By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Here are summaries of the first-round matchups:

TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

WEST REGIONAL

Desert Vista AZ 73, Fort Bend Marshall TX 63 

The Texas 5A champions from Missouri City, Texas are one of the nation's best programs for producing sprinters, hurdlers and incredibly fast relay squads. This year, the Buffaloes moved the stick around the 4x100 relay in US#6 40.35 seconds, the 4x200 in US#2 1:23.60 and the 4x400 in US#11 3:13.85. Gerard Holmes, Jonathan Howard, Kameron Williams, Chris Brinkley and Michael Patterson all contributed to those relays and in a dual meet format also come up big in the  100, 200, 400 and both hurdles events. But in the dual meet format, especially taking on a diverse Arizona Division 1 champion like Desert Vista, holes in the rest of the event proved costly. Desert Vista made up for losses in the sprints by sweeping the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 events. In the 800, DV's Gabe Parham, Ethan Bukowski and Noah Jodon demonstrated the middle and long-distance power of the group. In the field events, Desert Vista had a 26-point advantage and was unopposed in the pole vault, high jump and triple jump.  

Westmoore OK 76.66, Cleveland NM 55.33

Westmoore's US#12 4x200 relay group (1:25.15) was a point of pride for this year's Oklahoma Class 6A champions as Angel Duarte Hedrick, Xavier Simpkins, Devian King and Kevion Williams broke a 21-year old all-time state record. The 4x200 scored in the dual against New Mexico 5A champion Cleveland because it is a state championship event in both states. Westmoore sophomore Kolton Bennett is a rising star with 48.87 speed in the 400 and a best of 1:52.92 in the 800. David Boulanger kept the pressure on in the distance events, taking the 1,600 and 3,200 meters. Cleveland responded in the hurdles events, where Antonio Avila pulled out two close and high quality wins over Simpkins (14.31 to 14.33 in the 110s) and Jermaine Hardison (38.36 to 38.38 in the 300s). Cleveland swept the shot put and discus with Stratton Shufelt and Charles Sanchez going 1-2 in both events. Cleveland had the winner in all five of the contested field events but was still unable to recover from Westmoore's strengths in the sprints and relays.   

Orem UT 74.33, Grandview CO 52.66

One year after the Colorado Class 5A champions beat the Utah Class 5A champion (71.33 to 60.66) in a first-round dual, both teams returned to bracket for a high-altitude rematch. And this time, Orem pulled it thanks to advantages from 800 to 3,200 meters and in the throws, where Mark and Erik Bryant gave the Golden Tigers a nearly unbeatable two 60-foot throwers in the shot put. Orem also features one of the top distance runners in the state with junior Tayson Echohawk, who pulled off a triple against Grandview: 1:52.86 in the 800, 4:08.50 in the 1,600 and 9:12.52 in he 3,200. Grandview, however, outscored Orem 26-1 in the sprints, with David Maldonado and Evan Johnson going 1-2 in the 100 and 200 and Conrad Casebolt winning the 400 (49.01). Grandview's 4x100 relay (40.59) broke Colorado's all-time state record this spring and crushed Orem by nearly three seconds. However, Orem edged Grandview in the 4x400. As in 2021, a log jam in the high jump led to split points when Orem's Ethan Stoddard and Grandview's Zane Cole and Mateo Munoz all tied for second at 6-4. Orem's Carter Walker won it with 6-9.  

Dowling Catholic IA 65, Andover MN 58

Mikey McClain became Iowa's all-time record holder in the 100 meters (10.33) and 200 meters (20.97) this spring, and in combination with Jackson Heidesch in the distances (4:06 mile/9:01.29 3,200) the Maroons have one of the most lethal duos in state history. In spite of that, the Minnesota AAA champions showed the depth to hang with DC to the very end. Dowling Catholic won nine of the contested events, Andover seven. In every event but two, the points were split. Heidesch, Will Ryan and Tyler Schweizer went 1-2-3 for a sweep in the 3,200 meters. Andover made up for that with a sweep of the long jump. Standout Blake Nyenati contributed with wins in the two hurdles events, second place in the 100 and won the long jump. DC earned wins in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and Andover took the 4x400.  

Fresno Central CA 87.5, Walla Walla WA 48.5

The California state champions had five guys run under 10.9 in the 100 meters this spring, led by senior Jeremiah Walker (10.49/20.80w/46.81). That speed, including two blowout wins in the 4x100 and 4x400, proved lethal for the Washington Class 4A champions in the only Pacific time zone matchup. The Grizzlies from Fresno have supporting pieces as well, with sophomore Noel Felix in the hurdles events, Colin Garrett in the shot put (51-6) and Jabari King in the long and triple jumps. Walla Walla's standout, Dash Sirmon, won the long jump (24-0.50) and discus (162-8) and proved to be one of the best all-around athletes in school history. But he didn't get to participate in his best event, the javelin (219-4), because California doesn't include it. Ulimately, it wouldn't have changed the outcome against Fresno Central. 

Rock Bridge MO 74, Olathe North KS 71

A dual meet between these two state championship teams, located 145 miles apart, would have been very entertaining. Imagine Kansas 6A sprint champion Jacob Parrish (10.47w) taking on Missouri Class 5 champion Chris Giles (10.46), for starters. This matchup offers some significant contrasts. Rock Bridge dominated the distance events with Andrew Hauser, Weston Jokerst and Ian Kemey doing the damage, and won both relays. Olathe North outscored Rock Bridge 45-18 in the field events, led by Ian Quarles in the pole vault (14-6), Paul Rowden in the high jump (6-8). Josh Parrish (110 hurdles) and Jason Parrish (300 hurdles) also won events for the Kansans. 

Century ND 81, Sentinel MT 64

Century of Bismarck, N.D. advanced all the way to the national dual meet championship last year and graduated some of the important pieces of that special team. But there was enough remaining this spring to capture another North Dakota state title and also defeat the Montana Class AA champions from Missoula. The 800 meters, on paper, would have been a highlight, with Montana state champion Keagan Crosby (1:53.82) taking the victory over North Dakota runner-up Chance Bowlinger (1:54.53) and Century's Griffin House (1:55.93). Century's advantages in the field events were too much for Sentinel to handle. The Patriots have five 50-foot throwers in the shot put and two (Brooks Turner and Ryan Brynjolfson) 6-5 high jumpers. Sentinel's Zac Crews and Shaun Liechty went 1-2 in the javelin.  

Humble Summer Creek TX 89, Catholic (Baton Rouge) LA 47

The Texas 6A champions were revealed as a potential national champion in this format with the ease of their victory over a talented entry from Louisiana. Led by Darius Rainey (400/800), Darius Cook (high jump/triple jump), Aaron Davis (long jump), Justin Craft (shot put) and Myles Thomas (100), the Bulldogs proved to be a tough out. Catholic BR, the Louisiana 5A champions, hit Summer Creek in its week spot by sweeping the distance events, led by Harrison Thomas and Steven Mayer. The team's standout, Winston DeCuir, lost two elite matchups with Rainey. And exceptional hurdler Louis Rudge ran into Summer Creek's Donovan Bradley, who won both high quality hurdles races. 

EAST REGIONAL

Hoover AL 92, Memphis Central TN 44

The Alabama Class 7A champions are in the hunt for the championship again after winning the title in 2018. The Buccaneers had no problem getting by the Tennessee state champions in the first round, taking advantage of its balance across every event group. Memphis Central got wins from Jordan Ware in the 100 and 200 and also won the 4x100 relay. Dohnavan Hunt and Morcellous Harris went 1-2 for the Warriors in the 300-meter hurdles. But Memphis offered too little resistance in the field events and none in the distance races. That won't work against a Hoover team that has five guys who ran under 1:59 in the 800 this year, including Elijah Joseph. Also, sophomore Bradley Shaw won the shot put and discus for Hoover. 

Shenendehowa Central NY 70, Hillhouse CT 66

Two of the top teams in the Northeast, with contrasting approaches to scoring points on the track and in the field, proved to be a very competitive matchup. The New York state co-champions ran up a big score on Hillhouse in the track events, with sprinter Carter Cukerstein and distance runner Nate  Brimhall leading the way as Shen won every race on the track except the 4x400. Meanwhile, Connecticut's all-time best thrower, Gary Moore Jr, won the shot put (66-4.35) and discus (192-10) and Zyair Wali won the high jump and triple jump. 

South Lakes VA 83.66, Pickerington Central OH 43.33

South Lakes from Reston, Va. is the home of Alan Webb and so it makes some sense that the program remains strong 20 years hence in the mid-and long-distance events. In a dual meet against Ohio's Division I boys champion, the Virginia Class 6A champs proved dominant from 800 to 3,200 with Gavin Anthony and Spencer Line leading the way. South Lakes also dominated the throws with Jeremy Semelfort and Nick Bordovsky and the long jump with William Watson. For Pickerington Central, sprinter Troy Lane was a force in the sprints, with 10.25 and 21.09, and he helped the Tigers win the 4x100 relay. 

St. Thomas Aquinas FL 100, Clinton MS 45

There are very few holes in the St. Thomas Aquinas lineup and the Florida Class 3A champions were revealed as a true national championship contender while defeating the Mississippi Class 6A champions. The Raiders of Fort Lauderdale have terrific relays (41.06 4x100 and 3:12.80 4x400) and five guys who run under 50 seconds in the 400. Junior King Mack is a triple threat in the sprints with 10.65 in the 100, 21.43 in the 200 and 46.25 in the 400. Clinton's Tyler Nichols, one of the best high jumpers on the bracket, won his event at 6-10, and teammate Maxiumus Littleton led a sweep in the triple jump. 

Shiloh GA 81.66, Cuthbertson NC 54.33

The Georgia 6A champions are yet another team in the Southeast that has quality performers throughout the lineup and the potential to go far in the tournament. Shiloh has Swiss Army knife Christian Barker (200, 300 hurdles, 4x400 and long jump) and Nathan Solomon holding down the fort in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Cuthbertson swept the 100 meters, led by Reece Morgan, Killian Fahy won the 400. Shiloh's Isaac Prince-Oyakhire and Cuthbertson's Trevor Tate traded wins in the shot put and discus. 

Batavia IL 67, Plainfield IN 60

The Illinois 3A state champions were locked in a tight battle with the Indiana state champions but got some big contributions in the field events to win an upper Midwest battle. Jalen Buckley led a 1-2-3 sweep for Batavia in the long jump and Spencer Prats won the shot put and discus for the Bulldogs. Plainfield had its moments on the track, sweeping the 4x100 and 4x400 relays and out-racing Batavia in the sprints with Connor Maple and Nayyir Newash-Campbell picking up up big points in the 100, 200 and 400. Harrison Hrbek won both hurdles races for Plainfield.  

Butler Area PA 88, University of Detroit Catholic MI 39

CJ Singleton and the distance crew at Butler Area Senior High turned the tide for the Tornados against the Michigan LP Division 1 champions and domination in the field events turned the dual meet into a rout. Junior Jaiden Reed, a key component of the state championship 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams, won the 100 and 200 for the Cubs. Michael Mathis added a victory in the shot put. Tristan McGarrah led Butler to an unoppsed sweep of the pole vault and Tyler Rekich and Ryan Porch went 1-2 in the long jump. 

Salesianum DE 69.33, Union Catholic NJ 66.66

In an incredibly close dual between the New Jersey Non-Public A champions and the Delaware state champions, the Sallies of Salesianum pulled off the narrow victory. Who knew that on April 30 at Penn Relays, scattered among the hours of boys 4x400s, that this theoretical dual meet might hinge on what happened that day? Salesianum ran a season's best time of 3:20.40 and Union Catholic ran 3:20.61. The Vikings, of course, had designs on winning national titles in some other relays this spring, and did. The beefed up distance group led by Shane Brosnan and Jimmy Wischusen and Myles Plummer outscored Salesianum 24-3 in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Chris Gulotti gave the Sallies wins in the shot put and discus, Micah Wing won the high jump and Matthew Klous took the pole vault.