DeSoto junior Skylar White is the defending 5A champion and a top candidate to haul in gold again in 2008. White's top throw this season was 46-8 ½ . Her stiffest competition may come from Houston Westbury's Ifeatu Okafor, the top-seeded thrower in 5A at 46-4 ¼ .

Irving junior Zaquita McClanahan, who is making her state debut, improved her throws by four feet in the span of four weeks and had a season-high 45-9 at the District 7-5A meet.

Mesquite Horn teammates Kelsi Baker and Kelsey Samuels are making their debuts at state after finishing 1-2 at the 5A Region II meet.

Lancaster's Esme Walls demonstrates the depth of a program that has won seven consecutive 4A titles. In a year when Lancaster will be challenged fiercely by Fort Worth Dunbar and others, every point counts. And Walls, seeded sixth, could be an X factor.

MICHELLE CARTER: Red Oak