2007 State Predictions

The time has come for me to present my annual State Predictions. In years past my record has been nothing short of sparking, but this year might present a challenge. With the competition so tight, I might have a few dinks on the predictions this year. Before we get started please let me note that I am not picking people I like or know personally, because I like everybody. I would like to choose everybody to win, but U.I.L only gives out one gold medal for each event. I know I am going to motivate a lot of folks with these predictions. Well, in the words of M.C. Hammer...Let's get it started.

As with every year, let's start with the Guarantees. First on my list is the "Manster" that is Robert Griffin of Copperas Cove. Manster...part Man, part Monster. This young man is a beast on the track. He will easily win both the 110 and the 300 hurdles in the 4A division. The 4A record of 13.61 could fall if the conditions are right. Let's stick to the hurdles. In the 5A division it will be Dallas Carter's Oscar Spurlock, successfully defending his title. Another competitor that will be able to defend her 100 meter hurdle title will be Tenaya Jones of Lancaster. The future LSU Tiger should win by at least 5 meters. In the 2A girls shot put, there will be a storm brewing, destroying the competition. Cisco's Stormy Harrison should be a lock for the shot put title repeating as state champion. In the jumps, it should be total domination by Cedar Hill's Tyron Stewart and Hearne's Chris Carter. They will be representing 5A and 2A respectively. Both jumpers soared over 51 feet during their regional meet and should outjump the competition. Let's stay with the field events. In the pole vault, nobody has been more successful this year than Mansfield's Shade Weygandt. Her success will continue with a win in the 5A girls pole vault. Desoto's Skylar White is looking bring home the gold medal in the both the shot put and the discus and we feel she will do just that. I almost forgot about the young lady who everybody wants to see. Killeen's Tiffany Townsend. All eyes will be on her as she attempts to break state records in the 100 and the 200. The state record 23.04 could be in danger. Townsend rolled a 23.09 at her regional meet. Let's stick with Speed. SA Stephens Rynell Parsons name has been on the lips of every high school track fan. He will take his place in history and win the 100 meters. This last guarantee is not a prediction, but just a way of life. Lancaster will win the 4A Girls Team Title.

Okay, now comes the hard part. With 5 different divisions, I can't predict what everybody's doing. So don't get mad when you don't see your classification recognized. Just go out there and perform and do what you came to do.

5A Boys 4x100. You got 7 teams under 42 seconds entered. You got last year's champion Eisenhower in the race. You got the state leading Garland in the mix. You got 6 of the state's top ten in the race. Which way do I choose? Can I do like the U.I.L. when it picks lanes, and just pull a name out of the box? I'm sweating over this one, but I feel that.....Garland should win this. They have been the most consistent of all the teams and they should be able to put it all together one more time. My sleeper in this one is Eisenhower. Rumor has it that B. Myers has been playing catch up in his races. If he gets the stick with everybody, oh boy. This should be a great race even if I am wrong.

5A Girls 4x100. My preseason favorite is not in this race...Mansfield Timberview. They tell me that Cy Springs is worth picking, but I haven't seen much of them until recently. I guess that does not matter because I have seen Timberview all year and now all I have is memories. This race has 6 teams under 47 seconds. I like A&M Consolidated in this one. I was at their regional meet and they have a monster on the anchor leg who can go out get some people.

3A Boys 100 meters. And again we have the past medal winners from last year in this race. Last year, Dallas Madison's Shawnbrey McNeil was able to repeat as state champion. This year he goes for a 3rd straight title. He has shown that no matter what you do during the regular season, it's a different ballgame at state...a little something for all you Maverick fans. He has proved that he is a big time performer in big time situations. Winner...McNeil.

2A Girls Discus. 2 time defending State champion, Paige Newby of Colorado has been off the radar because of a torn acl. Well she is back but the competition has thicken. Cisco's Stormy Harrison looks to put an end the Ms. Newby's reign as champion. Harrison has been throwing fairly consistent this year. It should be a strong competition but I feel Ms. Newby will retain her title as the 2A Girls Discus Champion.

4A Boys 4x400. Hey momma, there go that man!!! Speaking of none other than Copperas Cove's Robert Griffin. He will be running the anchor leg of the 4x400 and if you get the stick before he does, you better run because he is coming. Although Cove has the beast on anchor, I like Lancaster in this one. They have a more stronger supporting cast. If everybody do what they need to do, they should have a large enough lead to overtake Cove. If they can manage a 7 to 10 meter lead when the anchors get the stick they should pull it out. Anything less will be feeding time, because Mr. Griffin will eat away the lead you had. My pick...Lancaster. Watch out for Dayton. There are slipping under the radar.

5A Boys 4x400. All year long the boys at Desoto have told us all that they are the Kings of the 4x400. Well the time has come to see who will reign supreme. Desoto has done nothing but run some of the fastest times in the country on a consistent basis. They have had their ups and downs but they have maintained. They lead the state with a 3:11.67. I would be a fool not to pick them for this race. Well call me Mr. Fool because I see Cedar Hill winning this and I will tell you why. They got a 47 open leg, a 48 open leg, 21 point leg, and a 37 300 hurdler on this relay. I hope Desoto goes out and prove me wrong on this because I would hate what would be said on the message board if they don't. But my gut feeling is telling me Cedar Hill, Cedar Hill. Like I said earlier, I will motivate some with my predictions.

5A Girls 4x400. Another race that one of my preseason favorites will not be running...FB Marshall. This still looks to be a very exciting race. 7 of the 8 teams ran under 3:50.00 at their regional meet, and the 8th team is right on the bubble at 3:50.46. I'm not saying we will see under 3:40 but we will have a fantastic finish. Desoto has always had a strong 4x400 but never compete against tough teams until regional and state. While the other teams have battled with each other during TSU Relays and Texas Relays. So they have a mental advantage over Desoto, and we all know that track and field is 20% physical and 80% mental. With that being said, I have to go with a mentally stronger team...Skyline. I know right, my first time saying Skyline. I know they have had some off the track distractions, but this team is ready to compete. I see them winning the 4x400. Please don't call me a Desoto hater, I'm a Desoto Motivator!!!

Well that's it for my 2007 state predictions. This year was definitely a hard year to predict. That's why I feel this year's state meet will be the best we have seen in a long time. Good luck to everybody. See you in Austin.

RoJo