ESPN RISE

PRIME-TIME PLAYERS

WYATT LANDRUM
Landrum won the 3,200 at the North Coast Section championship meet last year with a time of 9:11, and his time of 9:15 at the state meet was fourth best among underclassmen.

MAURICE VALENTINE
The 6-foot-3 Valentine has won the 110 hurdles at the NCS meet two years in a row, and he's cleared 7-feet in the high jump. He could contend for state titles in both events this spring.

KATIE NELMS
Nelms could make waves in three events at the state meet  the 100, the 100 hurdles and the 300 hurdles. She is the Bay Area's best hurdler, and one of her goals is to qualify for the 2009 IAAF World Youth Team.

ASHTON PURVIS
Purvis is a national superstar and the defending state champion in the 100. She finished second in the 200 last year, and winning both events should be within reach this season.

COACH'S TAKE

AN AREA COACH ON ASHTON PURVIS:
"No one is going to touch her for the next two years, but she doesn't act like the best. Really, she's just competing with herself. She could be running for the Olympic team in four years and you wouldn't know it from talking to her."