meyers Stadium. Jersey Village sr Michael Barbas, a recent subject of our Interval Sessions, leads the pack with his US#2 63-8 outdoor best, and hit a 66-3 gold winner at NIN. Next up is US#3 Geoffrey Tabor at 63-4 (63-10.75 last year), followed by US#5 Alex Adams - remember, they’re currently US#2 and #1, respectively, in the discus. Cameron Tabor, who threw the shot and discus for Team USA at the 2007 World Youth Games, comes in US#7 at 62-2. Last, but not least, US#8 Michael Carter, Jr, has thrown 61-9, but more impressively earned silver with 62-5.25 at NIN, behind only Barbas. With fine putters like Nick Alejandro and Jared Crafton also entered, the iron will fly and anything can happen.


Boys Pole Vault - Friday 1:30pm
Similar to the girls, the males in this part of the country have been hogging more than a fair share of the vault spotlight the last few years. This year is no exception, but not everyone is entered here. But never fear, the competition will still be very strong.

Helping to strenghten this event is US#2 Smoky Hill CO jr Chase Cooper, riding in with a season best 16-6.75. His main pursuers are tied for US#6 outdoors at 16-0; West sr Blaine Bassler (also 16-7.25 indoors), Norman North OK jr Jack Whitt (16-6 indoors) and Kingwood sr Greg Gabrisch.