Like the jumping and throwing events, we haven’t seen most of the state’s top sprinters and hurdlers since June, adding intrigue and opportunity for runners to rise up the rankings. Based off last year, the shortest races could provide some of the biggest action.
55m
The State’s top returner, Alex Todorov of Xaverian, is the only sprinter coming back for the 2026 season that has run under 6.5 for the dash. He ran his PR of 6.45 to win the Catholic Conference and followed that up with a 6.46 to take the Division 1 Crown last season. If he can improve on that he’ll be tough to beat. The State Record of 6.24, set by South Hadley Great Jonas Clarke, may be out of reach, but a time under 6.40 could be possible.
Overall, nine other athletes across the Bay State return this season having run under 6.60. The top five are: Mekhi White, 6.53, Randolph, Aiden Bly, 6.56, Governor’s Academy (NEPSTA), Josiah Rodriguez, 6.56, Springfield Central, Liam Lemke, 6.56, Acton Boxborough, and Ryan Pulpi, 6.58, Reading.
Keep an eye out for Amir Hykel of Saint John’s Prep and Sean Blaze of Clinton. Hykel ran 10.76 last spring in the 100m, while Blaze is the top returner in the 55m from the Meet of Champions last season. Zayne Thomas of Attleboro could be the sleeper pick heading into this winter. While he has only run 6.71 in the 55m, he was runner up in the 100m outdoors, running 10.69.
In 2025 the winner at the Meet of Champions ran 6.46, well within the capabilities of this group. Expect and even faster time this season.
300m
Some familiar names appear again in the 300m. Ryan Pulpi of Reading tops the list of returners this season with his 34.38 PR from last winter. He enters this season with even more momentum after nearly cracking 48 seconds outdoors when he won the 400m at the Meet of Champs. Pulpi was runner up last season at the Meet of Champions in the 300.
He’ll be challenged by Lincoln-Sudbury’s Nicolas Begic, who also enters this season with a best under 35 seconds. Begic has wasted no time this season. This past weekend he opened his season with a 21.92 at the Early Bird Invite at the Track at New Balance. Begic was the 2025 200M champion in the spring. Cracking 22 seconds on an indoor track is impressive at any point in the season.
This sets up an incredible battle between the state’s best at 200m and 400m, meeting right in the middle at 300m.
The rest of the returning top five from last season are: Alex Todorov, 35.12, Xaverian, Anthony Graves, 35.28, Shepherd Hill, and Ethan Thevenin, 35.33, Lowell. Thevenin makes his second appearance after making our list in the long jump. Thevenin may be the most well-rounded athlete in the state, holding a PR of 1:57 in the 800m as well.
What will it take to win this season? Newton North’s Reese Connor set the state record last year, running 33.94. That record might not see its first birthday. Between Pulpi and Begic, there’s a good chance we see two runners under that record this season.
55m Hurdles
The competition in the 55mH is wide open. State record holder Lucas Andrade graduated, along with almost the entire field from the final at the 2025 Meet of Champions. The lone returning hurdler? Andrade’s teammate Jarred Mighty.
While we don’t expect anyone to duplicate Andrade’s season, Mighty must feel confident coming into this season after training alongside the state’s best last season. He enters this season with a best of 7.66. He’s not alone, as Hopkinton’s Harry Millar has equaled the same time.
The rest of the top five are: Simon Tandeih, 7.78, Lexington, Kareem Abdallah, 7.82, Andover, and Landon Adams, 7.88, Catholic Memorial.
This season could come down to who makes this biggest leap. While we don’t expect this year to be as fast as last season, a time in the 7.5 range is usually required to take the win at the Meet of Champs. Many of these athletes focus on other events as well adding a wrinkle to their prospects. Tandeih already appeared in our preview for the Long Jump, while Mighty runs everything from the 55m to the 600m. The Hurdles should be one of the most intriguing events to watch this season.
