Event by Event Preview - Boys

by Pete Cava

RALEIGH, June 14, 2001 --- Here is an event -by-event look at the
boys events of the adidas Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday and Saturday at
North Carolina State University.

100 meters: The fastest entrant is Texas 5A runnerup Tyree Gailes
(Abilene, TX, HS) with a time of 10.38, while another Lone Star State
sprinter, Trey Griffin (Lockhart, TX, HS), comes here with a wind-aided best
of 10.31. Griffin is this year's Texas Relays prep winner in 10.52. His
windy 10.31 earned him the Texas 4A champ.
Also among the notables: Danny Johnson (Rahway, NJ, HS), fifth in this
meet a year ago; Brendan Christian (Reagan HS, Austin, TX), last year's 200m
winner; Ben Kittleson (Oldham County HS, Buckner, KY), a 10.53 performer this season;
and Airese Currie (Columbia, SC, Richland NE), who is unknown outside his
home state but has shown promise. Duan Barrino (Charlotte, NC, Vance HS), fourth last year in this
event and currently ranked #4 on the national prep list at 10.43, could be a factor if
he’s recovered from injury.

200 meters: Defending champion Brendan Christian (Reagan HS, Austin,
TX) returns, along with Danny Johnson (Rahway, NJ, HS), fifth at this meet last
year. Christian won this year's Texas 4A champ in 20.56 and was runnerup at the
Arcadia (Calif.) High School meet in April. Also on board: Seth Amoo (Highland HS, Palmdale, CA), a 20.82
sprinter this year; Glenn McFadden (Hillhouse HS, New Haven, CT), a 21.05 indoor performer
in 2001; and Airese Currie (Richland Northwest HS, Columbia, SC). Ben Kittleson
(Oldham County HS, Buckner, KY) comes to Raleigh undefeated this season with
a best of 21.32.

400 meters: Darold Williamson (Holmes HS, San Antonio, TX) is one of
the favorites for the one-lap title. Williamson was a double winner at the Texas
5A championships, claiming the 200 and 400 crowns. He's the national prep
leader at 46.12, but he's no shoo-in. Other top entries are Matt Scherer (Red Hill HS, Bridgeport, IL), Chris
Jones Riverdale, Murfreesboro, TN, HS), Xavier Carter (Palm Bay HS, Melbourne, FL),
Ray Williams (Scotch Plains, NJ, HS), Domonick Richmond (Bethel HS, Hampton, VA)
and Rob Frelow (White Plains, NY, HS).

800 meters: Defending champ Jonathan Johnson (Abilene, TX, HS)
returns. He became the eighth-fastest prep in history last month with a 1:48.21 victory
at the Texas 5A meet. Marc Sylvester (St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland, OH), third here last year
and the 2001 indoor champ, is another top entry. He's got a 2001 best of
1:48.93. Trent Riter (Mounds View, MN, HS) dipped under 1:50 with a time of
1:49.71 at last weekend's state championships. James Hatch (Fairview HS,
Boulder, CO), a l:52.98 performer this year, won the Simplot indoor 800m
title and was runnerup to Sylvester at the indoor championships in March.
For good measure, there's Said Ahmed (Boston English HS, Jamaica
Plain, MA), Daniel Soule (Pensacola, FL, Catholic HS) and sophomore Paul
Cross HS).

Mile: Alan Webb's been a world-shaker this season, but at this meet
he'll most likely run anchor legs on South Lakes HS (Reston, VA) relay teams.
Defending champ Ryan Hall (Big Bear, CA, HS), another blue chip mile
prospect, looms as the favorite. Hall, this year's California
state champ, ran a recent 3:42 1500 meters, the equivalent of a 3:59 mile.
Nick Schneider (Benilde-St Margaret's HS, St Paul, MN), last year's 2-mile
runnerup, drops down to the mile this year. A Duke recruit, Schneider is the
Minnesota state champ. Other top entries are David Vidal (Flathead HS, Kalispell, MT), Evan
Kays (Stuarts Draft HS, VA), Michael Kiter (Spokane, WA, Shadle Park HS), Adam
Perkins (Liberty, MO, HS); Shane Stroup (River Hill, Md., HS) and sophomore
Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier HS, Louisville, KY), this year's suprising indoor
mile champion.

2000m steeplechase: Justin Romaniuk (Suffern, NY, HS), last year's
winner, will return. Joe Thorne (Lakeside HS, Atlanta, GA) is another
contender, along with Chris Lukezic (Auburn, WA, HS).

2-mile: Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockport, MI, HS) blew away the field
last year. Ritz, a University of Colorado recruit, won the prep 5000m title at the Penn
Relays. He tops a field that includes Charles Millioen (St. Anthony's HS,
South Huntington, NY), this year's Penn Relays 3000m champ; Stephen Haas
(North Mecklenberg HS, Huntersville, NC), runnerup to Millioen at Penn;
Scott Fuqua (Oak Mountain HS, Birmingham, AL), who took seventh in the 2-mile
at this year's indoor nationals; and Eric Grumstrup (Stevens HS, Rapid City,
SD). Other entries worthy of mention: Kevin Davis (Clovis HS, West
Fresno, CA), fifth in the 1600m at the Arcadia meet; Matt Esche (West Waukesha, WI, HS)
and Charles Koeppen (Carmel, IN, HS).

110m hurdles: Four of the nation's top hurdlers are entered. They
are current national prep leader Robert Boulware (Vance HS, Charlotte, NC), a 13.70
performer this season; Chris Morgan (Taft HS, Woodland Hills, CA), a 13.75
performer; Jamaal Brand (Andrew HS, High Point, NC), whose 13.86 was an
early-season prep best; and Tony Francis (Giddings, TX, HS), the Texas
Relays winner who placed third at the Arcadia meet. Francis, the Texas 3A
champ, has a 13.79 clocking this season. Jeff Garrison (North HS, Riverside,
CA) and Derrick Williams (Glen Oaks, Canton, OH) are also worthy contenders.

400m hurdles: The top entry appears to be Bershawn Jackson (Central
HS, Miami, FL), only a junior but one of the nation's best 300m hurdles times
this year at 36.12. Derrick Williams (Glen Oaks HS, Canton, OH) and Jeff Garrison (North
HS, Riverside, CA) are likely threats. Williams is a 36.27 contestant and
Garrison comes in with a 36.30, both for the high school distance.
Azim Smith (Millville, NJ, HS) has experience in the 400H. Smith, a
junior, has a 52.22 this season --- the nation's No. 2 prep time.

Mile walk: Ben Shorey (Ellsworth, ME, HS), winner of last year's
3000m walk, is back. Shorey hopes to become the first prep ever to dip under six minutes
in this event.

4x100m relay: Forest Brook HS (Houston) and O.D. Wyatt HS (Fort
Worth) bring 39.95 and 40.39 credentials to the track. Forest Brook beat Wyatt at
the Texas state meet, becoming only the second team in high school history to
dip under 40. The other is O.D. Wyatt at 39.76 in 1998.

4x200m relay: O.D. Wyatt HS (Fort Worth) appears to be the favorite.

4x400m relay: In the wrap-up event of the championships, defending
champion Camden (NJ) HS is back along with Abilene (TX) HS and Boyd Anderson HS
(Lauderdale Lakes, FL). The Texans won their state 5A title in 3:11.69,
while Camden's 3:11.30 is this year's best prep mark. The Floridians come in
with a year best time of 3:13.96. Two sleepers: Transit Tech (New York, NY) and St. Ignatius HS
(Cleveland OH), anchored by two-lap star Marc Sylvester.

4x800m relay: Possibly the best event of the meet, with the nation's
top five prep squads signed up. They are Atlantic HS (Delray Beach, FL),
with the Jefferson twins, Sean and John; John Jay HS (East Fishkill, NY);
Butler (PA) HS; Boyd Anderson HS (Lauderdale Lakes, FL); and South Lakes HS
(Reston, VA), with Alan Webb on the anchor leg
The season bests are 7:37.76 for Atlantic; 7:40.2 for John Jay;
7:40.22 for Butler; 7:40.69 for Boyd Anderson; and 7:41.75 for South Lakes. South Lakes' time
earned them the Penn Relays title, thanks in part to Alan Webb's 1:49.1 split
--- the fastest-ever at Penn.

4xMile relay: The top three teams --- The Woodlands (TX) HS, Canyon
County (CA) HS and Kingwood (TX) HS are within 4.2 seconds of one another at
17:40.71, 17:44.06 and 17:44.73. Four others are under 17:52 in this rarely contested
event..

Sprint medley relay: The defending champs from Boyd Anderson HS
(Lauderdale Lakes, FL) are back, and Iowa City (IA) is this year's national
prep leader at 3:25.78. Willingboro (NJ) HS checks in at 3:27.0. There's
also Bridgeton (NJ) HS and Simon Gratz HS (Philadelphia, PA), two of the best
in the realm with times of 3:27.1 and 3:28.29. The Philadelphians' time came
indoors.

Distance medley relay: Here's another matchup involving two of the
nation's top squads and three of the year's top prep milers. Atlantic HS
(Delray Beach, FL) comes in with a 9:57.88, the year's fastest prep time,
while South Lakes HS (Reston, VA) isn't far off at 10:04.55. The Virginians'
big gun, of course, is Alan Webb. But the Floridians boast two of the
nation's premier high school milers: twins John and Sean Jefferson, who have
signed with Indiana University. John's a 4:05.54 performer this season,
while Sean's posted a 4:07.25. The Florida squad has defeated the Virginians in two previous
meetings, and the national high school record (9:53.31 by McCullough HS, The Woodlands, TX)
could be bettered --- by both teams.

High jump: The top performers are Adam Kring (Northern HS, Port
Huron, MI) and Jesse Williams (Broughton HS, Raleigh, NC), both 7-footers this season.
Quentin Matthews (Deep Creek HS, Chesapeake, VA) was runnerup at this
year's indoor championships.

Pole vault: Bobby Most (United HS, Laredo, TX) and Tommy Skipper
(Sandy, OR, HS), two of the nation's leading vaulters, were among the first to sign
up for this meet. Most won the Texas 5A title with a 17-0 vault to share the nation's
top prep mark. Skipper, who tied for third place at this meet a year ago and
the runnerup at this year's indoor championships, has vaulted 16-8.5
Two other notables are Indiana vaulters Paul Gensic (Carroll HS, Fort
Wayne, IN), fourth indoors this year, and David Bazzoni (Manchester, IN).
Gensic's gone 16-6 while Bazzoni has cleared 16-0.75 indoors. Ryan Lancon
(L.D. Bell HS, Hurst, TX) has a PR of 16-6, while Matt Weirich
(Fredericksburg, TX, HS) is a 16-4 vaulter. Brad Smith (Franklin County HS,
Carnesville, GA) tied for fifth indoors this year.

Long jump: Gemayel Alexander (Bakersfield, CA, HS) and junior A.J.
Davis (Northern HS, Durham, NC) are two of the brightest and the best in the field.
Alexander won the Arcadia title with a national- leading mark of 25-1.
Davis placed third last March at the indoor nationals. Another junior, Josh
Fournier (Bacon Academy, Colchester. CT) has a wind-aided best of 14-0.25 to
go with a legal mark of 24-2. Dermillo Wise (Lakewood HS, St Petersburg, FL), T.J. Griswould (South
HS, Aiken, SC), I-Perfection Harris (Brooklyn, NY, Prep) and Cleavon Dillon
(Leavenworth, KS) should be among the top finishers.

Triple jump: This shapes up as an interesting competition with
Stephen Brown (Nimitz HS, Houston, TX), Alonzo Moore (Phoebus HS, Hampton, VA), Aarik Wilson
(Churchill County HS, Fallon, NV) and Jamil Smith (Palmdale, CA, HS).
Brown's 51-6.5 effort won the Texas 5A crown this year. He's the
U.S. prep leader. Virginia champ Moore has a season best of 51-2.25. Wilson boasts a
51-1.5 while Smith is a 50-10.75 performer this season.
Brown, Moore, Wilson and Smith occupy the top four spots on the
American high school list. Further complicating the issue is A.J. Davis
(Northern HS, Durham, NC), runnerup at the indoor championships. Like Brown,
Davis will double in the long jump and should contend in both events.

Shot put: Jonathan Reeves (Fort Bend-Austin HS, Sugar Land, TX)
stands out among the early confirmations. Reeves, with a season best of 68-10.5, won
the Texas Relays prep title and claimed the Texas 5A crown. He's also this
year's national indoor champ. Others to watch: New Jersey champ Glenn DiGiorgio (Bayonne, NJ, HS),
third in this meet in 2000 and the third-placer at this year's Penn Relays; Mt. SAC
prep champ Sean Shields (Arroyo Grande, CA, HS); Jeremy Silverman
(Annville-Cleona HS, Annville, PA), the Penn Relays runnerup; Indiana
champion Garland Porter (Ben Davis, Indianapolis, IN), Omar Rogers (Newark,
DE, HS) and Joey Sarantos (Northern HS, Portage, MI).

Discus throw: Golden State winner Sean Shields (Arroyo Grande,
Calif., HS) leads the field with a best of 209-09. Close behind is Glenn DiGiorgio
(Bayonne, NJ, HS) at 203-9 and Jonathan Reeves (Fort Bend-Austin HS, Sugar
Land, TX), whose season best is 203-6. DiGregorio took fourth here a year
ago, just behind fellow returnee Vikas Gowdas (Frederick, MD, HS) who was
third here in 2000. Gowdas has a 2001 best of 200-0, just behind Penn Relays
winner Sam Segond (East Stroudsburg, PA), who comes to Raleigh with a mark of
202-0. Other notables are Adam Kuehl (Monmouth, NJ, Regional HS), Derrick
Randall (Beeville, TX, HS) and Sheldon Battle (Jamestown, NY, HS).

Hammer throw: Last year's runnerup, John-Paul Smolenski (New Hyde Park,
NY, HS), tops the 2001 national charts with a mark of 219-4. A pair of
juniors from Rhode Island, Michael Freeman (Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick,
RI) and Jeremy Duffy (Cumberland, RI, HS) are among the U.S. prep leaders.

Javelin throw: Rob Smith (Hopatcong, NJ, HS) tops the entry list
with a 223-5 measurement. Not far behind is Jonah Friedrich (Springfield, OR, HS) at
203-10. Josh Scheer, (Garden Plain, KS) and Keith Avila (Bishop Hendricken
HS, Warwick, RI) are over 200-feet. Scheer's best is 208-7, while Avila has
a mark of 201-1.

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