Class 4 Boys Sprints/Hurdles
(From L-R: Roy Bay, Morgan Steward, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)
100 Meter Dash
With the KC Suburban Blue providing some fast times, Morgan Steward has the top time in the state. He was third this past weekend at sectionals behind Roy Bay and Erron Holley. Bay had a tremendous indoor season and followed it up by running well throughout the spring. These young men are getting close to some of the fastest times run in Class 4 history. To show how deep Sectional 4 was, last year's runner up, Adorin Dorsey was unable to make it out. Steward was third last year and his time of 10.44 is only .02 seconds off of Maurice Mitchell's state record.
(From L-R: Thomas Hawkins, Max Bamburg, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)
200 Meter Dash
With ten people within two tenths of a second, this is truly anyone's race to win. However, three sectional winners stand out. Quintan Smith, Sectional 3 champ, Thomas Hawkins, Sectional 4 champ, and Sean Wills, Sectional 2 champ, have all run 21.72 or faster. Smith finished seventh last year, one of only three non-seniors to finish All-State, the other two of whom did not qualify for state in this event.
(Max Bamburg, Photo Credit: Greg Hall)
400 Meter Dash
A handful of All-State returnees should make their mark on this event. Aren Martin, a junior from Waynesville, leads the state with a time of 48.29. Other All-Staters, Max Bamburg, last year's third place finisher, and Daniel Anderson, the runner up from last year, both will be in the field as well. Also, Marc Franks, the 7th place finisher will be in the field. A lot of guys have State experience in the field so watch for this race to go to the wire.
(Chris Caldwell, Jehu Chessen)
110 Meter Hurdles
The top two runners are separated by only .02 seconds. Chris Caldwell, a senior from Lafayette, won this event last year and he looks to repeat as he is the state leader. Behind him is Aaron Mallet, the sixth place finisher from a year ago. Caldwell fell to third at his sectional meet while Mallet won Sectional 2. Another sectional winner, Demonte Pearson sits in third in the rankings. The Ruskin senior has a PR of 14.39. Jehu Chessen won the 300H last year and there is a possibility he could add this to his list of accolades. The football star is signed to play football at the University of Michigan next year. Caldwell's teammate, Chris Orange, also made it out of Sectional 1, arguably the toughest hurdle sectional in the state.
(Jehu Chessen)
300 Meter Hurdles
Chessen is performing well lately. The returning 300H champ won three events at his sectional meet, the 110H, the 100 (a tough double with little rest), and the 300H. He has run just a bit slower than his time that won state last year but still sits atop the leader board. Behind him is Aaron Mallet, currently ranked second in both of the hurdle events. Patrick Partee, a junior from Mehlville finished second behind Chessen at his sectional meet and has one of the best times in the state this year.
4x100 Meter Relay
This race is truly anyone's race. Parkview is your leader with their 42.16 from sectionals, but many teams are close. Hazelwood East is the second ranked team closely followed by a handful of other teams.
4x200 Meter Relay
Hazelwood Central has two runners under 22 seconds in Marc Franks and Sean Wills. That will tough to beat but crosstown rival, Hazelwood East has come close. These two teams ran the two fastest times in the state at the Sectional 2 meet. DeSmet and CBC both have run great times this season, as well.
4x400 Meter Relay
Hazelwood Central likes to win this event. They are simply great at it. Their time of 3:18.89 is the best time in the state so far this year. Another team, McCluer, has dipped under 3:20. With four more teams in the 3:21's this race should be a fast and close one.