A year removed from medalling with seventh- and eighth-place finishes in the boys' 300- and 110-meter hurdles, respectively, Steven Coleman should be a strong contender for state titles this time around.
The North Callaway junior will compete in both events when the Class 3 state track and field championships begin today at Lincoln University's Dwight T. Reed Stadium in Jefferson City.
Coleman prevailed in both the 110 and 300 hurdles with respective times of 14.55 and 39.77 seconds at last Saturday's Sectional 2 championships at Troy Buchanan High School. Coleman had the top qualifying time in the state in the 110 hurdles and third-fastest in the 300 hurdles.
The preliminaries for the 110 hurdles are at 12:30 p.m. today, with the finals scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Qualifying in the 300 hurdles is set for 3:55 p.m. today, while the finals will be at 2:25 p.m. Saturday. The top eight times move on to the finals.
Meanwhile, a pair of Fulton athletes - seniors Madison Washington and Hayley Tobias - will compete in the Class 3 girls' division. Washington qualified in the shot put and Tobias advanced in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.
Washington took first place in the shot put with a throw of 36 feet, 4 inches at the Sectional 2 championships. The state shot put final is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.
Meanwhile, Tobias finished fourth in both the 100 hurdles (:16.19) and 300 hurdles (:49.48) in sectional competition. The state prelims in the 100 hurdles will be at 12:50 p.m. today, with the finals scheduled for 12:40 p.m. Saturday. Qualifying in the 300 hurdles is set for 4:10 p.m. today, while the finals will be at 2:35 p.m. Saturday.