Mansfield Timberview's LaKeidra Stewart's time of 23.26 at the 5A Region I meet tops the nation and gives the Texas signee momentum as she tries to unseat 2007 champion Erica Alexander of Friendswood Clear Brook.

Arlington Martin's Pam Vinson, who was seventh at state in 2007, is back as the No. 2 seed (24.30).

Skyline's Candace Jackson is coming off a solid victory at the 5A Region II meet and is seeded third (24.30).

Right behind Stewart in the national standings is Fort Worth Dunbar's Ashley Collier, who ran a season-best 23.27 in the 4A Region I prelims. She'll be up against a loaded field that includes Houston Wheatley's Dominique Duncan and Houston Yates' Nicquel Thomas, the second- and third-place finishers in Austin last year.

TIFFANY TOWNSEND: Killeen