BOYS SPRINT/HURDLE PREVIEW
To start 2024, we’re previewing all 16 events heading into the track & field season. Performances listed reflect an athlete’s best mark on TFFRS from last season. We also have accompanying podcasts that can be heard on Apple or Spotify.
100 (5 returning medalists)Dominic Calhoun - 12 - Brownsburg - 2nd at state, 10.46
Will Riley - 11 - Greenwood - 3rd at state, 10.58
Kellen Watson - 11 - Penn - 4th at state, 10.74
Marcus Townsend - 11 - Avon - 5th at state, 10.71
Deandre Cooper - 11 - Brownsburg - 8th at state, 10.69
Dayvion Clark - 12 - FW Wayne - 10.65
Karwin Pope - 10 - Princeton - 10.65
Israel Jackson - 12 - LN - 10.69
Christian Woodson - 12 - NC - 10.70
Outlook: This event had the rare distinction of four sophomore medalists last spring, something that has not happened since the turn of the century, if ever. Brownsburg senior Dominic Calhoun is a decent favorite but not a runaway here. Greenwood junior Will Riley provides the most serious threat, and even Calhoun’s junior teammate Deandre Cooper could push him. A 1-2 finish by Brownsburg certainly isn’t out of the question.
200 (4 returning medalists)
Dominic Calhoun - 12 - Brownsburg - state champion, 21.30
Matthew Wray - 12 - Whiteland - 3rd at state, 21.49
Josh Handy - 12 - Brownsburg - 5th at state, 21.55
Cameron Mullens - 12 - Zionsville - 7th at state, 21.65
Christian Woodson - 12 - NC - 21.58
Dayvion Clark - 12 - FW Wayne - 21.85
Israel Jackson - 12 - LN - 21.88
Outlook: Calhoun is certainly the favorite here as well after winning this event as a junior and producing top 25 all-time marks in the 100 and 200. This is also a possible sweep by Brownsburg, and the Bulldogs might even be aiming to have three medalists in the sprints with Calhoun, Cooper and senior Josh Handy back this spring. Whiteland senior Matthew Wray is a threat to break up the Brownsburg duo (or trio), and Zionsville senior Cameron Mullens made the podium last spring, though his best event is the 400.
400 (4 returning medalists)
Cameron Mullens - 12 - Zionsville - fifth at state, 47.71
Andres Negron-Carrero - 12 - Harrison (WL) - sixth at state, 48.00
Andres Langston - 12 - Mt. Vernon - eighth at state, 48.52
Josh Berry - 12 - Lake Central - ninth at state, 48.61
Devonti Carter - 11 - Northrop - 48.75
Kris Kirtz - 12 - McCutcheon - 48.91
Ben Riehle - 12 - Milan - 49.09
Outlook: This was an historically strong year in ‘23 that should come back down to Earth. Mullens is the top returner and his 47.71 is just outside the top 25 all-time, a list he seems poise to break into this spring. Harrison senior Andres Negron-Carrero finished within striking distance of Mullens. Mt. Vernon senior Andres Langston also finished on the podium, and Lake Central senior Josh Barry should be considered a real threat to take this event in ‘24.
110 hurdles (4 returning medalists)
Tyler Tarter - 12 - Fishers - 2nd at state, 14.37
David Carnell - 12 - Ben Davis - 4th at state, 14.46
Adom Quist - 12 - Carmel - 5th at state, 14.43
D’Andre Black - 12 - B South - 7th at state, 14.68
Of note:
Javion Westfield - 12 - FW Northrop - 14.36
JaWesley Borders - 12 - Avon, 14.40 (dual meet)
Kieran Barnewell - 11 - Chesterton, 14.54
Drew Yates - 12 - West Noble, 14.55
John Peters - 11 - Merrillville, 14.62
Dallas Johnson - 11 - Center Grove, 14.63
Outlook: This is an event with no clear favorite and potential title implications. Fishers senior Tyler Tarter is the top returner in state place, and Northrop senior Javion Westfield has the best returning performance by .01 over Tarter. This can be a race with razor-thin margins and no room for error, as evidenced by returning times and previous state finals. Ben Davis senior David Carnell was fourth last year and should be a top contender for the win here. Carmel senior Adom Quist beat Tarter in the sectional and regional; his performance in both hurdle races could make the Greyhounds a darkhorse for a top two finish, something Carmel has done six times in the last nine state finals.
300 hurdles (5 returning medalists)
Tyler Tarter - 12 - Fishers, 37.49 (DNS at state)
Jacob Martin - 12 - Homestead - 2nd at state, 38.31
James Finley - 11 - Andrean - 4th at state, 38.81
Lucian Wicker - 12 - Gibson Southern - 6th at state, 39.23
Alex Eyasu - 12 - Brownsburg - 8th at state, 39.34
Jonathan Sever - 12 - Franklin - 9th at state, 39.35
Of note:
Antonio Smith - 11 - NC, 39.07
Javion Westfield - 12 - Northrop, 39.30
Adom Quist - 12 - Carmel, 39.34
Luke Kaufhold - 12 - SB St. Joe’s, 39.38
Outlook: Tarter is a bigger favorite here in his primary event, despite not starting it at the state meet last June. He’s nearly a second ahead of the field of returners, and that time (37.49) would have won at seven of the last eight state finals. Five medalists return from ‘23, and both Tarter and Bloomington South senior D’Andre Black were on the podium as sophomores but absent last spring. Brownsburg senior Alex Eyasu could help the ‘Dogs mitigate points from their biggest team challenger here with Fishers likely picking up ten.
4x1
Outlook: Brownsburg has three stars back from a record-setting group that could establish an even better time this season. Cathedral was on the podium and brings back three of last season’s four, and Penn and Lafayette Jeff do as well from groups that just missed the medals in ‘23. Portage at 17th place had the best place of any school returning all four athletes. This is a pretty open event outside of Brownsburg who will likely dominate again.
4x4
The top three at last year’s state finals race return a combined one of 12 athletes. Fishers is perhaps the heavy favorite here with three back from a ninth-place group that didn’t include Tarter. Bloomington South returns all four from a 12th-place team and hurdler D’Andre Black didn’t compete on it in that race. Lake Central, 11th last year, is a team to watch with star Josh Berry returning for his senior year. Brownsburg would be asking a lot from its stars to be a contender here, but all things are possible with Calhoun even if it takes six races in one day. Mt. Vernon and Carmel graduate stars but do return two legs from top-five relays.
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