High school track preview

TRACK AND FIELD

GIRLS TO WATCH

• Kanellar Carney, East Literature, Jr. Won last year's Class A/AA pentathlon while also winning the high jump and placing in the top three in the 100 and 300 hurdles.

• Mychelle Cumings, Hunters Lane, Sr. The Liberty signee has won the past three Class AAA shot put titles and the past two discus titles.

• Sarah B. DeLozier, Ensworth, Sr. Finished second in Division II in the 1,600 (5:04.88) and 3,200 (11:32.80), while also qualifying in the 800.

• Jordan Lavender, USN, Sr. The Virginia recruit won Division II titles in the 100 (11.86), 400 (54.90) and long jump (18-101/4).

• Veonka Manning, East Literature, Sr. Finished second in Class A/AA in the 100 (12.00) and 200 (24.82).

BOYS TO WATCH

• Tyler Anderson, Hillsboro, Sr. Ranked among the top three nationally in the long jump and triple jump. Third in last year's Class AAA 200.

• Chris Charles, CPA, So. Won the Class A/AA pole vault and placed sixth in AAU nationals with a 13-6 effort.

• R.J. Ellison, Independence, Sr. Ran the lead leg on the Eagles' 4x200 and the anchor on the 4x400, both of which won Class AAA titles.

• Quamel Prince, Antioch, Jr. Swept AAU and USA Track & Field age-group national championships in the 800. Second in AAA meet.

• Steve Wade, Brentwood, Sr. Won the Class AAA shot put and should also contend in discus after qualifying at 170-7 as a junior.

STORY LINES

• Cane Ridge's Janetra Gleaves, The Tennessean 2010 female track athlete of the year as a junior, is expected to miss the season as she continues to recover from a torn right Achilles suffered prior during basketball practice in October. The Vanderbilt signee won the Class AAA pentathlon and the 100- and 300-meter hurdles last year while also scoring points in the 100 and high jump.

• M.L. King's boys will go for a Class A/AA three-peat. Their win last spring, combined with the Lady Royals' state title, gave the school the first sweep of both crowns since Brainerd in 1999. Senior sprinter/jumper Jalyn Burr and a trio of juniors— pentathlete Amia Butler and sprinters Jasmine Owens and Leslye Williams, a Brentwood Academy transfer — should anchor the MLK girls' chances. Sophomore distance runner Sam Klockenkemper should help keep the boys competitive along with seniors Sam Brobeck (800) and Lyle Burns (discus/shot put).

• Brentwood will try to repeat as Class AAA boys champ. East Tennessee State signee Steve Wade could win the discus and shot put, and junior Jake Lazas steps in for his brother, Kevin — The Tennessean 2010 male track athlete of the year — in the decathlon. Senior Patrick Kellett will be a mainstay on the 400 and 800 relays and possibly run those open events as well, and junior Paul Stuart is the team's top distance runner.