The 2016 installment of the Dogwood Track Classic is really going to put all others to shame. This year the sprints, field, hurdles, relays and of course distance races are stacked with the best athletes in the entire nation.
The headline event though will be the 800m dash this year. This event had four guys who should all break 1:50 this weekend including national record holder Drew Hunter. He is joined by Alex Lomong (FUMA), Brandon McGorty (Chantilly), and AJ Ernst (MA). Needless to say this race is going to be fast and strategic.
The girls' main event could actually be faster as it relates to records as Weini Kelati, Rachel McArthur, and Libby Davidson are all squaring off in an epic 3200m showdown. If the weather cooperates and she really wants to run, Weini could dip well under 10:00 this weekend and shatter Erin Keogh's meet and state record.
Speaking of meet records though, Emma Call (Maggie Walker) is seeded at 2:12 just off of Sarah Bowman's 2:10 meet record set 12 years ago.
In the shorter races Lauryn Ghee (Grassfield) enters as a heavy favorite in both the 200 and 400 while her teammate, the G.O.A.T, Grant Holloway is entered in the 200, high jump, and 110H. He is going to have tough competition though in the 200 from Brandon Thomas (St. Chris) and Michael Davenport (Woodberry Forest).
In the field events things don't settle down either though as many state champions are entered in this weekend's competition which should make for a couple new state leading marks and distances.
The relays will also be speedy with both distance and sprint powerhouses converging on Lannigan Field this weekend. The biggest matchup is definitely Bethel and Lee-Davis in the 4x400 with Bethel seeded at 3:17 and Lee-Davis at 3:21. Both can run faster and this could be an early preview of the race that decides the 5A team title this spring.
The girls' distance medley is going to be very fast as well with E.C. Glass finally unleashing their full squad in this relay, a relay that they seem to be built for.
Our favorite event though this weekend will definitely be the 2,000m steeple chase. 24 boys and 10 girls are entered in that competition.