The 7 Athletes To Watch This Weekend On MileSplit

* Zofia Dudek ran 9:56 for 3,200m at the GVSU Big Meet last weekend in Michigan

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MileSplit's Weekend Watch Guide

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A fun, action-packed weekend is in store for athletes across the country. Below are seven athletes to watch in various meets. For more coverage and to watch meets LIVE, visit MileSplit.com. 

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Brahmir Vick, Middletown (DE) High School, 55mH

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Event: DIAA State Indoor Championships -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: Vick is currently US No. 3 in the 55mH with a time of 7.31 seconds -- and Delaware's current state record holder -- but he has yet to win a DIAA Indoor State Championship. The high school senior was upset by Leon Jett by four-hundredths of a second in 2019 -- and Jett is back in 2020 for the rematch. Vick remains the favorite, though. He's gone under 7.4 seconds six times in 2020, including three efforts under 7.35. He's improved by 0.32 seconds year-over-year. Jett has improved his best time from 2019, though will enter with a best of 7.58 seconds.

Sean Burrell, Zachary (LA) High School, 400m/60mH

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Event: LHSAA State Indoor Championships -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: Burrell will be competing in his first Louisiana State Indoor Championship since 2018 after injury knocked him out of this event last year. And he could be gunning for some history. The LSU signee sits at No. 7 on the all-time state charts in the 400m, with his effort of 48.29 seconds from 2018. But Burrell has gone as fast as 45.74 outdoors and ran 46.52 in limited action outdoors as a junior last season. Burrell has been winding up in the event, which means Desmond Johnson's state record of 47.42 seconds, which was set in 1995, could be in jeopardy. Burrell will also face a stiff challenge with Woodlawn's Lanard Harris in the 60mH. Harris is No. 3 in state history (7.97) while Burrell is No. 4 (7.98). Those times came in the same race on Feb. 8 at the LSU High School Last Chance Qualifier. The state record is 7.96. 

Zofia Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer (MI) High School, SMR/1600m

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Event: MITS State Indoor Championships -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: It remains to be seen which events Dudek will feature in at the MITS State Indoor Championships, but the Stanford signee won the 1,600m in 2019 and she currently ranks US No. 1 in the event with a time of 4:41.85. Word is that Dudek could feature as her team's anchor in the SMR, but also keep an eye out on the 800m -- she's run 2:08.34 for the distance. Dudek ran 9:56.72 for 3,200m last week, so it's less likely she goes back-to-back in that event. 

Other athletes to pay attention to on Saturday are Evan Bishop, Aasia Laurencin, Carter Solomon, Abby Vanderkooi, Nonah Waldron, Dylan Brown and Leeah Burr. 

Tess Stapleton, Fairfield Ludlowe (CT) High School, 55mH/LJ

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Event: CIAC State Indoor Open -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: The high school junior is currently her state's lead -- and state record holder -- in the 55mH, and also No. 2 in the long jump. So Stapleton could, ideally, go for the state double a week after securing those two titles at the CIAC Class LL Championships. She's the only Connecticut athlete to go under 8 seconds all-time. But doubling in the long jump will take some work. Canton High School's Chelsea Mitchell, a William & Mary signee who won the 55m, 300m and LJ in her CIAC Class S Championship, is her state's No. 2 all-time with a mark of 19-8.25. Stapleton would have to make up three inches from her PR of 19-5.5. If nothing else, the event will offer stiff competition. 

Korey Steele, Broomfield (CT) High School, LJ/4x400

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Competition: CIAC State Indoor Open -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: Steele is the younger of two prolific jumpers on his Broomfield team -- Sean Dixon-Bodie being the other -- but Connecticut doesn't offer the triple jump at its State Indoor Open, which gives Steele, who's the better long jumper, the inside track on a potential title. And Steele should keep his sights on 23 feet. While he's hit the mark once across 2020, going 23-feet even at the Hillhouse Invitational, it came two months ago on December 21. That ranks as the No. 28 best mark in the country. Steele has gone over 22 feet just once more since then, posting an effort of 22-1 in January. State competition should test the high school junior on Saturday. 

Gavin Sherry, Conard (CT) High School, 1600m/3200m

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Competition: CIAC State Indoor Open -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: Sherry has been unbeatable in Connecticut across 2020. But this will offer his first chance for a State Indoor Open title. If Sherry doubles, he'll likely face a familiar rival, Manchester's Aidan Puffer, who has yet to beat Sherry over the indoor season. But the two aren't far off. Sherry owns a PR of 4:15.72, while Puffer lands at 4:17.04. There's also Avon's Jack Martin, who's a third athlete under 4:20 with his PR of 4:19.82. If Sherry and Puffer go toe-to-toe in the 3,200m, the margin may be higher. Sherry has posted a PR under nine minutes, while Puffer's best is 9:09.06.

Lucy Jenks, Newton South (MA) High School, 1-Mile

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Competition: MIAA All-State Championships -- WATCH LIVE

Breakdown: Jenks will be looking for her third straight mile title in Massachusetts. And there's a chance she comes away with her best performance yet. The Stanford University recruit won the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Jan. 26 in Boston in a time of 4:47.83, though she ran a career best 4:45.93 last year at New Balance Nationals Indoor. So Jenks understands what's on the table at her state meet. She currently ranks No. 2 all-time on the state leaderboard, though she could be chasing -- either on Saturday or at New Balance Nationals Indoor in March -- the all-time state record of 4:39.00 by Lynn Jennings, who last accomplished that feat in 1978.

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