* Bryan, Cory and Olivia discussed the GHSA Track and Field Championships on the most recent episode of On The Line
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The Georgia State Championships:
May 13, 6:20 p.m. CST: 1A Private-2A-7A
May 13, 6:20 p.m. CST: 1A Public-3A-4A
May 13, 6:00 p.m CST.: GHSA 5A-6A Wheelchair
After a year hiatus, the Georgia High School Association Track and Field Championships are back in full force.
This weekend across the state, all seven classifications will take off as athletes compete for hardware.
As always, it should be a doozy.
While states likes Texas, Florida and California routinely develop some of the best athletes in the country, the Peach State isn't far behind.
From a national perspective, in fact, Georgia often develops some of the nation's top talents.
And there is no better way for athletes to showcase that ability then at the state championships. Below, we profile seven of the state's top state-title candidates heading into the weekend.
Zack Truitt, Landmark Christian School
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Events: 400m, 800m, 1,600m
Truitt has exploded this spring, with career-best marks at four different distances, including nationally-competitive marks in the 800m (1:51.62) and the 1,600m (4:06.69). That latter time, in fact, has moved all the way up to US No. 3, and its put Truitt, a Georgia Tech signee, along some elite company.
But perhaps what's notable beyond those times is the 400m, where Truitt has also qualified for his Private 1A Championship with a PR of 49.37.
This weekend, Truitt might have an opportunity to chase some elusive class records.
Bradley Favors, Stephenson
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Events: 200m, 400m
Nothing is guaranteed, sure, but Favors looks to be the favorite in the Class 4A 200m and 400m, where he's racked up impressive times of 21.26 and 47.07, respectively, over the season.
Recency will work in his favor, too, as he's coming off his season- and career-best performance in the 200m with that 21.26 at the sectional championships.
But it was no fluke, either, since Favors had dropped sub-22 performances on his last five outings at the distance.
The 400m, however, is where we could see some true magic happen. Favors is just seven-hundredths of a second away from a 46, and he currently ranks US No. 7 at the distance.
Sydney Harris, Buford
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Events: 200m, 400m
Sydney's last name may sound familiar. Her highly-accomplished older sibling is Kimberly Harris, who currently competes at the University of Southern California.
But it might not be long before Sydney starts churning out similar performances. As a sophomore, she cracked sub-24 for 200 meters at the Gwinnett County Varsity Championships -- hitting 23.98 on the clock (above) -- and did one better in the 400m, producing a career best time of 54.17 seconds.
Harris might not be the favorite in the Class 6A 200m, where she finished second to freshman Adaejah Hodge at the sectional championships, but she's certainly in the picture.
And there's a good chance Harris could once again author another personal record in the 400m.
Sully Shelton, Harrison
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Events: 800m, 1,600m, 3,200m
This will be Shelton's last opportunity to grab a state championship in Georgia. But it won't come easy. He'll have capable targets in Class 7A, where he'll go up against Syracuse signee Kamari Miller in the 1,600m and 3,200m, as well as East Coweta's Logan Ray in the 800m.
Somehow, we have a feeling Shelton will put together something special. This season has seen the University of North Carolina recruit log personal best times of 4:07.42 in the 1,600m, along with another brilliant performance of 8:52.72 in the 3,200m.
If Shelton unlocks the right race plans, he might walk away with three titles.
Adaejah Hodge, Alexander
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Events: 100m, 200m, LJ
What a freshman year it's been for Hodge. She leads the state with wind-legal marks in the 200m and long jump, while she's ranked No. 3 in the 100m.
She could walk away with a couple of state titles when the weekend is all said and done.
She owns personal best times of 11.70, 23.64 and 19-5.75, and fittingly is qualified for all three events at the Georgia State Championships.
But in Class 6A, there's always a healthy dose of talent -- like Sydney Harris -- and Hodge will have to execute on race day.
Dainsus Miller, Creekside
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Events: 300mH, TJ
The Class 5A Miller is unmatched in the triple jump, where he unloaded for a personal best mark of 48 feet, 10 inches in April at the regional championships.
While he first needs to concentrate on executing his phases and getting a clean mark off the board, he has the potential to reach the annals of Georgia history. Only 10 athletes have reached 50 feet all-time.
Meanwhile, Miller is one of 15 athletes to have broken 39 seconds in the 300mH, and he will look to capture a possible second title in that event.
Hannah Miniutti, Blessed Trinity
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Events: 1,600m, 3,200m
Right now, the University of Colorado recruit is No. 8 in Georgia history in the 3,200m, having recorded a time of 10:30.84 in April at the regional championships.
It's fair to say she could potentially go after the all-time state record of 10:16.05, which was accomplished by Emily Reese in 2007.
In the 1,600m, meanwhile, she could be eyeing another dip under five minutes. Miniutti owns a personal record of 4:57.99.
Two years ago, she won her first Georgia Class 4A title in the 3,200m. She followed with a cross country title the following season.