Football standouts to watch at 2024 track championships | 1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three days of state championships this week punctuate the LHSAA's outdoor track and field season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top athletes from around the state will compete Thursday, Friday and Saturday at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And many of the events include notable football standouts, including some college-bound signees in their final high school events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are several individual events to monitor Thursday as Class 1A helps kick off the busy weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>———————————— <strong>CLASS 1A</strong> ————————————<br>(<a href="https://www.lhsaa.org/siteuploads/editorimg/file/Outdoor%20Track/2024%20Outdoor%20Track/thursday%20heat%20sheets%202%20col%20all%20events.pdf">Complete Class 1A heat sheet</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JUMPS (AND MORE)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vanderbilt football signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678294' first='Tate' last='Hamby']</strong> of Ouachita Christian will attempt to repeat as long jump champion with his 22-03.00 qualifying time, second among Class 1A competitors. He also boasts the top qualifying 110-meter (14.71) and 300-meter (38.83) hurdle times and a top-five qualifying mark in the high jump (6-02.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Multisport North Central standout <strong>McKennis Savoie</strong> enters the weekend with the top qualifying long jump (23-01.50), as well as the second-best triple jump (43-08.00) and tied for fifth best high jump (6-00.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His sophomore teammate, <strong>Camron Shelvin</strong>, has the top high jump mark at 6-04.00, along with St. Martin's Episcopal quarterback <strong>Ashton Oliver</strong> (6-04.00), followed by Hamby, Savoie, Jeanerette sophomore defensive back <strong>Jaidon Ward</strong> (5-10.00) and company.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delhi Charter freshman <strong>Tayven Carter</strong> has the best triple jump (44-09.00) and the third-best long jump (21-06.50), while also running with the school's 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long list of long jump contenders also includes Haynesville's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202566' first='DaMondra' last='Martin']</strong> (21-06.00), Kentwood's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='912293' first='Jermaine' last='Brown']</strong> (21-01.00), Hamilton Christian teammates <strong>Travis Bolden Jr.</strong> (20-11.50) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934559' first='Javon' last='Vital']</strong> (20-05.75), the aforementioned St. Martin's quarterback <strong>Ashton Oliver</strong> (20-03.00) and all-state Riverside Academy running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214154' first='Dedric' last='Lastie']</strong> (19-11.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The triple jump challengers for Carter and Savoie include Southern Lab receiver <strong>Keenan Butler</strong> (42-07.00), Kentwood athlete <strong>Ahmade Bickham</strong> (42-06.00) and Haynesville quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237635' first='Isaiah' last='Washington']</strong> (42-08.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ouachita Christian sophomore <strong>Barrett Freeland</strong> (11-00.00) and Hanson Memorial senior <strong>John Andrew Uze</strong> (11-00.00) have the top qualifying pole vault heights, followed by a pair of district rivals in Westminster's <strong>Parker Campo</strong> (10-08.00) and St. Edmund's <strong>Henry Summerlin</strong> (10-08.00) and Central Private's <strong>Houston Hunt</strong> (10-06.00) among the group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HURDLES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As mentioned above, Vanderbilt-signed Ouachita Christian star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678294' first='Tate' last='Hamby']</strong> leads both the 110-meter (14.71) and 300-meter (38.83) lists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Frederick sophomore star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283985' first='Montrell' last='Conner Jr.']</strong>, the 2023 champion in the 110-meter, is among the top challengers in both events with 15.31- and 40.93-second times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 110-meter competition also notably features Basile's <strong>Tyler Newman</strong> (15.36), Haynesville's <strong>Byruss Burns</strong> (16.08), Central Catholic's <strong>Bryan Wiggins</strong> (16.14), St. Martin's <strong>Christopher Profit-Cushenberry</strong> (16.79), Riverside Academy's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203336' first='Jared' last='Campbell']</strong> (16.96) and Catholic (Pointe Coupee)'s <strong>James Saizon</strong> (16.99).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newman (40.77), Hanson Memorial's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237645' first='Luke' last='Miller']</strong> (42.03), Hamilton Christian's <strong>Kylan Alexander</strong> (42.80), Riverside Academy's <strong>Jace Trosclair </strong>(43.12) and Slaughter Community Charter's <strong>Kaden Oakley</strong> (43.12) are among other football players in the 300-meter competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPRINTS/RUNS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LSU-committed football star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291097' first='Harlem' last='Berry']</strong> of St. Martin's Episcopal has one of the top qualifying 200-meter times at 22.02 seconds and will also compete in the 4x100-meter relay. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But Logansport senior <strong>Jamarcus Jones</strong> (10.71 and 21.71), Kentwood junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='912293' first='Jermaine' last='Brown']</strong> (10.84 and 21.86) — the 2023 champion in the 200-meter and runner-up in the 100-meter —&nbsp;and Delhi Charter junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291150' first='Keidron' last='Thomas']</strong> (10.84 and 22.18) lead the fields in terms of qualifying times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Logansport athlete <strong>D'Avery Robinson</strong> (10.85 and 22.65) and Catholic (Pointe Coupee) receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336908' first='Brooks' last='Capps']</strong> (11.21 and 22.86) will compete in both races.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covenant Christian receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710975' first='Jaden' last='Carter']</strong> (11.21), Southern Lab receiver <strong>Anthony Weatherspoon</strong> (11.26) and Ascension Christian athlete <strong>Austin Jones</strong> (11.46) help round out the 100-meter competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Southern Lab's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401952' first='Denim' last='Hunt']</strong> (22.08) and Hamilton Christian teammates <strong>Kaleb Bigwood</strong> (22.62) and <strong>Travis Bolden Jr.</strong> (22.79) are among the 200-meter contenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern Lab teammates <strong>Ronald Johnson III</strong> (48.84) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401952' first='Denim' last='Hunt']</strong> (49.81) lead the 400-meter field, along with Hamilton Christian's <strong>Kaleb Bigwood</strong> and Haynesville's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1202566' first='DaMondra' last='Martin']</strong> (50.86). The list of challengers includes Plain Dealing's <strong>Aaron Reddix </strong>(51.69), Block's <strong>Korin Collins</strong> (51.87), Slaughter Community Charter's <strong>Thomas Carter Jr.</strong> (52.85) and Westminster's <strong>Ethan Pickney </strong>(53.38).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delhi's <strong>Carter Dural</strong> (2:08.11) and Ouachita Christian's <strong>Jonathan Boles</strong> (2:10.38) will compete in the 800-meter run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THROWS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of college-bound Ouachita Christian linemen in Louisiana (Lafayette) offensive line signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675897' first='Ryder' last='Bentley']</strong> and Dartmouth defensive line signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901042' first='Ben' last='Devall']</strong> are the favorites in the shot put (51-05.00) and discus (152-07), respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bentley's list of competitors includes teammate <strong>Jackson Mann</strong> (46.09.50) and future college teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='678298' first='Ben' last='Bienvenu']</strong> (45-10.00) of St. Mary's, as well as Houston tight end signee <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285205' first='Traville' last='Frederick Jr.']</strong> (46-02.50) of Jeanerette, Highland Baptist sophomore offensive lineman <strong>Justin Suire</strong> (48-02.50), Jeanerette sophomore defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1255219' first='Javonte' last='Williams']</strong> (47-03.50), Ascension Catholic senior lineman <strong>Luke Templet </strong>(45-08.50), Kentwood sack artist<strong> La'Mikal Callahan</strong> (44-08.00) and White Castle's <strong>Kollin Foster</strong> (41-02.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bentley (137-04) is also among the top challengers to Devall, along with Westminster's <strong>Michael Cunningham</strong> (137-05), Ascension Catholic's <strong>Luke Templet</strong> (136-04), St. Martin's <strong>Elio Bejaran</strong> (136-03), Highland Baptist's <strong>Justin Suire</strong> (135-04), Magnolia School's <strong>Deon Elder</strong> (134-11), Hanson Memorial's <strong>Tannor Theriot</strong> (128-06) and Ascension Catholic's <strong>Kingston Cayette</strong> (125-04).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In addition to his discus opportunity, all-metro St. Martin's senior <strong>Elio "Manny" Bejaran</strong> leads a list of several football standouts in the hunt for a potential javelin title with his 175-08 distance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another pair of seniors in Hanson Memorial's <strong>Reid Lovell</strong> (170-09) and Ouachita Christian's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285626' first='Noah' last='Lovelady']</strong> (169-03) appear to be his biggest competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Delhi Charter senior <strong>Marcus Carter</strong> (149-00) and a trio of multisport sophomores in <strong>Noah Menard</strong> (162-08) of Hamilton Christian, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1602012' first='Luke' last='McLain']</strong> (161-07) of Vermilion Catholic and the aforementioned <strong>Kollin Foster</strong> (142-02) of White Castle are also in the mix. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->