As we enter the middle part of February, it is time for some of the best prep talent in the eastern part of the country to descend on the campus of the University of Kentucky for another edition of the UK High School Invitational. Each year, it seems, this meet’s heritage becomes more impressive as many of the best marks in the country are achieved on the notorious blue oval in Lexington and last year was no different. Athletes like Kendell Williams (Kell HS, GA), Briana Nelson (J.L. Mann, SC), Julienne McKee (Lassiter HS, GA), Margo Tucker (Lawrence Central HS, IN), Paul Malquist (Gainesville HS, GA), Tyler Anderson (Hillsboro HS, TN), Nick Kaiser (Temperance Bedford, MI), and Colby Alexander (Strongsville, OH) used wins at this meet as a springboard to national success last year. Now, several of those talented athletes return to start the spring cycle again, while an impressive list of newcomers hope to stake their claim at a meet that has become more notable over each of the past several years.
The hottest names coming in on the girl’s side might both share a similar sounding (though differently spelled) first name. Kendall Baisden (Detroit Country Day, MI) has been performing at the highest level of high school track and field for several years now, but the sophomore is having as big a year as ever, to this point, with performances ranking in the top-five nationally at 60, 200, and 400 meters. She laid down a 54.46 for 400 meters in Akron, then a 24.58 over 200 meters at the University of Findlay (OH) before finishing an impressive three-weekend streak with her 7.46 for 60 meters at Bowling Green State University. Baisden will attempt to lower her nation-leading 400 meter time of 54.46 before doubling back in the 200 meters.
Kendell Williams (Kell HS, GA) was a double winner in the hurdles at New Balance Nationals last summer, but she has made her lasting mark to this point on the AAU Junior Olympic scene. Look through the hurdle records for the Sub-Youth, Youth, and now Intermediate Divisions and you will see Williams’ performances in almost every instance. Last year, she continued to work on her other interest, the Intermediate Heptathalon, and after winning the pentathlon the year before, she won the heptathalon this past year by almost 500 points. Williams is entered in the high jump, long jump, and the 60-meter hurdles this weekend and is a threat to win all three.
Williams’ toughest match-up of the weekend may come in the long jump, where Amber Dandy (Red Bank, TN) enters as the top seed. Dandy recently competed for Team USA at the Germany-Japan-USA Trilateral Friendly Indoor Meet, held in Osaka, Japan, based off of her 2010 season’s best 20-0.25 leap, which helped her claim the Tennessee Division 1 Class A-AA state championship. She admittedly wasn’t in peak form for the trip, but the fact that she was invited is a statement towards her great talent and she will definitely look to use that experience and build upon it this weekend.
While we are discussing the jumps, make sure to pay attention to Marquis Dendy (Middletown, NJ), who is having a season to be remembered to this point. Last year’s New Balance triple jump champion posted the third-longest leap in prep history at the DIAA Indoor Championships, reaching 52-1.5 for the win. Competing in Japan for Team USA just a week previous, Dendy popped a national leader in the long jump, reaching 24-8.75 to claim the win at the international friendly in the process. It will be a challenge for Dendy to leave his mark on this meet, though, as the meet records are held by a couple of top ten all-time performers in Dendy’s future University of Florida teammate, Christian Taylor (LJ, 25-00.25), and former USA Junior National Champion Jason Ward (TJ, 51-10.75).
Jennifer Madu (Plano East, TX) is the headliner in the girls’ triple jump and has a growing resume of her own. Madu, who was the 3rd-place finisher at Texas’ 5A Championships in the triple jump and 100 meters last year, hit 40-6.25 last year and has already posted a 39-3.25 performance this indoor season. Her 11.54 PR in the 100 meters is good for tops on the 60 meter performance list for this weekend’s event as well and it was only confirmed by her early season 7.58 performance over the 60 meter distance at the Texas A&M Open. Madu’s best competition in the 60 may come from Georgia Tech signee Jamilah Middlebrooks (Sandy Springs, GA), who was 4th here last year, while University of Virginia signee Jordan Lavender (University School, TN) will do her best to pull the upset and begin her climb towards a repeat of last year’s three individual state titles (100,400, and LJ).
Joe Fisher (Valley Center, KS) sits tied for 5th in the nation with his 6.90 performance in the 60 meters at Kansas State earlier this winter. The University of Auburn signee’s outdoor performances from The Great Southwest Classic are enough to make him the top seed in both the sprints this weekend (100m in 10.44 and 200m in 21.17), but Torri Tillman (Peachtree Ridge, GA) and Jadon Short (Oak Ridge HS, TN) have both posted indoor performances that will push Fisher for sure. Sean Sutton (Our Lady GC, MD) is another to watch and he leads us into the deepest race of the day, which is at 400 meters.
The top five entrants in the Boys 400 meters have one specific thing in common: they all finished among the top twelve in the 400 meters at New Balance last summer. O’Neal Wanliss (Holy Innocents, GA) leads the group, while previous World Youth team member Quincy Downing (Glenville, OH) finished just one-tenth behind Wanliss at New Balance as the pair finished 6th and 7th respectively. Downing is scheduled to double back in the 800 meters where Kevin Byrne (Red Bank Catholic, NJ) is lined up to bring some strong competition.
Gabrielle Anzalone (Grand Blanc, MI) highlights the distance events as the national leader at 5000 meters (17:16.48) is entered in both the 1600 and the 3200, the latter of which she claimed last year. Michelle Thomas (Glen Este, OH) is back to battle Anzalone, just as she did last year, in the 3200 meters and we can only hope for another thriller like the one that unfolded last year.
University of Oregon signee Matt Jablonski (Loyola Blakefield, MD) and University of Tennessee recruit Jeremy Dickie (Swartz Creek, MI) headline the mile and 2-mile fields on the boys’ side, with sub-4:12 standouts Wade Voyles (Chapel Hill, GA) and Jason Crist (Franklin Central, IN) adding excitement to a mile race that will have to be pretty intense to match the one that unfolded last year. Jablonski will be looking to continue the Ducks’ hold on the mile title since future teammate Colby Alexander shattered the mile meet record last year after committing to run for the Oregon program.
There’s definitely something for everyone at this year’s edition of the UK High School Invitational, so stay tuned for updates, interviews, and plenty more from the meet this weekend.