Class 5A

Athlete to watch: A&M Consolidated's Keri Wood is competing in the 1,600 meters.

Relay team to watch: No Brazos Valley 5A team qualified.

Team to watch: Wood is the only competitor among 5A teams, giving Consol a 10-point potential.

Best storyline: Wood runs her final race for the Lady Tigers and has a rematch with The Woodlands' Sarah Andrews, who held off the Wood to win at the Region II-5A meet.

Class 4A

Athlete to watch: Brenham sophomore Will Antkowiak has recorded the best times among the state finalists in both the 3,200 and 1,600 this season. He has the best sophomore time in the nation in the 1,600.

Relay team to watch: No Brazos Valley team qualified.

Team to watch: Brenham's boys. The Cubs have a 40-point potential, behind Lancaster's 96-point potential.

Best storyline: Derek Edwards' regional triple jump of 48-1 has pushed him into state medal contention, but the best line revolves around Kendrick Washington, who ran a hand-timed 10.2-second 100 earlier this year. He has a shot at winning among a closely bunched field.

Class 3A

Athletes to watch: Caldwell's Macy Osburn and Rockdale's Krysten Brooks have had a career-long series of showdowns and will meet one more time in the 100 hurdles. Brooks won at the Texas Relays. Osburn had the edge at district and regionals this year, but Brooks is the returning state finalist.

Relay team to watch: No Brazos Valley relay team qualified.

Team to watch: The Caldwell girls lead the Brazos Valley contingent with a 20-point potential.

Best storyline: Brooks is the daughter of Tony Brooks, who won state in the 110 and 300 hurdles for Rockdale in 1985.

Class 2A

Athlete to watch: Lexington's Clint Hutson has a rare chance to focus on one event, making a return appearance to state in the 110 hurdles.

Relay team to watch: No Brazos Valley team qualified.

Team to watch: The Lexington boys have a 30-point potential.

Best storyline: Centerville's Isabel Reyes is the first Brazos Valley athlete to compete, starting at 8 a.m. Friday in the 3,200. She might have qualified in the 1,600 at regional, too, but bypassed the event to be in hers sister's wedding.

Class A

Athlete to watch: Bremond senior LiDarral Bailey concludes a remarkable all-around high school career by competing in the long jump, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 1,600 relay.

Relay team to watch: The Normangee Panthers won silver in the 800 relay, and three of their relay members return. Kolton Relles fills in for Dillon Wolfe on a team that includes Justin Mullinnix, Landon Hodges and Jordan Mullinnix.

Team to watch: The Bremond boys have a 70-point potential with serious medal contenders.

Best storyline: Bremond's Johnathan White, a state finalist in the 800 as a freshman, returns in that event and also runs the 400 and 1,600 relay.

-- David Campbell