Georgia's top high school boys track and field athletes: Meet the state’s best hurdlers

By Darren Nichols | Photo by Ben Ennis

Over the past few weeks, we've been taking a look at some of the top track and field athletes in Georgia.

We started with the top sprinters in the boys division, then focused on girls sprinters, followed by the best distance runners in the boys division and girls division.

Next up were the best boys throwers, followed by the best girls throwers. Then we featured the top jumpers in the boys division and the top jumpers in the girls division.

The last group up is the hurdlers, and we'll start with the boys.

There are hundreds of standout hurdlers in Georgia, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive! Tag us on Twitter or Instagram at @SBLiveGA and let us know about other athletes worthy of fans’ attention.

Note: Many athletes excel in multiple events, but we won't do write-ups on the same athlete on multiple lists.

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Eric Barker, Shiloh

Just like the more high-profile Barker at Shiloh, Christion, Eric Barker excels in the hurdles and jumps. Eric, a junior, has the third-fastest 400-meter hurdle time in the state this season, while the senior Barker holds first.

George Benjamin, Shiloh

Benjamin hit his PR of 14.51 in the 110-meter hurdles at the Gwinnett County Championships. That time is the seventh best in the state.

Joshua Crum, Brookwood

Crum’s recent PR of 38.55 boosted him into one of the top 10 times in the state in the 300-meter hurdles.

Bryce Dopson, Brookwood

Dopson’s recent time of 38.06 in the 300-meter hurdles gave him the third-fastest time in the state.

Michael Fleming, Oglethorpe County

Fleming holds Oglethorpe County’s 110m Hurdles record at 14.71 and he did so as a Sophomore. This is his Junior season and he has the tenth best 110m time in the state.

Davonte Jackson, Luella

Jackson took home gold in the 300-meter hurdles at the Henry County Championships with a time of 38.80, which is good enough for ninth in the state.

Keonte Knight, Parkview

Knight is showing out in his junior season. His PR of 14.52 in the 110-meter hurdles broke Parkview’s previous record that had been standing since 2010.

Nasia Lee, Dutchtown

Lee is tied for the fifth-fastest 110-meter hurdles time in the state at 14.37, which is a PR and good enough for second in Dutchtown history.

Malik Mixon, Westlake

Mixon has the fastest 110-meter hurdles time in the state at 13.87. He's the reigning 6A state champ in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.

Victor Payne, Buford

Payne is turning up the heat in his senior season. Last year he placed fifth in the 6A state championships with a time of 14.83 in the 110-meter hurdles and has now dropped his PR to 14.37.

Bryce Southerland, Shiloh

Yet another Shiloh star, Southerland hit a PR in the 110-meter hurdles (14.05) at the Gwinnett County Championships, good for second best in the state this season.

Marc Stampley, Starr’s Mill

Stampley was last year’s 300-meter hurdles runner-up in the 5A state championship. The excellent long jumper has the seventh-fastest 300 time this season and hasn’t hit his PR.

Isaiah Taylor, Southwest DeKalb

Taylor placed second in last year’s 5A state championships in the 110-meter hurdles, and he has dropped his time this year to 14.33.

Ja'sai Taylor, Richmond Hill

Taylor holds Richmond Hill’s 300-meter record with a time of 37.65, and he has the fourth-fastest time in the state. He also holds the fourth-fastest 400 time at 58.79.

Xzaviah Taylor, Southwest DeKalb

Southwest DeKalb’s other star hurdler, Taylor has a top 10 time in the 300 with his recent PR of 38.38.

Eric Toviave, Cartersville

Toviave ended last season with a PR in the 110-meter hurdles of 14.43 and the fifth-fastest time in the state. He has not surpassed his PR this season, with a top time of 14.80.

Jaden Virgin, Martin Luther King Jr.

Virgin is on the hunt for M.L.K.’s 300-meter hurdles record. His recent time of 38.95 pushed him into second all-time and is the 10th-fastest time in the state.

Caleb Walker, Holy Innocents'

Walker is fifth in the state in the 400-meter hurdles and set a Holy Innocents' record at 1:00.38.

Makai Williams, Brookwood

Williams has made a huge jump in his senior season, as he has improved his PR in the 110-meter hurdles to 14.30, the third-best time in the state.

Jaden Wolf, Carrollton

Wolf’s recent PR of 14.59 in the 110-meter hurdles has him at the ninth-fastest time in the state. Wolf is looking to build on his 6A state championship appearance last year.