Mobile CoC: 9 Big Storylines to Follow

DyeStat MVPs return for another round

by Steve Underwood

Here are nine storylines to follow Saturday during the Invitational Division of the 2013 Mobile Challenge of Champions:

MVP Defenders I:  A great thing about having your DyeStat MVPs being underclassmen is that they have another year to come back even better.  So it is that the best from the 2012 Mobile Challenge of Champions return in Kell (Marietta, Ga.) senior Kendell Williams and Hoover (Ala.) junior Marlon Humphrey.  Last year, Williams exploded to 20-6w to win the long jump, soared 5-10 to take the high jump, and skimmed the 100 hurdles for another victory in 13.64.  Since then, the highly decorated megastar has only gotten better.  In the summer, Williams won the USATF Junior heptathlon, and then at the World Junior Champs in Barcelona recorded the best hept ever by a prep girl with 5,578 points in eighth place.  Then a month ago in New York, she added the USR in the indoor pentathlon in claiming her third straight New Balance Nationals crown and placed second in three other events.

MVP Defenders II:  As for Humphrey?  Last year here, he won the 110 (14.12) and 300 hurdles (37.50).  After his outstanding soph track season was over, he was back to the gridiron, where he is so highly regarded as a cornerback that Rivals.com in November named him as one of the first 10 national five-star recruits for the Class of 2014.  Then this winter he continued rising as a track star, taking three events at the Alabama state meet and at New Balance winning the pentathlon as well and finishing second in the 60 hurdles.  Transitioning to outdoors, he’s already popped a US-leading 36.05 in the 300 hurdles, as well as having run a 13.74w 110 and 47.41 400.  Both Williams and Humphrey will seek to defend each of their respective 2012 titles here and are threats for US leaders in any of their combined five events ... and don’t be surprised if Humphrey threatens the USR in the 300H.  He just 1.03 seconds away and could certainly give it a run next year if not this year.

Very fast Karr(s): When you look at the top of the national sprint relay lists (especially in April), you usually except to see Texas, Florida or California teams at the top.  But sometimes a crew from another state will ascend to the #1 spot.  This year, Edna Karr Magnet HS out of New Orleans has put together a devastating crew, led by Jermey Hicks and Sharkeith Beverly.  They went 1-2 at the Sugar Bowl meet in 10.48w/10.49w (2.1) and both were in the low 6.4s for 55 indoors.  Together, along with Edward Davis (21.57 200) and others, they have rocked clockings of US#1 40.84 and #2 1:25.81 – which followed an indoor 4x2 best of 1:29.45 on a flat track.  Karr’s 4x2 got DQ’d at NBNI, though, and they’ve been out to prove they’re the best since.  Meet director Steve Schoenwald scored big getting them here.

King of the skywalkers: The Challenge has had excellent vaulters before, though it seems more often than not they’ve been on the girls’ side.  This year, the boys PV is absolutely loaded, the field paced by Sumner (Kentwood, La.) junior (!) Devin King, who’s already gone 17-2 outdoors after a 17-1 indoors.  He still has something to prove nationally, given his finishing “only” sixth at NBNI.  Big in-state rival and Curtis (River Ridge, La.) senior Dylan Duvio will challenge him and hope to be the next 17 footer; he was second at NBNI at 16-9.25 and won Stanford last weekend.  Another 16-footer in the field is Allatoona GA sr Tray Oates (16-4.75), and there’s also local fave St. Paul’s sr Cameron Robichaux (15-6) and 2012 runner up Gavin Gautreaux (15-8 PR).

Stalbert vs. Martin – Last year, a huge highlight of the Challenge was the breakout sprint double by McDonogh #35 (New Orleans) super soph Marcquita Stalbert, who blazed 23.93 and 53.77 for the 2/4 double.  Many years, that would have been enough for the DyeStat MVP, but a certain Kendell Williams prevented that.  Stalbert has continued to progress (currently US#4 23.84), but in the 200 she’ll get a stern test for Martin Luther King (Lithonia, Ga.) senior Jada Martin.  A super veteran of big meets, Martin has run 23.60w and 24.00 in her career.  Martin and Stalbert are also in the 100 and 400, respectively, where they are the favorites – although Martin will certainly be tested by two-time defending champ (100) Mikiah Brisco.  Caitland Smith is also one to watch in the 100 and 200.

Carlos chases McGee – One of the best female distance runners over the years at the Challenge has been Cory McGee, the Pass Christian MS 2010 grad who set the meet record in the mile at 4:49.76 – one of four victories she had here and one of many, many achievements she had as a prep.  Now a local star is a big threat to break that mark.  McGill-Toolen sr Carmen Carlos has won the 2-mile three times here, but this year is going for it in the mile.  Indoors, she ran 4:49.17 for 1,600 and 4:51.52 for a full mile; outdoors she is US#1 in the 3,200 with her smashing 10:15.70.  The field is light on sub-5:00 talent, so Carlos may be by herself.  McGee’s younger sister, Regan, is in the field – so she may have some news to report later Saturday to big sis.

King of the Hill: Many of the best throwing results at this meet have come in the javelin, as the event is contested at the championship level in Alabama and Louisiana.  But this year’s best heave may come in the discus, where Huntsville sr Grant Hill is the latest sensation.  Hill was “just” third here last year with 161-1.  But he eventually improved to 184-4 in 2012, and this spring has already thrown 195-3 then a US#1 203-7 at the Homewood Invite.  Yes, he’s the nation’s only 200 footer so far this spring. 

Luper vs. Louisiana I – Auburn sr Cameron Luper, who won the long jump and was second in the 200 here last year, has a great chance to score a triple Saturday – maybe with enough firepower to wrest the MVP award from Humphrey.  But the tests in each event will be severe and they will come primarily from several Louisiana stars.  In the long jump, Luper won last year with 23-1.5 and uncorked a massive 24-8.5 a month ago to get second at NBNI.  But West Jefferson LA sr Devin Scott – a 24-1 leaper last spring but just 22-11 indoors – suddenly leapt out to an eye-popping US#1 24-11.5 (+0.5w) at Sugar Bowl two weeks ago.  That makes, arguably, two of the three best long jumpers in the country here. 

Luper vs. Louisiana II – In the sprints, Luper will have to deal with the aforementioned Karr standouts Beverly, Davis and Hicks, as well Lakeside LA jr Chris Lewis and Scott in the 200.  Lewis was US#4 at 55 indoors with 6.30, and has run 10.58w in the 100.  Scott has run 21.56 and 21.30w.

Other notable names and events

• Dunwoody GA frosh Lauren Jackson, the Kentucky Invite winner indoors (2:14.91), is favored in the girls 800 over 2012 runnerup Kathryn Lazarchick of local UMS-Wright.
• Fans of the 800 will be waiting to see if Tuscaloosa County AL sr Donnie Lee doubles back from his 1:52.40 at the Florida Relays (2nd behind Andres Arroyo) Thursday.  He’s arguably the favorite, with 1:51.16 performer (2012) Blair Henderson of St. Louis LA and Payton Ballard of Mountain Brook AL also contending.
• Mountain Brook AL should be strong in several events, including both 4x800s (they are defending champs in each) and the girls 2M, where Jessica Molloy is one to watch.
• One of Kendell Williams’ strongest competitors in the 100H will be Johna Whitaker of Pine Forest FL, the 2011 champ (in 14.12, pre-Williams) who was 3rd last year.  Whitaker is also defending champ in the 300H, where she will be pushed by US#6 Briyana Richardson (42.73) of Helen Cox LA.
• Last year’s girls mile champ, Cassidy Hale of Dupont Manual in Kentucky, is one of the top contenders, along with Molloy, in the 2 Mile.  Hale’s sister Kristen is one of the top mile seeds.
• One of the best distance runners to come out of Louisiana in recent years, St. Paul (Covington) jr Zach Albright brings a 4:18.62 best into the mile.  He also recently ran 1:55 for 800 and 9:14 for 3200.
• The aforementioned Brisco and Stalbert will hope to anchor their respective Baton Rouge Magnet and McDonogh #35 squads to a girls 4x100 victory.  Defending champ Hoover is also in the race.
• Catholic BR sr Ken Ward, who ran a US#2 7.35 in the 55H this winter, will be a worthy foe for Humphrey in the hurdles.  Hillgrove GA standout Dyarius Tucker, with 14.12 and 37.54 bests, will be tough, too.  And don’t forget to note Mountain Brook’s Charlie Forbes and Sugar Bowl double hurdle champ Craig Rock of St. Thomas Aquinas LA.
• Four of the top five from last year’s girls 4x400 – Pine Forest FL, H.L. Bourgeious LA, Baton Rouge Magnet LA, and Mtn Brook AL, will battle again this time.
• Defending pole vault champ Chanel Krause from local power St. Paul’s, now a 12-8 standout, is favored in her specialty.  She’ll get a good battle from 12-7 vaulter Aaliyah Walker of Westgate LA.
• Not to be forgotten in the girls long jump is 2012 runner-up Quanesha Burks of Hartselle AL, who hit a PR 20-1.25 here last year, a legal jump that stands as the official meet record.  She will also try and defend her triple jump title and score in the short dashes.
• The girls 4x800 could be a tough one, with Hoover, defending champ Mountain Brook, and McGill-Toolen (if Carlos runs this, too) all capable of sub-9:30.
• Lusher (New Orleans) sr Ricky Theyard is the favorite in the boys TJ with a 48-8.25 best.
• Austin Droogsma of Gulf Breeze FL was second in the shot last year and third in the discus.  He could win either or both this year, having now surpassed 60 in the shot and with a 193-0 PR in the discus from last year.