Top talent set for 5A track meet

CHS, Dutchtown among favorites

Teams expect the competition to get tougher once the district track meets are completed. The Class 5A, Region 2 track meet set for Thursday at Catholic High School might just take things to a whole new level.

“I know I’m partial, but I think this is going to be the toughest regional in the state,” Catholic coach Pete Boudreaux said. “In a lot of the events you have guys and girls who are bunched together so close.

“You’re going to have some outstanding people who qualify. But only three get to go to state, so in some cases some awfully good people will be left at home.”

Field events start at 1:30 p.m. at Catholic, followed by running events at 3:30 p.m. The meet is one of two Thursday involving local teams. The other is the Class 4A, Region 2 meet at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The week will also end with two more regional boys golf tournaments — the Division I-5A, Region II tourney at Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary and the Division III-3A, Region II tournament at BREC’s Beaver Creek Course.

Dutchtown’s Terry Hughes leads the list of entrants in the boys field events for the 5A regional.

Hughes, an LSU signee, has the top marks in all three throwing events.

Alabama football signee Landon Collins and Corey McBride, both of Dutchtown, have the top marks in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Competitors for several schools are expected to square off in the distance events for the boys and girls.

Baton Rouge Magnet High’s Mikiah Brisco has the top entry marks in three girls events — the 100-meter hurdles, 100 and 200.

Catholic edged Dutchtown by six points at last week’s District 5-5A meet. Those two teams along with 4-5A champion Zachary and runner-up Walker are among the boys teams to watch.

Girls teams to note include 4-5A champion Zachary, 5-5A champion St. Joseph’s Academy, Baton Rouge High, St. Amant and Mandeville.

CLASS 4A, REGION 2: Field events start at 3 p.m. at ULL, with running events scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

District 6-4A team champions Broadmoor (boys) and Plaquemine (girls) help lead the local contingent. Plaquemine’s Tori Williams won three girls events at the 6-4A meet last week — the 100, 200 and high jump.

PHS’ Hakeem Deggs won the boys 100 and 200. St. Michael’s Alexis Pickney (triple jump, pole vault) and Tyler Row (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles) are other girls competitors to note.

Boys golf

DIVISION I-5A, REGION II: Tee times are at 8 a.m. at Copper Mill. Four of the top five finishers at last week’s Boys Metro Tournament are scheduled to compete, including champion James Hubicz of Catholic High.

Zachary’s Peyton McCulloch and Drew Patin along with St. Amant’s Blake Gautreaux are the other top metro finishers entered in the regional meet. Catholic edged Zachary by three strokes to win the Metro title.

About 20 schools are entered.

DIVISION III-3A, REGION II: Tee times are 8 a.m. at Beaver Creek.

Brek Ballentine, who finished 17th at last week’s boys metro tourney, is among the local golfers to watch.

Parkview Baptist’s Jake Phelps and West Feliciana’s Davis Field are among the other local competitors.