2005 Nike Outdoor Nationals - Preview Samuels in his last high school meet, for all the marbles. Tarheel sprinters could be the show in home venue Thursday - June 16, 2005 Contributed to NCPrepTrack.com by David Pickett of WNCPrepTrackxc.co.nr Is this a North Carolina show? The top three NC runners are the top three seeds at this weekends Nike Outdoor National Championships, at Greensboro NC A&T. Friday night, Mt. Tabor senior J-Mee Samuels, West Brunswick senior Jerek Hewett, Shelby Crest senior Travis Padgett, will square off in the 100 meters. Heres the shake down in the 100-Meters. Samuels has been beat this year at 100 meters, but hes fresh off his 10.07 + 4.1 wind reading win, two weeks ago at the Great Southwest in New Mexico, and hungry for some more action. Samuels was the fastest in the US last year after his 10.25 at AAU Region III in Knoxville, this fall he will be headed to Arkansas. Hewett won the 3-A state meet, with a time of 10.40, he was second to Samuels at the Great Southwest meet, with a time there of 10.35 +4.1 wind reading. Padgett won the 3-A state meet his freshman year, he was second to Hewitt at this years state meet, but his best high school victory came two years ago around this time, at the Golden South in Florida, when he shock LSU freshman Xavier Carter in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.55. Padgett also record a personal best time of 10.46, last summer at the East Coast Russell Blunt Invitational in Greensboro. Also keep an eye out for West Caldwell senior Willie Perry, Perry headed to Florida in the fall has a personal best of 10.44 convert from hand, with no wind information. Hewitt is US#2 in high school, and #5 on Jim Spiers US Junior National Leaders, Samuels is #2 on Spiers list from last years performance over the summer. US Junior Nationals is set for next weekend in sunny Cali. Heres the shake down in the 200-Meters. Ok if J-mee doesnt win the 100- meters Friday night, then most likely Samuels will be matchless in the 200. After his stellar performance in the 100-meters at GSW, Samuels pulled out another personal best of 20.32. US#1, US Juniors #2, behind Florida State freshman Walter Dix, who Samuels beat at last years national championships, in the 100-meters, during prelims. Dix is US Juniors #1 in both the 100-meters and 200-meters. Samuels has the #5 national all-time in both indoor and out. Samuels was national champion indoors, 4-A state champion at 200-meters in May. Peep this though Samuels has lit up the track since his freshman days. 200 meters by a freshman: 20.99 (national record) 100 meters by age 15: 10.42 200 meters by age 14: 21.54 If theres anybody who will try to race with Samuels from NC, it would be Hewitt or Perry. Hewitt was 3-A state champion in this event, Perry has been 2-As state champion, for the past two years in the 100 and 200 meters. Both about 21.3 speed. According to Trackshark.com, primary a website dedicated to college track and field athletes, on one of the discussion forums most viewers pick Samuels winning the 100-meters, with an national record, winning 200-meters as well, if challenge at all it would be friend from Georgia senior Justin Oliver. Olivers main event is the 400-meters though.

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