With the State Meet just 5 weeks away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 3A middle distance runners. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
Austin Liversgowdy finishes 4th in the 400m at last year's KHSAA Track and Field Championships
The leading contender to win the 400m at the KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championships is James Burnett. The Sophomore from St. Xavier has shown dominance throughout this year in this event taking victories at the Johnny Conn Invitational and the Brother Borgia/Coach Cooper Invitational. He also placed second in this event at Eastern Relays but was the top Class 3A finisher. He should be a contender in this event for the next three years. Second on this list is Jakoby Graves of Central. The Senior has been tearing up the track in the 100m and 200m events while also performing strong in the 400m. He was the 400m champion at AJ's Heart of the Bluegrass and currently has Class 3A's second fastest time.
The final athlete on this list is last year's top returner, Austin Liversgowdy. The Senior from Cooper finished 4th in this event at last year's KHSAA Class 3A Track and Field State Championships. While he only has the 10th fastest time in Class 3A this season, his experience from last year makes him a threat to take home his first State Championship this season.
Honorable Mentions
Matthew Hinz, Senior, Male
Evan Smith, Junior, Ryle
Camran Mitchell, Freshman, Trinity (Louisville)
Sinceer Ellison, Junior, Eastern
800m
Cates Duncan runs the 800m at last year's KHSAA Track and Field State Championships
Topping this list is Lipscomb commit and Greenwood Senior Cates Duncan. Duncan has been one of Kentucky's top middle distance runners for the last few years. His next race will be at the Kentucky Dream Mile this weekend, however, he has been an 800m standout. He is the KTCCCA Class AA/AAA 800m champion this season and is the top returner from last year's Outdoor 800m championship. Look for Cates to be a threat in both the 800m and 1600m events at the State meet this season. Second on this list is the overlooked Evan Smith of Ryle. Smith's teammate, Tiger Bartlett was an unknown commodity who stormed onto the scene last outdoor season, but Smith is a fantastic athlete in his own right. He currently has the second fastest 800m time in Class 3A this season and will be a major threat to Duncan at the State meet this year.
The final athlete on this list is Samuel Walls of Bullitt Central. The Senior is as consistent as they come running 1:57 in every 800m race he has run this season. While he is known more as a distance threat, 1600m and 3200m, he has grown into one of the state's best middle distance runners. Like Duncan, he will be competing at the Kentucky State Meet this season and given his amazing consistency, he could be a threat to bring home the 800m State Championship.
Honorable Mentions
Ben Dunkle, Senior, South Oldham
Nathan Hopper, Sophomore, Conner
Liam Parido, Junior, George Rogers Clark
AJ Kern, Senior, South Oldham
300m hurdles
Romaro Knight and Jayden Jarrett finish 4th and 5th at last year's KHSAA Track and Field State Championships
The first athlete on this list is Romaro Knight. The Junior from Dupont Manual has been a force in this event since last year's outdoor season. He finished 4th in this event at State last year and has been every bit as impressive this season running a state leading 38.42. Not only that, but Knight has improved his time in every race this season making him one of if not the favorite to win the 300m hurdles at the State Meet this season. Second on this list and perhaps Knight's biggest threat is Jayden Jarrett of Male. The Senior was 5th at last year's championship in this event and has been impressive this season. Jarrett only has the 5th fastest time in Class 3A this season, however, he does have the experience and that weighs more in Championship races than pure speed making Jarrett second on our list.
Finally, our third athlete is Jarrett's teammate, Van Thrasher. The Senior from Male has been dominant this outdoor season running two sub 40 races this season. Thrasher also showcased his skill finishing right behind Knight at Eastern Relays. Given his proficiency in this event, Thrasher will challenge for his first State Championship this season.
Honorable Mentions
Kaden Gardner, Senior, Ryle
John Riley Kaufman, Junior, St. Xavier
Kase Vanblijenburgh, Senior, Central Hardin