What Would Have Been: Boys 100m
AA
Four juniors were featured in last year's AA 100 meter final. Marlin Devonshire of Aliquippa went 10.85 to run away with the state title last year. After that, a number of sprinters would be looking to be next in line.
Southern Columbia's Julian Fleming was second last year in the state final, but the five-star wide receiver recruit noted that he would not be competing in track and field this spring as he prepares for his freshman season at Ohio State. But the three other returners were set for what would have been a great battle for the state title.
Brookville's Ian Thrush (fourth), Carlynton's Dequay Canton (fifth), and Motivation's Laminu Abbas (sixth) are a pair of strong seniors who were ready for a battle. Thrush went 10.81 (the fastest of any AA returner from last season) to win the D9 title last year, while Canton dropped a 10.83 in the state prelims last year. Abbas is fresh off a strong indoor season and he, too, would have contended here. Surely, this would have been a can't miss race for the state crown.
AAA
Shawn Brown of Central Dauphin East was looking to win his second straight state title in the 100 meters after winning a very close one for the crown last spring as a junior. Brown has proven to be a clutch performer, coming up big again in the winter to claim the state title in the 60 meter dash.
But this race was set to be very close and arguably one of the best of states weekend at Ship. Only one boy -- runner-up Luke Benson -- has graduated from last year's final, leaving a big group of contenders back this season.
Harrisburg's Kamere Day has the best returning time, a 10.48 from last spring. His teammate Donte Kent, fresh off a strong indoor season is another strong returner. Day was third in the state final, while Kent was seventh. Chambersburg's Tyeshawn Worrell (fourth), Mechanicsburg's Joseph Bruno (fifth), and Boyertown's Jamison Moccia (sixth) are all back from last year's state final.
Then if you factor in Upper Darby's Darlington Brooks, Wilkes-Barre's Rafael McCoy, Seneca Valley's Tyler Yurich and Upper Dublin's Jaden Price-Whitehead, just making the final would be quite the feat. It would really be anyone's race, but Brown has to be considered the favorite and the one to beat.