`With the State Meet just 4 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 distance runners. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all. The interesting thing about the 3A distance runners is that it is the deepest Class 3A has ever been. The way we will attack this is by highlighting the athletes who will challenge more for the 1600m and then focus on the 3200m athletes. These athletes will be factors in both races, but we will separate them for more flow. We then will go into other notables who could make a massive statement at the State Meet.
1600m
Cates Duncan and Tiger Bartlett run the 1600m at the 2022 KHSAA Outdoor State Championships
The first athlete on this list is Thomas Ashby of Apollo. The Senior has been on another level this year claiming KTCCCA Class AA/AAA Indoor State Championships in the 1500m and 3000m races. Ashby then carried this momentum into running a US #1 Steeplechase, at the time he ran it, this outdoor season. Ashby also has two different top 3 finishes at Eastern Relays and the Kentucky Dream Mile. His consistency and closing speed gives him a slight advantage over the rest of the field placing him at number one on this list.
The second athlete on this list is one of if not the most improved runner in the State this season, Samuel Walls. The Senior from Bullitt Central finished second at the Kentucky Dream Mile, but was the fastest in Class 3A. He currently holds the fastest time in 3A this season and is growing in confidence. However, Ashby has beat him more often than not placing Walls slightly lower on this list.
The third athlete on this list is Cates Duncan from Greenwood. The Senior has only lost one Mile race this season and has showcased his ability to be consistent. Unlike the other two athletes on this list whose times vary, Cates has posted two separate 4:15 miles. While Duncan hasn't run as fast as the other two, he is more consistent which could prove advantageous at the State Championship in 4 weeks.
3200m
Sheets, Bartlett, Johnson, Walls, and Ashby compete in the 3200m at the 2022 KHSAA Outdoor Track and Field State Championships
The first athlete on our list is Sophomore Will Sheets. Sheets, from Covington Catholic, ran a blistering 9:04 3200m this past weekend at the Farmington Invitational. Further, Sheets showcased strength indoors finishing 3rd at Nike Indoor Nationals where he ran 14:51. Sheets also won his first State Cross Country Championship this year defeating every other runner on this list. His strength is his biggest asset and should prove useful as he contends to win his first Outdoor State Championship this season.
The second athlete on this list is Tiger Bartlett of Ryle. The Junior was relatively unknown until last Cross Country season where he exploded onto the scene finishing 3rd at the Cross Country State Meet. Bartlett has carried that momentum into his outdoor campaign as he currently has the second fastest 3200m and the 4th fastest 1600m time in Class 3A this season. Bartlett is an athlete that always shows up at big races and is capable of winning either the 1600m or the 3200m at the Outdoor Track and Field State Championships this season.
The third and final athlete on this list is George Johnson. The Senior from Conner has improved in every 3200m race he has run this season running 9:15 two weekends ago. He also finished second at the KYtrackXC.com 5K Showdown running 15:15. Similar to Sheets, Johnson's strength is his biggest weapon and in the right race, Johnson could jump many athletes on this list and win his first Outdoor State Championship.
Honorable Mentions
Joey Carroll, Junior, Conner
Eli Oetken, Sophomore, Trinity (Louisville)
James Ndayishimiye, Junior, Lafayette
Drew Moore, Senior, Conner
Nathan Hopper, Sophomore, Conner