Kings of Speed: Who are the fastest players for 2024?

The state track and field meet took place earlier this month and camping season has started in earnest. As a result, we're getting a clearer picture on who will be some of the fastest players in the state for the 2024 season, which kicks off the weekend of Aug. 22-24. Here are 15 of the fastest player for the upcoming season:   [player_tooltip player_id='853556' first='Jayen' last='Barros'], La Cueva: Barros first caught our attention with his blazing speed over a year ago. A rising junior, Barros ran the 40 in 4.45 seconds at the ENMU camp in Albuquerque on Thursday. With that kind of speed, he'll be  another dangerous weapon for the La Cueva offense in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='611107' first='Michael' last='Beck'], Farmington: Beck is tall (6-foot-3) but impressively fast. He runs the 100 in about 11 seconds (based on his time at the state track meet) with his personal record being 10.7 seconds, which is why New Mexico, New Mexico State and Utah have expressed interest.   [player_tooltip player_id='1257357' first='Mason' last='Gurule'], Volcano Vista: Gurule looks to be one of the running backs who will succeed [player_tooltip player_id='274709' first='Alijah' last='Gonzales'] for the Hawks. Gurule possesses plenty of speed, running the 40 in 4.5 seconds.   Gabriel Henry, Hobbs: Henry has the skill set to become the next great Hobbs RB, and that includes great speed. He's 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and ran the 100 in 11.1 seconds at the state track meet. He also ran the anchor leg on Hobbs' 4x100 relay team that finished 5th at the state meet. He's just a rising junior, too.     [player_tooltip player_id='1137830' first='Pete' last='Johnson'], St. Michael's: Johnson may play at the Class 3A level, but he's one of the fastest linebackers in the state. He ran the 40 in 4.57 seconds at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants in April. He'll be the leader of another great St. Michael's defense in 2024.   Omarrion Kennedy, Hobbs: Kennedy is a dynamic athlete for Hobbs. He packs a pounch with a 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame. He's fast, too, with a personal best clocking of 4.47 in the 40.   [player_tooltip player_id='1248663' first='Colton' last='McKibben'], Carlsbad: Like Johnson, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound McKibben is a big, strong and fast LB for the Cavemen. His best time in the 40 is 4.59 seconds. He ran just above that at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants in April. As a 2027 prospect, McKibben is loaded with potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='615514' first='Bryce' last='Melton'], Santa Fe: Battling injuries all spring, Melton was unable to showcase his blazing speed at the recent state track meet. He did finish fourth in the 200 and ran the 2nd leg for the Demons' 4x200 relay team that won the state title. He's still arguably the fastest player in the state, posting a personal best of 10.49 seconds in the 100 and competing at the national level.      [player_tooltip player_id='853013' first='Tanner' last='Montano'], La Cueva: Like Melton, Montano struggled with injuries during the spring (two pulled hamstrings) but when healthy he's one of the fastest players in the state. His personal best in the 100 is 10.64 seconds and he's also competed at the national level. He blazed the 100 in 10.77 seconds at the district championships.   [player_tooltip player_id='1154954' first='Hershul' last='Olloway'], St. Pius X: Olloway has a reasonable claim to being the 3rd fastest player in the state right now behind Melton and Montano. He ran the 40 in 4.44 seconds at the Prep Redzone Combine in Grants in April before matching that time at the ENMU camp in Albuquerque on Thursday. And he's just wrapping up his freshman year at St. Pius X. Huge potential.   [player_tooltip player_id='1139144' first='Bryce' last='Parra'], Artesia: Just a rising junior, Parra saw limited action for the Bulldogs varsity last fall but with his speed should become a major contributor at wide receiver in 2024. He reached the Class 4A finals in the 100 at the state track meet, an impressive feat for a current sophomore. He's one to watch over the next couple of seasons.   Thomas James-Pettus, Volcano Vista: James-Pettus packs a lot of size and speed into his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. He's excelled at camps so far this spring. Runs the 40 in 4.55 seconds.   [player_tooltip player_id='1119300' first='Bryan' last='Thomas'], St. Pius X: Along with Olloway and others, the 6-foot-2 Thomas will bring plenty of speed to St. Pius X this fall. He reached the state finals in the Class 4A 200 meters and finished fourth with an impressive time of 22.14 seconds. Thomas had 34 receptions for 475 yards as a sophomore last season. St. Pius X is one of the most intriguing teams in Albuquerque this coming season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1258872' first='Seth' last='Torres'], Miyamura: Torres is a rising senior for the Patriots. He runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds. He's primed for a big senior season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1142363' first='Francisco' last='Winnikoff'], Las Cruces: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Winnikoff is another big, tall and fast wide receiver and he should build on an impressive sophomore campaign in 2023 when he caught 55 passes for 983 yards and 9 TD. The Bulldawgs' offense ranks among the state's best and could be very prolific in 2024.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayenbarros/status/1794826246448443837 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/tannermontano7/status/1789449500161134921 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Hersh_Olloway2/status/1793856997441609876 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/mikeybeck12/status/1727067733659988098 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Sisco2x__/status/1732106312534700259 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SethTorres_23/status/1783957587840647445 </div></figure>

The state track and field meet took place earlier this month and camping season has started in earnest. As a result, we're getting a clearer picture on who will be some of the fastest players in the state for the 2024 season, which kicks off the weekend of Aug. 22-24. Here are 15 of the fastest player for the upcoming season: