With the State Meet just 1 week away, it is time to highlight some of the athletes who can challenge for the KHSAA Class 2A Track and Field State Championship. In this week's edition, we will focus on the Class 1A jumpers. Regardless of the current season best, this article highlights returners who will challenge for it all.
High Jump
The first athlete on this list is Hayden Llewellyn of Corbin. The Senior is the number one returner from the 2022 KHSAA Class 2A Track and Field State Championship in this event where he finished runner-up. Llewellyn has built on that performance this season as he holds Class 2A's second highest jump at 6 feet 4 inches. Given that he has the most State experience, look for Llewellyn to replicate his 2022 State performance and claim his first ever State Championship.
The next athlete on this list is Tykeem Taul-Williams from Bardstown. The Sophomore is the 2023 KTCCCA Indoor State Champion in this event where he won with an impressive 6 feet 4 inch effort. Last season, as a Freshman, Taul-Williams finished 8th at the State Meet. He currently is tied for the second highest jump in Class 2A this season and should contend for his first Outdoor State Championship.
The final athlete on this list is Isiah Summers from Warren East. Summers did not compete at either the Indoor State Championships or last season's Outdoor State Championship but has the highest jump in Class 2A at 6 feet 6 inches. He has cleared this height multiple times including at his Region Championship. Should Summers replicate these performances, he will be in contention to win his first State Championship.
Long Jump
The first athlete on this list is the defending State Champion from last season's State Championships, Jaquez Campbell. The Senior from Bourbon County has been exceptional since that State Championship posting the highest jump in 2A this season at 22 feet 3 inches. Campbell has won the last 3 meets he has contested including the Bronco Classic where he set the Class 2A lead. Given his performances this season, Campbell should be considered the favorite to defend his State Championship.
However, his biggest challenge should come from Union County's Kanye Pollard. Pollard is the third best returner from last season's State Championship where he placed 6th. This season, Pollard has found a groove posting the fourth highest jump in Class 2A. This result is actually the second highest PR of the athletes on the State performance list making him Campbell's biggest threat at the State Championships.
The final athlete on this list is Solomon Stonebraker. The Sophomore from Adair County currently has the fifth highest jump in Class 2A this season, just 3 inches behind Pollard. Stonebraker is missing the Championship experience like the other two, however, he is second on the performance list off his Region Performance making him another potential threat to Campbell's title defense.
Triple Jump
The first athlete on this list is Thaddeus Mays from Mercer County. The Junior is the top returner from last season where he finished 4th in this event. Mays built on this result by finishing runner-up at the Indoor State Championships. Furthermore, Mays has continued his run of dominance by posting the State leading triple jump of 44 feet. This is a little more than 6 inches farther than the second highest jump. Given this, and coupled with his State pedigree, Mays should be a top finisher at this season's State Championship.
The second athlete on this list is Malik Jefferson from Warren Central. The Senior has the second farthest jump this season just 6 inches behind Mays. However, off of region performances, Jefferson is the number one seed. Last season, Jefferson finished 6th in this event at the State Championship. Jefferson has been very consistent this season posting only two jumps below 42 feet. Look for that consistency to give him a chance to bring home his first State Championship.
The third athlete on this list is Kanye Pollard from Union County. The Senior is currently seeded second off Region Performances. Pollard has also posted the 4th farthest jump in Class 2A this season and has been very consistent. In fact, Pollard has improved his Triple Jump result at every meet this season. If Pollard is able to improve again, it will take everything Jefferson or Mays has if they hope to claim the Triple Jump State Championship.