With the State Meet just 7 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 3A sprinters. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
100/200m
Alexandra Allen wins the 100m at the 2022 KHSAA State Championship
The first athlete to highlight this list is the defending 100m and 200m State Champion for last year's KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship, Alexandra Allen. The Sophomore from Dupont Manual tore up the outdoor track last season finishing in first or second in every race she ran in Kentucky. She currently has the second fastest 100m in 3A, but hasn't ran a 200m this season. However, given her pedigree and the fact that she won the 400m at this year's KTCCCA AA/AAA Indoor State Championships, she should be the favorite and repeat as champion.
The second athlete who can challenge for the State 100m and 200m title is Sophia Richter of Eastern. The Senior finished in 4th in both the 100m and 200m at the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship two years ago, yet did not run in the postseason last year. She currently holds the third fastest 100m time and the fastest 200m time in Class 3A this outdoor season. As a Senior, she should be hungry to win her first State Championship and could present a major challenge to Allen.
The third athlete who could challenge for the 100m and 200m state titles this year is Conner's Isabella Vonlehman. The Junior finished 3rd and 5th respectively in the 100m and 200m and last year's State Championships. However, she has been an unstoppable force this outdoor season posting an undefeated record so far. Couple this with her Indoor State 200m championship and 3rd place finish in the 60m dash and we could be looking at a dark horse contender.
Honorable Mentions
Jasmine Hampton, Junior, Dupont Manual
Anna Drexel, Senior, Greenwood
Raven Payne, Senior, Eastern
Jordin Noah, Sophomore, Fern Creek
Clara Warrick, Freshman, Oldham County
100mH
Aly Doyle places 2nd at the 2022 KHSAA State Championship
The class of the 100m hurdle field is West Jessamine Sophomore, Aly Doyle. Doyle has been terrorizing Class 3A hurdle events since she entered high school posting a 2nd place finish in 60m hurdles at last year's Indoor State Championships and then followed it up with a runner-up performance in the 100m hurdles at last year's State Championship. Over the last 3 seasons, Doyle has asserted herself outdoors winning back to back 300 meter hurdle titles and posting top 3 finishes in the 100m hurdles. However, she has never experienced the sweet taste of victory in the 100m hurdles and she is set on accomplishing that this year. This season, she is the only girl who has gone under 15 seconds in the 100m hurdles and is the favorite to win her first 100m hurdle championship.
Second on this list is Aliyah Allen of Eastern. The Senior finished 3rd in the 60m hurdles at the Indoor State Championships this season. At last year's State Championship, she finished 7th in the 100m hurdles. She currently has the third fastest time run this year and is one of Aly Doyle's top challengers.
Third on this list is the defending 100m hurdle State Champion, Destiny Jones. The Junior from Central was the State Champion at last year's Championships defeating Doyle by over a quarter second. Nonetheless, she is lower on this list due to the fact that she hasn't raced a 100m hurdle race this year, however, she is the only one in the State this year who has a win in the 100m hurdles over Aly Doyle making her a legitimate threat to take the 100m hurdle crown.
Honorable Mentions
Keira Antoni, Junior, Paul Laurence Dunbar
Chloe Sandefur, Junior, Apollo
Koryn Smith, Junior, Dupont Manual
Holland Kantar, Senior, Lafayette
Imarie Carter, Senior, Henderson County