By Mike Newman for DyeStat

Here are the summaries of the first-round meets:

WEST REGIONAL

Rancho Verde CA 77.5, Las Vegas Centennial NV 58.5

The California state champions put themselves in a hole during the field events as Centennial had a 38.5 – 15.5 lead. The Mustangs fought back sweeping the 100-meter dash and the 1,600, closing the gap to only two points. A win in the 4x100 relay put the Mustangs ahead for good. Two individual wins by Isaiah Cunningham in the 100 and 200 were big helps.

Mt. Spokane WA 81.5, Oregon City OR 64.5

It was their strength in the field events (46.5 - 16.5) that gave the Washington 3A state champions the clear advantage in this meet. Jacob White helped with wins in the long jump and triple jump and scoring in the 100-meter dash. Hayden Dressel also helped the Wildcats with wins in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200.

Blue Springs MO 84, Legacy ND 70

This was one of the closest of all the first-round meets as the two teams were tied at 70 points with two events remaining. The Missouri Class 5 state champions swept the 3,200 meters, led by the individual win by Victor Mugeche and a win in the 4x400 relay moved the Wildcats to the second round.

Manvel TX 81.33, Union OK 50.67

Union had the advantage after the field events with an 11-point lead (28-17). The Texas UIL 5A state used their speed on the track to pull away for the win. It was a sweep in the 1,600 and 1-2 finishes in the 800 and 3,200 that gave Manvel the lead for good.

Great Oak CA 81, Chandler AZ 55

National distance power Great Oak used their strength in the three distance events to win in this meet. Their 27 points in those three events were difference makers. Chandler had a one-point advantage in the other contested events.

Billings West MT 68.5, Fountain-Fort Carson CO 67.5

The Montana Class AA state champions had a 32-22 lead after the field events. Fort Carson took the lead after a 1-2 finish in the 200-meter dash and 1-3 finish in the 3,200 giving the Colorado 5A state champions a four-point lead (67.5 – 63.5) heading into the 4x400 relay. A three-second win by Billings West gave them a 68.5-67.5 win.

Davis UT 79.5, Rocky Mountain ID 47.5

Rocky Mountain closed the lead on Davis to one-point (32-21) heading into the 1,600. A sweep led by the win by Connor Jones gave the Utah 5A state champion the lead for the rest of the meet. Eli Beard won the shot put and the discus as well as Xakai Harry winning the long jump and the high jump helped he Darts move to the second round.

The Woodlands TX 131, Baton Rouge Catholic LA 20

All that needs to be said is that the Texas UIL 6A state champions had a 51-2 lead after the field events. The Highlanders rolled into the second round with the most commanding win of all the first-round meets.

EAST REGIONAL

Edwardsville IL 81, Louisville Male Traditional KY 64

The Illinois 3A state champions prevailed based off the strength of their field events. They outscored Male 36-17 heading to the track events. The key on the track was that the Tigers scored in every event except for the 4x400 relay.

Thomas Worthington OH 95, Providence Central RI 38

It was an easy win for the Ohio Division 1 champions as they outscored Providence Central 38-7 in the field events. Khalil Jones is one of the top athletes for the Cardinals as he won the long jump and the 110-meter hurdles. Their distance squad was also strong sweeping the three distance events, along with winning the 4x800 relay.

Bullis MD 74, Oscar Smith VA 56

It was closer than the final score showed as Bullis pulled away on the track for the win. It was close after the field events as Bullis had a 26-17 edge. Wins by Eric Allen Jr. in the 100 and 200, along with his freshman brother Ashton Allen winning the 400 were keys for the Bulldogs’ win.

Carmel IN 75, East Kentwood MI 57

The Indiana state champions were behind 27-18 after the field events but their strength showed in the distance events outscoring East Kentwood 30-2 in the four races. A win by Spencer Gudgel in the 400 and a sweep in the 300 hurdles, led by Jalen Walker, put the Greyhounds in the lead for good.

Hoover AL 76, Miramar FL 65

The meet was close throughout as Hoover only had a 40-37 lead after the 100-meter dash. Wins in the 1,600 and 3,200 by Tommy McDonough were keys on why the Buccaneers moved on in these championships. Marlon Humphrey was another key for Hoover as he won the triple jump, 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.

Memphis Central TN 82, Huntington NY 45

It was close for the Tennessee AAA state champions early in this meet as they only had a six-point lead (30-24) after the field events. A win in the 4x800 relay, a 1-2 finish from Josh Owten and Rashad Haynes in the 110 hurdles, and a sweep in the 100-meter dash, led by Haynes’ win, gave the Warriors the advantage. Haynes also won the 200.

Westlake GA 80.5, West Forsyth NC 60.5

West Forsyth had a 33.5 - 20.5 advantage after the field events. Westlake caught up in the first five track events tying the meet with a win in the 4x100 relay. The Georgia 7A state champions pulled away in the next four events outscoring West Forsyth 30-6. The 1-2 finishes in both hurdle races by juniors Cameron Murray and Rainey Anderson were some of the reasons why the Lions move on in this championship.

Franklin NJ 97, Newton North MA 52

This meet was decided in the field events as Franklin Township had a 41-21 lead. Sweeps in the 110-meter hurdles and the 400 gave the New Jersey Group 4 champions a comfortable lead. Marlo Heslpo led the Warriors, winning the 100, 200 and 400.