With the State Meet just 3 weeks away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the KHSAA Class 1A Track and Field State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 1A throwers and pole vaulters. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
Discus
The first athlete on this list is Kelson Mckinney of Green County. The Junior is the top returner from last season where he won the State Championship in the Discus at the KHSAA Class 1A Track and Field State Championship. This season, Mckinney has only shown more dominance improving on his throwing distance by 8 feet. Mckinney has the Class 1A leading throw and should be a shoe in for the podium and if all goes well, he should be looking at his second State Championship.
The next athlete on this list is Levi Dicken of Campbellsville. The Junior finished 12th last season at the State Championship, however, he has shown tremendous improvement. Dicken has improved by 25 feet from last season and is exponentially increasing in distance. Given this, DIcken should be Mckinney's biggest threat this season and will definitely be in the conversation next year as well to claim his first State Championship.
The final athlete on this list is Joseph West of Williamsburg. The Senior finished 3rd last season at the State Championship. West has also improved this season by 9 feet and has the experience to challenge for the Class 1A State Championship this season.
Shot Put
The first athlete on this list is Kelson Mckinney of Green County. The Junior is the top returner from last season where he finished 2nd in the State Championship. Mckinney built on this performance winning the Shot Put at the KTCCCA Class A Indoor State Championship. Since that performance, Mckinney has only improved throwing a Class 1A leading distance of 49 feet 6 inches. Like in the discus, Mckinney is the favorite to claim his first Outdoor Shot Put State Championship.
The second athlete on this list is Charles Price of Breathitt County. The Junior finished 11th at last season's State Championship and 15th this season at the Indoor State Championship. However, Price does have the second farthest throw in Class 1A this season and if he is at his best, he could challenge Mckinney for the State Championship this season.
The third and final athlete on this list is Kasey Webb of Edmonson County. Also a Junior, Webb finished just behind Mckinney at the Indoor State Championship. Webb also placed 13th at the State Championship last season in this event. Webb has the third farthest throw in Class 1A this season and looks very consistent. Webb's consistency could bring the Junior his first State Championship in his career.
Pole Vault
An interesting inclusion in this article, the pole vault mixes speed with strength and is one of the more technical events in all of Track and Field. Here are the athletes who will compete for the State Championship this season.
There are two athletes who have distanced themselves from the rest of the State this season. One of those athletes is Wyatt Ostrander of Leslie County. The Senior won the Pole Vault at this year's Indoor State Championship clearing just over 11 feet. However, he also currently has the Class 1A leading vault of 13 feet 1 inch. At last year's championship, Ostrander finished in 8th overall and the 2nd among returners. He should be one of the two top challengers for the State Championship this season.
The second athlete on this list is Jackson Hollinsworth of Monroe County. The Senior is the leading returner from last season's championship where he finished 6th overall. Hollinsworth did not compete at the Indoor State Championship, but has vaulted 13 feet this season. At just 1 inch off Ostrander, we should be in for a battle of titans at this season's State Championship.
Honorable Mentions
Reese Blakeman, Junior, Somerset
Josh Brockman, Junior, St. Henry District
Noah Everett, Junior, Bishop Brossart