Class AA State Meet Preview

Boys Sprints

Last year Connor Newhouse swept the 100 and 200m dash as a junior. This year, however, he won't be the favorite as Boyle County's Chris Duffy has exploded onto the scene running 10.64 for the 100m and 21.59 over 200m to lead Class AA in both events. Keep an eye out for Newhouse's late top end speed which could be a big threat to Duffy in both events.

It will be the Josiah Taylor show in the 400m dash. Hailing from Marion C Moore, Taylor has dropped his state leading time down just a bit in almost every race this year, just sneaking under 48 seconds at regionals for the first time as he enters with a 47.90.

East Jessamine brings Zion Morgan to the state meet as the the fastest in Class AA in both hurdle events. Even with his AA state leaders, he comes into the state meet seeded at 15.44 for 3rd in the 110mH behind the Paducah Tilghman duo of Kymaiah Barner and Malachi Kirby. Morgan is also seeded third in the 300mH with his teammate Dylan Moore holding down the top spot.

Watch Josiah Taylor dominate to 400m at Johnny Conn

Boys Distance

Region 3 brought the most 800m qualifiers to the state meet including the top two in Mason Clements of North Oldham and Nolan Thomas of Martha Layne Collins. They were the only two to dip down under 2 minutes in the regional round so it will likely be a battle up front with both of them.

Taylor County's Ryan Maynard has been stellar all year he enters as the favorite in the 1600 as well as the 3200. Last year he finished 8th behind a slew of seniors. The only one to finish in front of him that didn't graduate was Colton Bullington. At the state cross country meet Maynard finished second to.......Colton Bullington. This will be a battle to watch. Can Maynard grab his first state title or will his efforts be spoiled again?

Boys Relays

    Boyle County is strong all around with the state lead in the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 relays. Chris Duffy will be a valuable asset in the 4x100 which ever leg they put him on. As the first event of the meet everyone will be on fresh legs and it will be a battle between Boyle and the men of North Oldham. North Oldham jogged to the win in the regional round so I believe they should be looked at as the favorite despite Boyle County's faster seed time. The 4x400m will be very competitive though as it is expected North Oldham's team will be in the running for a team title along with Boyle County and as we have seen in the past it can come down to the last event and if they are within striking distance of each other prepare for a big time shootout for the team title.

Boys Throws

    Arguably the strongest (no pun intended) events at the Class AA meet will be in the discus and Shot Put. The best throwers in the state will be found at Fridays meet. Daroyce Flemons of Paducah Tilghman is out on his revenge tour. Last year he placed fifth the state meet, yet this year he comes in as the favorite to win the discus ranked second in the state looking to knock defending state champ Nathan Jacobs off the Class AA discus throne. Another man to keep an eye on is Boyle County's Ezarious Roller. His throw of 162-10 at regionals was a HUGE personal record for him as he comes into form late in the season.

    Another man looking for his first state title is Ashland Blazer's Ryan Bryant. He'll be the favorite Friday in the shot put just ahead of Nathan Jacobs with his 51-06.50 entry throw as opposed to Jacob's 51-01.00.

Boys Jumps

    The top Triple Jumper in the state will attempt to go to lengths greater than ever this year competing on his future home track. University of Kentucky commit Joseph Palmer is going for his first state title coming in as with the best jump of the regional round by far as he beat out his closest competitor and the man who beat him in the state meet TJ Rawlins in the regional round with ease. Expect for it to be a Joseph Palmer show at state this year, but don't count out Martha Layne Collins' TJ Rawlins, I mean...his name is TJ so it's only natural for him to be great at the triple jump.

    Last years long jump runner up Marquise Kinley is looking for his first state title entering as the favorite to take home the title. He became the state leader with his huge 23-9.5 jump at regionals for a big time PR. He'll attempt to follow that up with another big performance at the biggest meet of the year.

    High Jump should be very competitive with five men tied for the top mark at 6-04. Warren Central Teammates Justin Borden and Tre Pillow will battle it out with Tyler Lynch, Cameron Britton and Nathan Joyce. Another interesting fact about these five men is that none of them competed at the state meet last year! This could shape up to be one of the most intriguing battles of the day.

Joseph Palmer Discusses his big time TJ win at the UK High School Invite