Football standouts to watch at 2024 track championships | 3A

<!-- 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 Friday as Class 3A helps continue the busy weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>———————————— <strong>CLASS 3A</strong> ————————————<br>(<a href="https://www.lhsaa.org/siteuploads/editorimg/file/Outdoor%20Track/2024%20Outdoor%20Track/friday%20heat%20sheets%202%20col%20all%20events.pdf">Complete Class 3A 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>A crew of football standouts enter the weekend as the favorites in the Class 3A jump events. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southern-signed St. James wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285273' first='Kobe' last='Brown']</strong> and Glen Oaks athlete <strong>Christopher Jackson</strong> — also among the top triple jump contenders (43-08.00) lead the long jump field with matching 22-03.75 qualifying marks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Port Allen hoops star <strong>Aries Lewis</strong>, also with some football background at wide receiver, tops the high jump list at 6-02.00.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Bogalusa standout <strong>Desmond Ramirez</strong> is the favorite in the triple jump (44-11.50), followed by Jennings' <strong>Zae Douglas</strong> (44-00.00) and E.D. White's <strong>Benjamin Rodrigue</strong> (43.11.50).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rodrigue (20-08.25) is also among the long jump field chasing Brown and Jackson — along with Lake Charles College Prep's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902140' first='Cameron' last='Hill']</strong> (21-08.00), Glen Oaks' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144903' first='Darius' last='Gross']</strong> (21-07.75), Northwest's <strong>Ty Sam</strong> (20-09.00) and St. James' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401966' first='Jakias' last='Villanueva']</strong> (20-07.00).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iowa teammates <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144875' first='Josiah' last='Bushnell']</strong>, an Air Force quarterback/athlete signee, and <strong>Clement "C.J." Bellow </strong>are among the top challengers to Lewis in the high jump with matching 6-00.00 qualifying heights, with Berwick's <strong>Namon Bennett</strong> (5-10.00) also in the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the defensive back trio of Lake Charles College Prep's <strong>Cameron Brazzle</strong> (43-02.50), Ville Platte's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220994' first='Jarian' last='Leday'] </strong>(42-09.50) and Jewel Sumner's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220961' first='Jayden' last='Perry']</strong> (42-07.50) help round out the triple-jump competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kaplan's <strong>Andre' Marceaux</strong> (12-01.00) and Berwick's <strong>Daniel Vasquez</strong> (12-00.00) are among the leading contenders in the pole vault, with Iowa's <strong>Harley Touvell</strong> (11-06.00) and E.D. White's <strong>Brayden Gros</strong> (11-00.00) also in the mix.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HURDLES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Iota's <strong>Dylan Callahan</strong> is the favorite in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles with qualifying times of 15.33 and 39.85 seconds, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union Parish tackle machine <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710084' first='Tyquereis' last='Wilson']</strong> (16.37 and 41.55), Berwick cornerback <strong>Austin Geisler</strong> (16.16 and 42.33) and John F. Kennedy defensive back <strong>Tyler Morrison</strong> (16.21 and 42.62) are among other competitors in both events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jennings' <strong>Zae Douglas</strong> (41.06), mentioned above in the triple jump, and Tulane-bound University Lab standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285208' first='Seth' last='Gale']</strong> (40.91) are among top 300-meter contenders, along with Lake Charles College Prep receiver <strong>Kalen Antoine</strong> (41.09), North Webster edge rusher <strong>Avante Curry</strong> (41.87) and St. James linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920681' first='Nolan' last='Zenon']</strong> (42.63).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Louisiana (Lafayette)-bound Erath standout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1203333' first='Christian' last='Pillette']</strong> (15.55), South Beauregard's <strong>Cooper Cole</strong> (15.50) and Glen Oaks' <strong>Jamarcus Young</strong> (15.85) will compete in the 300-meter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPRINTS/RUNS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with the aforementioned <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285273' first='Kobe' last='Brown']</strong> of St. James, John F. Kennedy receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='902053' first='Kingston' last='Jones']</strong> and Bunkie defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291084' first='Kyle' last='Johnson'] </strong>are the biggest names in Class 3A running events.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones boasts the top 200-meter qualifying time (21.49) and third-best 100-meter (10.84), with Johnson challenging in both events (22.53 and 11.01) and Brown in the 100-meter (10.94).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glen Oaks' <strong>Na'Ryan Delone</strong> enters the meet with the best 100-meter (10.62) and 400-meter (48.26) qualifying times and second-best 200-meter (21.66).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake Charles College Prep freshman teammates <strong>Ayden Carter</strong> (10.83 and 21.89) and <strong>Kai Fontenot</strong> (10.92 and 21.83), E.D. White's <strong>Nathaniel "Nate" Thompson</strong> (10.97 and 22.03) and Iota's <strong>Jayvon Allison</strong> (11.10 and 22.77) are among other athletes competing in both the 100- and 200-meters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carroll's <strong>Peja Roberts</strong> (11.14) rounds out the 100-meter field, and Iota's <strong>Jacob Cormier</strong> (22.62) and St. James cornerback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914096' first='Garry' last='White']</strong> (22.68) will compete in the 200-meter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delone's competition for the 400-meter crown includes Glen Oaks teammate <strong>Catron Hargrove</strong> (48.79), Kaplan's <strong>Ja'varion Landry</strong> (48.76), John F. Kennedy receiver <strong>Cash Williams</strong>, Sophie B. Wright athlete <strong>Dallas Hughes</strong>, Northwest receiver <strong>Dillon Guilbeaux</strong>, St. James safety <strong>Mikese Wilson</strong>, North Webster athlete <strong>Xaeliin Gladney</strong> (52.33) and Sterlington receiver <strong>Nathaniel White</strong> (52.36).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 800-meter run includes Lake Charles College Prep's <strong>Khel Arvie</strong> (1:58.41), Church Point's <strong>Bryce Lejeune</strong> (2:04.15), Wossman's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644731' first='Prestavion' last='Washington']</strong> (2:07.56) and Richwood's <strong>Rodney Ross</strong> (2:08.25) among its football names to know.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lejeune (4:54.87) and Ross (5:06.98) are also among a few football athletes competing in the 1,600-meter run, including Carroll's <strong>Racari Jones</strong> (4:57.84) — also in the 3,200-meter (11:23.97) field —&nbsp;and E.D. White's <strong>Noah Diedrich</strong> (4:55.49).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several of those athletes will also compete in their schools' various relay teams, including Johnson and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='915073' first='Dillon' last='Compton']</strong> together on Bunkie's 4x200-meter; Wilson and White on St. James 4x400- and 4x200- and White, Brown and Villanueva on the 4x100-meter that include several other notable football standouts such as quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285279' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong>, safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1220962' first='Jarrell' last='Williams']</strong>, safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934578' first='Jye' last='Blain']</strong>, athlete/running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='934581' first='Derrick' last='Pittman Jr.']</strong> and running back <strong>Kani King-Young</strong> to name a few; and Jones and <strong>Cash Williams</strong> on 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays that include another speedy John F. Kennedy receiver in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='914129' first='James' last='Evans']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University Lab's talented relay teams also include high-profile football prospects <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144905' first='Keylan' last='Moses']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='291157' first='Jayden' last='Gloston']</strong> in the 4x100 and 4x200, and Amite's 4x100-meter team includes multiple football standouts, including senior <strong>Brandon Coleman</strong>, junior <strong>Marcus Briggs </strong>and ranked underclassmen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250286' first='Braylen' last='Taylor']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1238194' first='Franklin' last='Morgan Jr'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THROWS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 3A shot put field includes several notable football names, led by college-bound St. James offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285275' first='Jarmaine' last='Mitchell'] </strong>(51-06.00) as the favorite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The all-football field also includes Northwest defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598252' first='Curtis' last='Harrison']</strong> (49-06.00), Jewel Sumner two-way lineman <strong>Desmond Collins Jr.</strong>, highly touted University Lab two-way lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212343' first='Lamar' last='Brown']</strong> (48-08.50), Northwest running back <strong>Ja'Vain Reese</strong> (47-09.00), University Lab linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='144902' first='Alec' last='Haynes']</strong> (47-07.25), Patterson two-way lineman <strong>Tyron Morales</strong> (45-05.50), Bunkie running back <strong>Kenterrius Franks</strong> (44-07.50) and Southeastern Louisiana-signed Iowa offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='677667' first='Damian' last='Reed']</strong> (44-04.25).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrison (140-08.50), Haynes (139-09) and Morales (128-07) will also be among the challengers to favorite <strong>Kevin Small</strong> (149-02) of Kaplan in the discus. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>E.D. White's <strong>Cooper Blades</strong> (136-05), Sterlington's <strong>Nicholas Crumley</strong> (135-06.50), St. Louis Catholic's <strong>Colton Guillory </strong>(133-05), and E.D. White's <strong>Thomas Rosado</strong> (128-07) will also compete in the event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bunkie senior linebacker <strong>Huxley Pias</strong> (178-09) is the favorite in the Class 3A javelin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of 2025 quarterbacks in Berwick's <strong>Evan Crappell</strong> (164-07) and Iota's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710085' first='Peyton' last='Renfro']</strong> (163-09) and Port Allen junior tight end and defensive end <strong>LaDerrien Burns</strong> (164-00) are among the top challengers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>University Lab quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901043' first='Garrett' last='Graves']</strong> (160-05), Bunkie defensive lineman <strong>Johnkiest Lavalais</strong> (158-06) and Pine athlete <strong>James Owens</strong> (133-07) are among other football names to know in the javelin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->