Best of the best at Meet of Champs

The 60th annual Meet of Champions will take place today at Cyclone Stadium in Russellville.

Field events are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Running events will start at 3 p.m.

Seven state champions are entered in each event along with the next nine best athletes in running and field events, regardless of classification.

The 100 meters features Jonesboro senior Keshawn Andrews and Hamburg junior Tiana Wilson. Andrews won the Class 6A boys title with a time of 10.67 seconds. Wilson earned the Class 4A girls crown in 11.88.

Springdale Har-Ber senior Zack McWhorter, a Brigham Young signee, leads the boys pole vault field that includes Lake Hamilton sophomore Michael Harris and Trinity Christian freshman Rhett Nelson. McWhorter set a Class 7A state record in the event May 4 at his home stadium with a clearance of 16 feet, 10 inches.

Nettleton senior Rachel Milnes is one of the top competitors in the girls pole vault. Milnes set a Class 5A state record May 2 in Harrison (126). Lake Hamilton sophomore Edie Murray has the top clearance of any female athlete from last week’s state meets at 12-8.

England senior B. J. Thompson, who has signed a national letter of intent to play football at Baylor, is entered in three events — the triple jump, long jump and high jump. Thompson leaped 46 feet, 7 inches in the triple jump and 22 feet, 11 ½ inches in the long jump at the Class 2A state track and field meet May 2 in Conway, winning those events, while finishing second in the high jump (6-2).