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by the GWI meet management
A cool Sacramento evening, the lightning quick Olympic Trials track
at Sacramento State, the finest High School Track and Field Athletes
from across the Nation and the chance that close to half a dozen
National High School records could be in danger (some in serious
danger) should make for a spectacular 43rd edition of the Golden
West Invitational -- the Nation's Oldest National Track and Field
Competition . What follows is a brief preview of what could be.
Horizontal Jumps -- The Boys side will be headed by National
Long Jump Leader Kevin Marion from Florida-however he will be challenged
by defending champion I-Perfection Harris from New York and Oregon
superstar Jordan Kent, and California champ Ronald Hill could be
a presence as well. The Triple Jump is led by Texas star Jaimoy
Bryant; Harris will compete here as well. On the Girls side Erica
McLain of Dallas will headline the Triple Jump field and could be
a major factor in the Long Jump as well, Southern California star
Chaunte Howard (from Charles Leathers powerhouse program at J.W.
North) will challenge in both events as well. Howard's teammate
Lena Bettis and Utah's Amy Menlove will be major factors in the
Long Jump as well.
Vertical Jumps -- Both National Pole Vault Records could
fall this weekend. Oregon's Tommy Skipper just missed a week ago
on the Boys side at 18'2 ¾ (clearing 17'7 ½) and will
be challenged by 17 footers Tyson Byers (Washington), Mike Landers
(California) and Chip Heuser (Kentucky). The only 17 footer missing
will be Donovan Kilmartin from Idaho who was knocked out by a case
of food poisoning. On the Girls side, California State champion
Chelsea Johnson will be challenged by Idaho's Julene Bailey and
host of other girls who have cleared 12'6. The High Jump fields
are small in #'s but huge in quality. Californian Howard heads a
field that includes 5 girls who have cleared 5'11 or better. The
Boys side is headed by Texan Andra Manson, Kansas's Kyle Lancaster
& North Carolina's Jesse Williams all who have cleared 7'2 or
better, this event also features Washington State Champion Jeff
Skiba . Skiba is the paraplegic world record holder (he has only
one leg and uses a prosthesis).
Weights -- These events are headlined by Texas's Michelle
Carter who has a realistic shot at the National HS record of 53'7
¾. Carter (who has thrown 53'3) hopes to join her Dad (ex-SF
49er Michael Carter) as a Golden West Champion. Remember in 1979
Michael heaved the 12 pound ball an incredible 81'3 ½ at
the Golden West. Carter will also compete in the Discus, and will
be challenged by California's Rachel Varner and Melissa Faubus and
Nebraska's Melanie Uher. The Boys events are headlined by National
Discus Leader Brian Robison from Texas who also will be a major
factor in the Shot Put as well. His main competition in the Disc
will come from New Jersey's Adam Kuehl and California's Jarered
Morgan. California state champion Noah Bryant will be favored in
the Shot Put, but he will be challenged by Robison and South Dakota's
Tyg Long.
Javelin & Hammer -- Tommy Skipper has the leading Boys
Javelin Mark but this competition is wide open with all throwers
being between 194 and 211 feet. The girls Javelin is headed by Louisiana's
Rachel Walker . If Walker has an off day however any of 4 other
thowers who have gone past 150 feet could steal the show. New York's
Kristen Callan heads the Girls Hammer field although she will be
challenged by Idaho's Katy Elsbury and Rhode Island's Kelly Reynolds.
Adam Midles from Washington appears head and shoulders above a standout
Boys Hammer Field.
Sprints -- Can anyone challenge those Texas sprinters. The
California Boys don't even appear willing to give it a shot. The
feature here is probably in the 200 as Texas stars Brendan Christian,
Kelly Willie and Jeremy Wariner (all have gone under 20.50 this
year) will tangle. Christian will have to fight off fellow Texans
Willie Hordge and Ivory Williams in the 100, while Wariner and Willie
will clash in the 400. Wariner is #1 in the Nation at 45.57,Willie
#2 at 45.96. Texan Marshavet Hooker leads the female sprinters.
She will be challenged by California's Shalonda Solomon & Jasmine
Lee and Philadelphia sprinter Juanita Broaddus. The Girls 400 is
led by Texas's Ashlee Mitchell and California State Champion Christina
Hardeman.
Distances -- The fields in all these events are deep and
solid. The 800's feature Washington's Courtney Jaworksi on the Boys
side, and California's Jamillah Titus and Jenna Timinsky, Virginia's
Leslie Treherne, and Georgia's Georgia Kloss on the girls side.
The Miles are headed by Kentucky's Bobby Curtis, North Carolina's
Matt Debole and Oregon's Lauren Jesperson although Local State Champion
Matt Johnsrud will be a factor as well. For the Girls, everyone
in the field has broken 5 minutes. The Girls 3200 features Colorado
star Megan Kaltenbach, although she will be challenged by Califonia
state champion Clara Horowitz and the Zeigle twins from Utah. The
Boys 3200 should be a great race: Washington's Jesse Fayant, Oregon's
Jacob Gomez, Alabama's Scott Fuqua, New York's Brian Dalpiaz and
California's Kyle Alcorn all have broken 9:01.
Hurdles -- The Girls 100 Hurdles features Texan's Angel
Boyd and National Leader Ashlee Williams. They will be challenged
by the top 4 finishers from the California State Meet. The Boys
110H is led by New Jersey's Jeffrey Porter, although he will be
challenged by very solid field. The Girls 300 Hurdles features California
champion Ashlee Brown, Virginia champ Lauren Taylor as well as the
State Champions from Washington & Kansas. If any record is in
serious danger it is the Boys 300 Hurdles-a year ago Florida's Bershawn
Jackson established a National Junior Class record of 35.51, and
he has since lowered his PR to 35.39, taking dead aim on the National
Record of 35.32. Texas's Kerron Clement could provide the push that
Jackson needs to establish a New National Record-Clement himself
has gone 35.79.
Golden West Invitational
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