Class 5 State Preview

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Class 5 Boys


Sprints

Sprint phenom Justin Robinson (Hazelwood West) will look to win the sprint treble this weekend, and add a 4th gold medal in a relay. Robinson is seeded first in all three sprinting events with season bests of 10.32, 20.98, and 46.22. In the 200m and 400m, he's well ahead of the pack and should be able to win those. His closest challenge will be in the 100m with Keyon Mozee (Lee's Summit North) who comes in with a season best of 10.58. 

The hurdle races looks to be a battle between a pair of runners who know each other very well. Cortney Watkins (Hickman) and Martez Manuel (Rock Bridge) have been racing each other all year long, and it appears that the best hurdler from Columbia will also be the best hurdler in the State this year. Watkins has the edge in both races with his season bests of 13.85 and 38.14, but Manuel is just behind him with a 13.89 and 38.15. It's really anyone's guess who will be crowned champion in either race this this weekend.


Distance

Trying to preview these distance races is almost pointless. There really isn't a favorite for any of the races, and there's a hand full of runners that could win each of the races. In the 800m Gabe Mcclain (Blue Springs) enters with the fastest time this year with a 1:55.06, but Lazarus Williams (St. Louis University High), Jack Warner (Staley), and Mason Walters (Marquette) have all also ran 1:55. That doesn't even mention defending State Champion Martin Strong (Kirkwood) who enters with a season best of 1:56.

The 1600m is really close as well with six boys sub 4:20. Tom Seitzer (Rockhurst) enters with the fastest time this season with a 4:15.80, followed by his teammate Wesley Porter (Rockhurst) who has ran 4:15.88, then Clayton Whitehead (Carthage) at 4:17, Christian Baker (Kirkwood) at 4:18, Micah Bruggeman (Joplin) at 4:18, and Chandler Gibbens (Hickman) at 4:19.

The 3200m looks to be rematch of State XC this past fall, with Clayton Whitehead (Carthage) squaring off against defending 3200m and XC State Champion Christian Baker (Kirkwood). Whitehead enters with the fastest time this season at 9:13, but Baker is just behind him with a 9:14. Tom Seitzer (Rockhurst) and Chandler Gibbens (Hickman) also could win it, and the enter with times of 9:17 and 9:19 respectively.


Jumps

High Jump looks to be a three way battle between Cooper Wise (Kirkwood), Devon Richardson (Lee's Summit North) and Donald Hatfield Jackson (Fox). Wise and Richardson have both jumped 6-10 this season, and Hatfield Jackson is just behind them with a season best jump of 6-9. This event could very well come down to scratches.

Johnny Brackins (Lee's Summit) will be a heavy favorite to win both horizontal jumps this weekend. He enters with a long jump season best of 25-1.5, which is nearly two feet farther than the next best jumper. In Triple he enters with a jump of 48-10.5, one foot farther than closest challenger Taris Jackson (Carthage) who enters with a leap of 47-5.25.

Reagan Ulrich (Branson) has been the top vaulter all season, and will look to keep it that way this weekend. He enters with a season best of 16-9, and that is over a foot higher than the Jackson Rinehart (Jackson) who is seeded second with a vault of 15-8.

Throws

Devin Roberson (Jefferson City) has garnered a lot of attention this year in the throws, and he has certainly earned it. His Discus season best of 206-1 that he threw at Districts is the third farthest throw in the country this year, and the top throw in Missouri by over 20 feet. In Shot Put though, Roberson will have a close challenger. Adetomiwa Adebawore (North Kansas City) enters the State Meet with a season best throw of 59-5.75 to lead Class 5. Roberson is just behind him with a throw of 59-1.5 and they will surely be battling for the win this weekend.