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
Jakoby Graves and Jaheim Williams run at the KTCCCA Indoor State Championship
The first athlete to highlight this list is the reigning 60m and 200m Champion from the KTCCCA AA/AAA Indoor State Championships, Jakoby Graves. Graves, a Senior from Central High School, has been dominant in his outdoor season running top 5 times in both the 100m and 200m. Currently, he has the fastest 200m in the State and finished 8th in both the 100m and 200m at last season's KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship. With this experience and his newfound success indoors, Graves should be one of the favorites to bring home the 100m and 200m state championships.
The second athlete who can challenge for the State 100m and 200m title is James Barragan of McCracken County. The Sophomore finished in 9th in the 100m and 3rd in the 200m at the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship last year. He did not run in the postseason during the indoor season, but has shown outstanding form in his outdoor campaign. He currently holds a top 10 100m time and the second fastest 200m time in Class 3A this outdoor season. As the fastest returner in the 200m, Barragan will definitely be a threat to win his first State Title this season.
The third athlete who could challenge for the 100m and 200m state titles this year is Henderson County's Jaheim Williams. The Senior finished 6th in both the 100m and 200m and last year's State Championships. He ran a relatively short indoor season only racing at the Indoor State Championship. His rust showed as he finished 9th and 6th respectively in the 60m and 200m events. However, he has shown great form this outdoor season. He currently has the fastest 100m in the state and has a top 5 200m time this season. Given his experience, he will be a major threat to win the 100m and 200m at the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championships this season.
Honorable Mentions
King Combest, Freshman, Owensboro
Braylon Grady, Senior, Tates Creek
Kameron Horton, Senior, Ballard
Clint Woods, Senior, Pulaski County
Kaylib Nelson, Sophomore, Paul Laurence Dunbar
Shawn Rose, Senior, North Hardin
Shaun Boykins, Junior, North Hardin
110m Hurdles
Kameron Horton Wins and Christian Coleman places 5th in the 110m Hurdles at the 2022 KHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship
Beginning this list is the defending Class 3A State Champion over the 110m Hurdles. Kameron Horton of Ballard continues to dominate the 110m hurdles. The Senior dominated the 110m hurdles last year and carried that dominance into the indoor season as he won the 60m hurdle State Championship over Christian Coleman. Horton currently has the second fastest time outdoors this season, however, his undefeated streak in the110m hurdles dates back to May 24, 2022 making him the favorite to defend his Outdoor State Championship.
Second on this list is Christian Coleman of St. Xavier. The Senior finished 5th in the 110m hurdles at last year's Outdoor State Championship. In the Indoor season, Coleman finished second in the 60m hurdles. However, currently, the Senior has the fastest 110m hurdle time in 3A this season. The main thing that sticks out about Coleman is his consistency as every 110m hurdle time he has posted this year has fallen between 14.64 and 14.52 making him Kameron Horton's number 1 challenger.
Finally, third on our list is another St. Xavier Tiger. Clinton Bass, Senior, finished 3rd in the 60m hurdles at this year's indoor state championship. Currently, he has the third fastest outdoor time as well making him a dark horse to win his first ever State Championship, though this race will likely come down to Horton and Coleman to decide the 2023 State Champion over the 110m hurdles.
Honorable Mentions
Jayden Jarrett, Senior, Male
Van Thrasher, Senior, Male
Romaro Knight, Junior, Dupont Manual
Maurice Stephens, Sophomore, Ballard
Kase Vanblijenburgh, Senior, Central Hardin