With the KHSAA Class 1A Track & Field State Championships just 8 weeks away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 1A sprinters. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
100/200m
Briley Cline was state runner up at the 2022 KHSAA State Track & Field Championships
The first athlete to highlight this list is the defending Class 1A Indoor State 60m/200m champion, Briley Cline. The Junior from Paris tore up the outdoor track last year finishing runner-up in both the 100m and 200m at last year's State meet. She hasn't made her outdoor debut yet, but she is primed and ready for a big outdoor year and may be able to break the Class 1A 100m and 200m state records, 12.2 and 24.82. Her PRs are 12.41 in the 100m from the state meet last year and 24.95 indoors in the 200m this year.
The second athlete who can challenge for the State 100m and 200m title is Chloe Hein of Bishop Brossart. The Senior finished 3rd in both the 60m and 200m at this year's KTCCCA Class 1A Indoor State Championships. The Senior performed well at last year's outdoor state championships finishing in 3rd in both the 100m and 200m. She currently holds the fastest 100m time and the third fastest 200m time this outdoor season. Given her prior state success, she is definitely going to challenge for the state titles in both the 100m and 200m this season.
The third athlete who could challenge Briley Cline this year is Frankfort's Katie Norman. The Junior is set for a big time outdoor campaign fresh off runner-up finishes in both the 60m and 200m at the Class A State Indoor Championships. She currently has the fastest Class 1a 100m time and the second fastest 200m time making her a top challenger to Briley Cline.
Honorable Mentions
Katie Kocan, Junior, Beechwood
Chabely Perez Tolon, Sophomore, Brown
Symone Jackson, Junior, Kentucky Country Day
Maryah Counts, Junior, Beechwood
Karly Williams, Junior, Betsy Layne
Cassidy Cline, Senior, St. Henry District
100mH
Amelia Svidal and Natalie Hall finish in 2nd and 3rd at the 2022 KHSAA State Track and Field Championships
Kicking off this list is the Class 1A Indoor 60mH state champion. Sophie Maynard, the freshman from Raceland, Picked up right where she left off after the indoor season. Maynard currently has the best time in the field by almost a full second. She placed 9th in the 100mH as an 8th grader at last year's Outdoor State Championships. She is primed and ready to challenge for what could be her first of many Class 1A Outdoor State Championships. Second on this list is Natalie Hall of Walton Verona. The senior finished in a close second to Maynard at this year's Class 1A indoor state championship. She finished 3rd at last year's Class 1A Outdoor State Championships in the 100mH. However, Maynard has found a form right now that is tough to beat putting Hall as the leading contender to snatch her first State Championship this Spring.
Finally, third on our list is Amelia Svidal of Walden. The senior is the fastest returner from last year posting a second place finish at last year's Class 1A Outdoor State Championships. She sat the Indoor season leaving questions about her form, however, she has finished in 1st or 2nd in every one of her races this season. As the fastest returner, she could use her experience to trump the up and comer Sophie Maynard and claim her first State Championship as well.
Honorable Mentions
Kaelyn King, Senior, St. Henry District
Layla Green, Freshman, Murray
Natalie Svidal, Freshman, Walden
Ava Napier, Freshman, Leslie County
Nicole Lin, Freshman, Pikeville