The 2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

MORE: Sprints | Long and middle distance | Throws | Jumps | Hurdles

Here are the five athletes selected in the jumps ((high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks.

(i) denotes indoor mark; all others outdoors.
Race distances in meters unless noted.

*RACHEL BAXTER
School: Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.)
Year: Senior
Distances, event: 14-3, pole vault

Tyra Gittens (Photo: George Walker IV, Tennessean)

TYRA GITTENS
School: Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Year: Senior
Distances, event: 6-0 3/4, high jump; 20-11 3/4i, long jump ( 2017)

JELENA ROWE
School: Bloom Township (Chicago Heights, Ill.)
Year: Senior
Distances, event: 6-1i, high jump (2017)

Tara Davis (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

*TARA DAVIS
School: Agroua (Agoura Hills, Calif.)
Year: Senior
Distances, event: 21-11i, long jump  (2017); 43-2, triple jump; 13.38 100 hurdles

JASMINE MOORE
School: Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)
Year: Sophomore
Distances, event: 20-3 3/4, long jump; 42-8 3/4i, triple jump (2017)

NEED TO KNOW:

Davis eclipsed the oldest high school field event record with a 21-11 long jump indoors this winter. The former mark of 21-7 1/2 was set in 1981 by Carol Lewis of Willingboro, N.J. Davis also won the New Balance nationals in the 60-meter hurdles in 7.56 (No. 3 all-time), beating outdoor record holder Tia Jones and Chanel Brissett. Davis took the long jump title there, too.

Versatile Tyra Gittens has scored 5,337 points in the heptathlon (No. 12 all-time high school). Rachel Baxter ranks No. 3 all-time in the pole vault at 14-3.

The 2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

MORE: Sprints | Long and middle distance | Throws | Jumps | Hurdles

Here are the four athletes selected in the sprints (100, 200, 400 meters). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks.

(i) denotes indoor mark; all others outdoors.
Race distances in meters unless noted.

Lynna Irby (Photo: Jenna Watson, IndyStar)

*LYNNA IRBY
School: Pike (Indianapolis)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 11.50, 100; 51.39, 400

JAYLA KIRKLAND
School: Woodlawn (Birmingham, Ala.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 11.41, 100; 23.15, 200

SYMONE MASON
School: Southridge (Miami)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 11.24, 100 (2017), 23.00, 400 (2017)

TWANISHA TERRY
School: Northwestern (Miami)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 11.24, 100  (2017); 23.00, 400 (2017)

Lauren Rain (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

*LAUREN RAIN WILLIAMS
School: Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 11.39, 100; 22.80 200

NEED TO KNOW:

Williams, the California state champion, led high school 200 runners last year at 22.80 (No. 6 in the world among all under age 20 women) before suffering a muscle injury and has been slow to return to action. Lynna Irby topped the 2016 list at 400 meters (51.39).

Simone Masson had early 2017 outdoor leading sprint marks in March.

The 2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

MORE: Sprints | Long and middle distance | Throws | Jumps | Hurdles

Here are the five athletes selected in middle and long distance (800, 1,500, mile, 3,000, 3,200, 2 mile). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks.

(i) denotes indoor mark; all others outdoors.
Race distances in meters unless noted.

CAITLIN COLLIER
School: Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Year: Junior
Times, events: 2:04.89, 800; 4:19.05, 1,500

Nevada Mareno (Photo: Kevin Morris, Photorun.net)

NEVADA MARENO
School: Leesville Road (Raleigh, N.C.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 4:18.48, 1,500; 10:00.44, 2-mile

Kate Murphy (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

*KATE MURPHY
School: Lake Braddock (Burke, Va.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 2:06.70i, 800; 4:07.21, 1,500; 9:10.51, 3,000

BRIE OAKLEY
School: Grandview (Aurora, Colo.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 9:56.06i, 2-mile (2017); 15:55.73i, 5000 (2017)

Sammy Watson (Adrian Kraus, Democrat and Chronicle)

*SAMMY WATSON
School: Rush-Henrietta (Henrietta, N.Y.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 52.69, 400 ’15; 2:01.78i, 800 `17; 4:22.09, 1,500

NEED TO KNOW:

Watson, the 2016 outdoor 800-meter leader at 2:02.91, erased the legendary high school indoor 800 record of 2:01.8, set in 1978 by Mary Decker — running 2:01.78 in a “pro” race at the Millrose Games in New York. Watson also broke the 600-meter record of 1:28.78 twice indoors, lowering it to 1:27.13.

Kate Murphy is the returning 1,500 meter leader and made it to the semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials. She won the 2016 USATF National Junior title at 3,000 meters.

Brie Oakley became the first high school runner to better 16 minutes for 5,000 meters indoors, winning the New Balance high school nationals in a record 15:55.75 in March. She also won the two mile at the same meet in a season-leading 9:56.06.

Union Catholic’s Sydney McLaughlin (Photo: Gannett New Jersey)

After becoming the USA’s youngest track Olympian in 40 years as a 16-year-old junior last summer, Sydney McLaughlin did not turn pro — as has been the norm for several high school record breakers in recent seasons.

The world junior (under age 20) recordholder in the 400-meter hurdles is competing as a senior at Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.) — but also running with the pros on occasion.

McLaughlin, the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year last spring, is the headliner on the 2017 ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team.

Others returning members of the 2016 ALL-USA team include 200-meter leader Lauren Rain Williams, middle distance star Sammy Watson, distance runner Brie Oakley, hurdler Jurnee Woodward, pole vaulter Rachel Baxter and jumper-hurdler Tara Davis. Watson, Oakley, and Davis also broke indoor records this winter.

The 2017 ALL-USA Preseason team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

The honorees are divided based on event. Follow the links below for each group; athletes are listed alphabetically.

Athletes marked with asterisks denote they were selected last year as well. Races are in meters unless noted. Field events are listed in feet and inches. (i) indicates an indoor performance.

Sprints

Long and middle distance

Throws

Jumps

Hurdles

The 2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

MORE: Sprints | Long and middle distance | Throws | Jumps | Hurdles

Here are the four athletes selected in the throws (shot put, discus, hammer, javelin). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks.

(i) denotes indoor mark; all others outdoors.

Alyssa Wilson. (Photo: Doug Hood, Asbury Park Press)

JOY McARTHUR
School: Dana Hills (Dana Point, Calif.)
Year: Senior
Distances, events: 203-7, hammer throw

JOSIE SCHAEFER
School: Baraboo (Wis.)
Year: Senior
Distances, events: 176-3, discus throw

ALYSSA WILSON
School: Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)
Year: Senior
Distances, events: 57-5 1/2i, shot put (2017); 175-1, discus throw; 191-2, hammer throw

MADISON WILTROUT
School: Connellsville (Pa.)
Year: Junior
Distances, events: 185-8, javelin ( 2015)

KATHLEEN YOUNG
School: Warrensburg-Latham (Warrensburg, Ill.)
Year: Senior
Distances, events: 52-4i, shot put (2017); 156-7, discus throw

NEED TO KNOW:

Wilson returns after recording the No. 2 all-time high school outdoor shot put, 55-9 1/4, in 2016. She has already thrown 57-5 1/2 with the indoor shot this winter to get that national record.

Wiltrout set the high school record in the javelin, 185-8, in 2015 but had an injury-hindered campaign in 2016.

The 2017 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Girls Track and Field team was selected by Fred Baer, founder of the Track and Field Writers of America, and Mike Kennedy, high school editor of Track & Field News.

MORE: Sprints | Long and middle distance | Throws | Jumps | Hurdles

Here are the four athletes selected in the hurdles (100, 300 and 400). Returning ALL-USA selections are denoted with asterisks.

(i) denotes indoor mark; all others outdoors.
Race distances in meters unless noted.

CHANEL BRISSETT
School: Cheltenham (Wyncote, Pa.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 12.95, 100H

*TIA JONES
School: Walton (Marietta, Ga.)
Year: Sophomore
Times, events: 12.84, 100H

Sydney McLaughlin (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

*SYDNEY MCLAUGHLIN
School: Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 51.61i, 400 (2017); 54.15, 400H

EMILY SLOAN
School: Rock Canyon (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
Year: Junior
Times, events: 13.40, 100H; 41.34, 300H

Jurnee Woodward (Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports)

JURNEE WOODWARD
School: Vacaville (Calif.)
Year: Senior
Times, events: 13.52, 100H; 40.62, 300H

NEED TO KNOW:

Both hurdle national record breakers return: Jones, who ran 12.84 in the 100 hurdles as a freshman last year, and 2016 U.S. 400 hurdles Olympian Sydney McLaughlin (54.15). Both were also world junior (under age 20) records. McLaughlin, the youngest U.S. Olympic team member in 40 years, continued her record spree indoors this winter, running the 400 meters (without hurdles) in 51.61 to erase her own mark of 51.84 set last year.

Chanel Brissett holds the 16-year age and junior class records in the 100 hurdles (12.95) — as one of only five high school athletes who have ever run under 13 seconds. In 2016, she had to “settle” for second-team All-USA honors in the tough event.

Ashwin Chona of Sage Hill (Newport Coast, Calif.) threw his third consecutive no-hitter Thursday in a 16-0 victory against Calvary Chapel (Downey), according to The Orange County Register.

Chona, a sophomore lefthander, had 12 strikeouts and no walks in a game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

That outing followed a no-hitter against Saint Rosa Academy in a 10-0 game, also shortened to five innings, and a 9-0 victory against Whitney (Cerritos).

According to the Register, he is 4-0 on the season with a 0.62 ERA, 55 strikeouts and 11 walks in 34 innings.

He is scheduled to pitch April 13 at Brethren Christian in his next outing.

The CIF record is four consecutive no-hitters, which has been done three times, most recently in 2011. The national record is six, which has been done twice, most recently in 1989 by Tom Engle of Fairfield Union (Lancaster, Ohio).

Christian Morgan, a safety from Porter (Texas), has big intentions when he went to The Opening Regional in Chicago last weekend.

He planned to put up at least a 140 on the Nike Football Rating, which combines 40 time, shuttle, vertical leap and a strength component. Instead, he posted a 144.0, the best in the nation thus far through eight stops. There are five more to come, including Sunday in Cleveland.

“I actually did expect to put up a big number at the camp,” he said. “I messaged The Opening and Brian Stumpf on Twitter and told them that I was going to put up a 140.

“I guess you can say that I called it,” he added with a laugh.

Those numbers and his performance in drills helped Morgan, who is 6-1 and 190 pounds, receive an invitation to The Opening Finals in Oregon in July. He previously attended two other Opening regional events before locking up the invite in Chicago.

“To get an Opening invite feels amazing,” he said. “I grew up watching The Opening on TV and it just feels good to know that one of my childhood dreams will become a reality in the summer.”

Despite being from Texas, Morgan took part in the Chicago regional. He was in the area for unofficial visits to Notre Dame and Northwestern.

“I’d already signed up for the camp just in case I wanted to go,” he said. “It turned out to be a good decision.”

He does not have an offer from Notre Dame among his 16 reported offers, although the visit made a big impression on him. He received offers from Baylor and UConn in the aftermath of his Opening Regional performance.

“Every camp or event I go to, I try to be a sponge and soak up as much knowledge as I can from all the coaches,” he said. “This will help me prepare mentally as well as physically for my senior season.”

Porter is coming off a 7-3 season after a 7-0 start. The team was eliminated by Port Arthur in the first postseason game.

“My goals for this fall are to be first team all-state and help my team win a state championship,” Morgan said.

Bishop Gorman has suspended football coach Kenny Sanchez pending the outcome of a review, the school president wrote in a letter to parents a day after he was arraigned on a domestic violence charge.

Sanchez was arrested this week on a warrant following an incident on Christmas Day involving ex-girlfriend Brooke Jade Stewart when he went to pick up their son at her home, court records show.

He is facing one count of one count of misdemeanor domestic battery in Las Vegas Justice Court.

School president John A. Kilduff wrote:

“You may have seen the stories in the news regarding allegations made against Coach Kenny Sanchez. We wanted to let you know that we take any allegations involving our faculty and staff very seriously. While we cannot comment on personnel matters, as is our standard practice, Coach Sanchez has been suspended pending the outcome of the review.”

The complaint for the Christmas Day incident was filed Jan. 23 and Sanchez failed to show for a Feb. 21 hearing, according to court records. That led to the issuance of a warrant. At Thursday’s arraignment, a bench trial was set for May 30.

Sanchez declined comment Thursday when reached by USA TODAY High School Sports. He referred questions to lawyer Ross Goodman, who responded with the following statement: “Mr. Sanchez is an outstanding coach and leader in the Las Vegas community and an incredible father.  There is absolutely no truth to any these allegations.”

Goodman said Sanchez was arrested after he had called police in a separate incident.

In his two years since succeeding his brother Tony, Kenny Sanchez led Bishop Gorman to back-to-back unbeaten seasons and Super 25 titles with a combined record of 30-0.

Sage Surratt (Photo: 247Sports)

A month ago, we told you about Sage Surratt, a senior two-sport athlete at Lincolnton (N.C.). 

On the basketball court, he averaged 34.7 points per game this season and finished as the No. 2 scorer in state history with 2,951 career points.

He managed seven 40-points plus games and three 50-points plus games this season and broke his own single-game scoring record with 57 points against Bandys (Catawba, N.C.) on Jan. 27.

On the football field, Surratt is the state’s career record holder in receptions (366), yards (5,926) and touchdown receptions (80). As a senior, caught 129 passes for 2,104 yards, both state records, and scoring 28 touchdowns in the fall.

Surratt’s post-high school plans focus on football — he signed with Wake Forest — and not basketball, but he had one more piece of history to make before he turns the page.

Surratt was named the Associated Press North Carolina Boys Basketball Player of the Year, earning seven of the 14 first-place votes.  In the fall, he was named the AP’s state Offensive Player of the Year.

It is the first time in state history that an athlete has won player of the year honors in football and basketball.

Jaylen Hands can dunk. We have seen it over and over this season and again during the McDonald’s All America Game dunk contest when he jumped over ESPN commentator Jay Williams.

Hands, a UCLA signee from Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.) took home the trophy in a dunk contest Friday night in San Diego by using his mom and dad as props.

RELATED: Jaylen Hands adds more cray dunks to his highlight reel

Father Ronnie and mom Ashanti came out of the stands and Hands soared over there with ease.

See the highlights below from BallersVision:

Mo Bamba had four blocks in the Nike Hoop Summit and is a game-changer defensively.

The 6-11 star from Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) has long arms and a freakish reach.

Bamba, ranked as the No. 5 player in the Class of 2017, remains uncommitted with the signing period beginning Wednesday.

This was supposed to be an alley oop on Friday night … until Bamba plucked it out of the air with one hand.

After his very public complaints about his sons’ high school coach at Chino Hills (Calif.), LaVar Ball is coaching son LaMelo in AAU.

Playing for Big Ballers, LaMelo had 38 points Saturday in the team’s first game at the So Cal Spring Tip Off event, which is the season opener. This is LaMelo’s debut with the program; he just completed his sophomore season for Chino Hills.

Older brother Lonzo was also at the event in support of his family.

According to the Big Ballers AAU website, LaVar and Tina Ball “founded the organization in 2013, out of their love for the game of basketball. LaVar and Tina enjoy training and mentoring youth to play the sport on a highly competitive level.”

Big Ballers is also the name of LaVar Ball’s planned sports empire and agency that will represent his three sons.

Here are LaMelo’s highlights from Game 1:

Sydney McLaughlin keeps breaking records at well, a record pace.

The 2016 Olympian from Union Catholic (Scotch Plains, N.J.) ran 38.90 in the 300 meter hurdles at the Arcadia Invitational in California on Saturday in her outdoor season debut.

That took more than a full second off the previous mark of 39.98 set in 2001 by Lashinda Demus, who would go on to win silver at the 2012 Olympics in the 400 hurdles, win and world championship and set the American record.

More amazing, this was the first time McLaughlin has run the hurdles at 300 meters. The distance is not typically run in New Jersey.

RELATED: Sydney McLaughlin on going fast and being a role model

McLaughlin, the reigning American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Track and Field Athlete of the Year, was named to the ALL-USA Preseason Team on Friday.

McLaughlin already had national high school records in the 400 hurdles outdoors and the 300 meter and 400 meter dashes indoors. She also ran a leg on an American all-star team that set the world record in the distance medley relay at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in January.

“I wasn’t thinking about records, just getting used to the length and leaving a lasting impression was my idea,” told The Los Angeles Times. “I take it one meet at a time, one practice at a time. I don’t look to the future.”

Depending on which recruiting service you ask, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2019 is either defensive end Xavier Thomas or quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Now the two will be college teammates.

Thomas committed to Clemson on Saturday, choosing the Tigers over South Carolina. Thomas, 6-3 and 255, is from Florence, S.C., but will play his senior season at IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.). He plans to enroll at Clemson in January.

Thomas attended Clemson’s spring game Saturday after visiting South Carolina last weekend. He initially planned to wait until his birthday in December to announce, but changed his mind.

“I have been talking to my family, and I just wanted to go ahead and get this out of the way,” Thomas told The State. “I knew Clemson was where I wanted to be, and I didn’t see a reason to put it off any longer. I knew in my heart this is where I wanted to be, and I know it’s the right decision. That is why I took those last two trips to South Carolina. I wanted to make sure. So I went back to Columbia, and after the visit last weekend I really knew for sure.”

Lawrence, from Cartersville (Ga.), also attended the Clemson spring game. Both he and Thomas posed for photos and signed autographs for fans.

Thomas is the second defensive end to commit to Clemson for the class of 2018, following four-star defensive end Justin Mascoll from Snellville, Georgia.

As a whole, Clemson’s recruiting class for 2018 is ranked fifth among all schools by 247Sports.

Zion Williamson, an American Family Insurance ALL-USA First Team selection as a junior, has become among the most coveted targets for North Carolina.

Coach Roy Williams attended many of Williamson’s game for Spartanburg Day (Columbia, S.C.) and Williamson was in town for the Duke-North Carolina game.

MORE: Zion Williamson is taking the nation by storm

Williams, who has hit the recruiting trail hard in the aftermath of the Tar Heels’ winning the national championship on Monday, visited Williamson on Friday. He was in Indiana on Thursday to meet with Romeo Langford.

According to Williamson’s Snapchat and captured on Twitter by fans, Williams brought his ring collection to show off. And there will be another big ring to add in the coming weeks.

Northwestern softball signee Kenna Wilkey added another dominant performance to her career at Reed-Custer (Braidwood, Ill.).

Wilkey struck out 20 of the 22 batters she faced in a seven-inning no-hitter against Westmont, according to the Daily Journal. Wilkey also went 3-for-3 in the 10-0 victory.

Only one batter put the ball in play, and that was a popup to Wilkey in the circle. She also had one walk to prevent a perfect game.

Her performance follows Gigi Mancha’s in California in which Mancha struck out 21 batters in a no-hitter. Mancha had three walks.

Amazingly, the 20 strikeouts is not Wilkey’s career high. Three years ago, Wilkey had 23 in an 11-inning no-hitter. Her team won the game 3-0 in a Class 2A sectional semifinal.

Wilkey entered her senior season with more than 700 career strikeouts and also hits better than .500 at the plate.

“Kenna mixes speeds well and spins the ball through the zone,” Northwestern coach Kate Drohan said after Wilkey signed. “We are looking for Kenna to have an immediate impact on our staff and to provide an offensive spark as well.”

Another former member of the vaunted University of Washington basketball recruiting class is heading to Missouri.

Blake Harris, from Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), announced his commitment to Missouri on Sunday via Twitter and will join No. 1 overall player Michael Porter Jr. with the Tigers. The signing period begins Wednesday.

Harris was released from his letter of intent March 21 after he requested to be let out following the firing of coach Lorenzo Romar.

Harris committed last July to Washington over an offer list that included Miami, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati, Memphis, Florida State, Iowa State, LSU, Ole Miss, Seton Hall, Georgia Tech, among others.

After reopening his recruitment, he chose Missouri over North Carolina State.

Harris is ranked as the No. 99 player overall in the ESPN 100 and the No. 20 point guard in the nation.

The Opening Regional rolled into the Cleveland Browns’ facility in Ohio on Sunday and four players received invitations to The Opening Final in July in Oregon.

The headliner is offensive lineman Jackson Carman from Fairfield, Ohio, who is ranked No. 4 in the ESPN 300 for the Class of 2018. Carman is 6-6 and 285 pounds and has 40 reported offers. Most expect him to land at Ohio State, but he recently tweeted that Clemson was his leader.

Ohio State commit Jaelen Gill, who is listed as a running back or an athlete depending on the rankings, also received an invite. Gill, ranked as the No. 1 all-purpose back by 247Sports, committed to Ohio State in March.

Tyrone Sampson Jr. was the lone non-Ohio player to earn an invitation. Sampson, from East English Village Prep in Michigan, is ranked as the No. 2 center by the 247Sports Composite.

Tyreke Smith, a defensive end from Cleveland Heights (Cleveland), represented the defense. At 6-3 and 260 pounds, he has 35 reported offers and is ranked among the top 10 players at his position.

The sons of Shaquille O’Neal and Manute Bol are playing together on the AAU circuit with Cal Supreme in the EYBL.

Shareef O’Neal, a 6-9 power forward from Crossroads School (Santa Monica, Calif.), and Bol Bol, a 7-footer from Mater Dei (Santa Ana) are already showing signs of what the teams on the circuit might have to deal with.

Plus, the two big guys are playing with Mater Dei’s Spencer Freedman, one of the top point guards in the West.

Here are highlights from their first games over the weekend via BallersVision.