Nyjari McNeil (Junior, Franklin)
McNeil captured her first indoor state championship in the 500 meter dash as a freshman in 2015, and the titles have kept on coming ever since. In her first two years of high school she has won a total of five state championships, four of them coming as a sophomore in 2016. Moreover she has performed admirably on the national stage, finishing third last year in the Emerging Elite 800 at New Balance Indoor Nationals and qualifying for the Championship 400 at the same meet.
Entering her junior indoor season McNeil will have a chance to defend her 3A 500 and 800 titles, as well as go for the 3A state meet record in both events. She fell within a half-second of both records at last year's meet, and while winning states is always an accomplishment, she will almost certainly have her eyes fixed on those marks heading into this winter.