The Class 3A, Region II track and field championships on Monday at McNeese State University will be an early bird preview of what might come at the state meet the following week at LSU.

The top three boys teams — Glen Oaks, Lake Charles College Prep and Parkview Baptist — and the four of the top five girls teams — Parkview Baptist, St. Louis Catholic, University Lab and Madison Prep — from last year’s Class 3A state meet will compete for the regional title.

The LCCP boys won the title last year, beating Glen Oaks by 10 points, but Glen Oaks took the state championship the next week, beating the Trailblazers by 17 points.

“I tell my kids that we have to run two state meets in a row,” LCCP track coach Jackie Rhine said. “Whoever wins the regional meet will have a great chance of winning state.

“The top two teams here will probably be the top two teams at state. It is very competitive from the field on to the track. We have some of the best 400-, 200- and 100-meter runners in the state at this meet.

“(Glen Oaks) is still a pretty good team. One thing I know is (coach Johnny Duncan) is going to have his kids prepared. My kids can’t afford not to be at their best. Parkview is loaded with the distance runners and they have a few field guys.”

Many of the top athletes in Class 3A will be competing, especially from the Lake Area.

LCCP has the No. 1 200-meter dash runner in Ayden Carter (21.29) and 300 hurdler in Kalen Antoine (39.89). They also have the top 4×100 (41.85) and 4×800 (8:22.20) teams.

Glen Oaks leads the 4×200 (1:27.92) and 4×400 (3:22.36), while Parkview Baptist’s Aiden Monistere leads 3A in the 800 (1:54.38) and 3,200 (8:49.84).

St. Louis Catholic’s Hannah Boullion is the top female 400 runner in Class 3A at 54.50 seconds. The Saints also lead 3A in the 4×100 (48.15), 4×200 (1:40.43) and 4×400 (3:59.94).

Parkview Baptist, the 2024 girls 3A state champ, has strong distance runners in Molly and Lucy Cramer. Sophomore Lucy Cramer is the top seed in the 3,200 (10:56.08), while freshman Molly Cramer is the leader going into the 1,600 (5:00.17) and 800 (2:16.16).

Despite their strength in the running events, Rhine said the boys title could be determined by the field events. Cameron Brazzle (45-3) and Braylon White (44-10) are ranked Nos. 2-3 in the triple jump in 3A. White is the No. 3 long jumper (23-0).

“I think the field is going to determine if we can win state or not,” Rhine said. “That is the most nervous part right now.

“The track guys will take care of themselves. We have some pretty good high jumpers that came on late and two of the top triple jumpers in the 3A. If anyone is going to beat us, they have to beat us in the field. It is going to be tough on the track. If they perform, we should win regionals and state.”