Brooks PR Invitational Preview: Boys Sprints

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

A collection of the top sprinters and hurdlers in the country will arrive in Seattle this week for the Brooks PR Invitational. Here’s a look at how the races are shaping up in the Boys 100 Meters, Boys 400 Meters and Boys 110-Meter Hurdles:

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Boys 100

Meet record: 10.29, Christian Coleman (2014)

The star performers from several state meets will clash in what could be one of the most exciting races of the evening.

Christian Shakir-Ricks, who starred last week at the CIF Finals and carried Murrieta Mesa to the boys team championship, will arrive riding a wave of momentum. He won the 200 meters and anchored the winning 4x400 relay. He was third in the championship 100-meter final, running 10.54 in the final.

Two of the fastest sophomores in the country will both get huge opportunities to step up on a national stage. Marcellus Moore of Plainfield North enjoyed a huge moment at the Illinois state meet when he doubled 10.31 and 21.30 to claim a sweep of the Class 3A sprint finals.

Likewise, Micah Williams of Benson Tech put together the best performances of his young career in the Oregon 6A finals, breaking meet records with 10.42 in the 100 and 21.19 in the 200.

The fastest times in the field have been booked by Jais Smith of Mansfield Legacy TX, who clocked a wind-aided 10.23, and California state meet runner-up Asani Hampton of Yucaipa, who has run 10.26.  Taylor Banks of Miramar FL ran 10.26 last week at the Great Southwest Classic in Albuquerque, N.M., finishing second to national leader Anthony Schwartz.

Junior Dorien Simon of Lakes is undefeated in Washington and won the Class 3A title in 10.53 seconds.

Seth Holloway of Fayette County GA ran his best time of the season back on March 24 at the Carrollton Invitational, 10.39 seconds.  

Boys 400

Meet record: 46.01, Jamal Walton (2017)

Sophomore sensation Sean Burrell of Zachary LA has continued his rise toward stardom this spring, lowering his time in the 400 meters below 46 seconds. Burrell ran a season-best 45.74 to become one of the fastest 10th graders ever May 1 when he won the Class 5A title at the Louisiana state meet. It was Burrell’s third weekend in a row in the 45s.

Two of the players in the epic Texas 6A final – when three guys went under 47 seconds – will see their first significant action since May 12. State runner-up Matthew Boling of Strake Jesuit TX, who finished second by .01 seconds at the state final, is US#4 with a season’s best time of 46.15. Nathaniel McRae of Conroe Oak Ridge, a junior, was third in that race in 46.97.

Justin Long of Parkview GA, the Class 7A champion in Georgia, is US#3 with a best of 46.14 seconds.  Another Georgian, Fayette County’s Trey Johnson, is the Class 5A champion and is ranked US#5 with 46.37.

Lakyron Mays of Dallas Carter TX, the Class 4A Texas champion, and Canadian Vaughn Taylor, who won the Saskatchewan provincial championship last week, add depth to one of the best fields in the meet.

110 Hurdles

Meet record: 13.52, Isaiah Moore (2014)

All eyes will be on Eric Edwards Jr of Houston’s Langham Creek, who will be making his season debut after recovering from an injury that interrupted his 2018 season.

Edwards is the junior class national record holder and won the Pan Am U-20 Championships gold medal last summer competing for the U.S. But he hasn’t finished a race since Feb. 11.

Ayden Owens of North Allegheny PA is one of the top all-around athletes in the country and will take his decathlon skills to USC in the fall. He recently broke the Pennsylvania record in the 110 hurdles when he ran 13.69 in the state finals.

Job Mayhue of East Kentwood MI is coming to Seattle with momentum after winning the Michigan Division 1 state title last weekend with 13.99. He has a season-best time of 13.83.

Jamar Marshall of St. Mary’s CA (Stockton), only a sophomore, ran a best time of 13.68w at the TCAL Championships. He’s looking for a chance at redemption after a false start at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters meet.

De’vion Wilson of Hutton TX is returning to form again after missing the last month of the Texas regular season with an injury. He won the Division II hurdles title at the Texas Relays on March 31 with 13.72w.

Westlake GA teammates Cameron Murray and Rainey Anderson will occupy two of the lanes in this race. Murray has run 13.82 this season and Anderson was the Georgia Class 7A runner-up and owns a best of 14.05.

Jurrian Hering of Gig Harbor has a big opportunity to face national competition after running 14.21 to win the Class 3A Washington title.