Carter Cheeseman
School: Fort Worth Christian (TX)
Year: Junior
Event: 1600m
The Skinny: This is fast becoming Cheeseman's breakout year in cross country and track and field. Following bids to both Nike Cross Nationals and Foot Locker Nationals, where he was an All-American, Cheeseman won his first big Texas track race at the Texas Distance Festival, kicking to the line in the nation's top 5K effort of 14:36.60. Now the bigger test will be whether he can cut down in a fast race. He'll line up in the 1600m eyeing an improvement from his best of 4:16.02. But considering that he's coming off that big tempo effort in the 5K, it might be difficult to do so. This could an interesting first look at what kind of talent Cheeseman truly has, and whether he can separate from being a really good distance runner to one of the best in the country.
- - -
Keishawn Everly
School: Fort Worth Trimble Tech (TX)
Year: Senior
Event: 100m, 200m
The Skinny: Everly is certainly fast, but is he anywhere close to his 100m all conditions best of 10.14 seconds from districts last April? That's what we all want to figure out. His wind-legal best in the 100m is 10.32 (1.4) -- a standard addition to an all conditions mark is 0.15, so that time is in the ballpark --- but Everly is a year wiser, stronger and motivated. He's likely hoping to return to that form -- possibly to silence doubters -- and might try to meet those expectations at the JS Relays. He's also racing in the 200m, though Everly hasn't gone under 21 seconds just yet. His all-conditions best is 21.19 seconds from 2016 and his wind-legal best is 21.84 (+1.6).
- - -
Glenn Bender
School: Allen (TX)
Year: Senior
Event: 200m, 400m
The Skinny: If Bender is to become Texas' next great 400m runner, he will need to answer those questions on Saturday. Right now he's run 48.42, which ranks No. 12 in the state, which puts him behind the state's No. 1 time of 47.85 by Alief Taylor's Devin Williams and Dallas Carter's Lakyron Mays, who's gone 47.93. Bender does have the ability. He went 47.22 seconds in last July's USATF Region 12 Championship and split a career-best 21.66 seconds in the 200m over the indoor season. Saturday should be a good indication of where Bender is at.
- - -
Eric Casarez
School: Keller Central (TX)
Year: Senior
Event: 1600m, 3200m
The Skinny: Seeded first in the 3200m and fourth in the 1600m, Casarez could continue his comeback tour after an injury sidelined him for much of the cross country season. He finished fourth in a loaded Texas Distance Festival boys 5K, and now will have his eyes on improving on a 3200m best of 9:18.70 and 1600m time of 4:20.39.
- - -
Event: Boys 4x100
School To Watch: Lancaster 40.28
The Skinny: Lancaster has run a best of 41.12 at the DeSoto Nike Invitational, which ranks just fourth in the state of Texas. But do we seriously think Lancaster is happy with that? Please. The boys from Lancaster will be shooting for a sub-41 second effort. The relays could position the team well for that.
Event: Girls 4x400
Schools To Watch: DeSoto, Duncanville
The Skinny: This race could be the highlight of the JS Relays. Final race. Final day. The No. 2 and No. 4 best teams in the state right now. Duncanville has a No. 2 mark of 3:46.43, while DeSoto is No. 4 in 3:46.58. But the Eagles haven't put their big guns into this race just yet. Look for DeSoto to try and drop Cypress Springs (TX) state- and nation-leading time of 3:44.09 at the relays.