We have made it! For the final time this season, the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas will host the top track and field athletes in the state this Saturday for the 2023 Arkansas High School Indoor State Championships. With outdoor track on the horizon, this will be the last chance to improve upon their personal bests before we take things from the 200m banked tracks to the 400m oval.
Shawn Chairs from Elkins High School returns to defend his 60m dash title from a year ago. Chairs enters Saturday's event with a time of 7.15, which is not only the top seed in 3A but the eighth fastest time entered in the event going into this weekend's championship and will look to capture his second 3A state championship.
The 2021 and 2022 3A Cross Country state champion Kaleb Eskew from Jessieville High School returns to the indoor state championship to defend his 800m title from last season. Eskew enters with a 2:03.95 seed time in the event, which would likely be enough to capture his second consecutive title. Eskew is also entered in the 1600m and 3200m events. Seeded at 4:40.74 and 10:25.36 respectively, Eskew enters Saturday's championship events with a chance to do something special and pull off the exclusive distance triple.
Dax Goff from Booneville High School is back in 2023 to defend his long jump and triple jump indoor state championships from a year ago. Goff owns the fifth-best triple jump mark entered in Saturday's state championship meet, having jumped 42-11.5, and is the clear favorite to win the event in 3A. Goff will also compete in the 400m dash and shot put events and has the potential to add even more championships to his collection this weekend.
Max Meredith from Greenland High School will defend his indoor and outdoor state championships in the shot put this weekend. Meredith owns a mark of 48-7.75 in the event, which is good enough for the fourth-best seed in the entire state for Saturday's meet and will be the favorite to win a third straight 3A shot put championship.
The 3A girl's 60m and 200m dash events will have the spotlight on them this weekend as it was among one of the best competitions at this event last season. Lakenya Williams from Ashdown High School and Madelynn Morrow from Central Arkansas Christian battled in two very close races last year. Williams finished first in 60m and second in the 200m, while Morrow finished first in the 200m and second in the 60m. The 60m dash event came down to milliseconds last year and could be just as exciting this year if Williams and Morrow are entered by Friday's deadline.
While neither individual has declared for the event yet, Viola Kelly from West Fork High School is the name to watch, as she is entered in the 200m dash with a time of 27.15, which would have been enough to win last year's race by 0.84 seconds. Kelly is also entered in the 400m and 800m races for this Saturday's championship meet.
Ashdown High School has yet to enter their athletes in this year's indoor state championship meet, but have until Friday, February 17th at 6:00 pm CST to do so. Ashdown tied for the most championship wins last season with Waldron High School with four. 2022 state champions Jeana Parades, who won the triple jump and pole vault championships, and Raven Pounds, who won the pole vault championship, are both eligible to return to defend their titles for Ashdown in 2023 and could help their team win the 3A girls team championship as well.