NC Track and Field: teams, storylines, athletes to watch on state championship weekend
Charlotte-area teams will aim to continue their dominance over track and field in North Carolina in the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s state championship meets Friday and Saturday.
Six of the eight state team champions last year came from the Charlotte area, with Cuthbertson and North Lincoln sweeping both the boys’ and girls’ championships in their classes.
Repeating that sweep will be a challenge, as both schools have moved to larger classifications — Cuthbertson from 3A to 4A, and North Lincoln from 2A to 3A.
All of the state meets will be at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.
Meanwhile, Providence Day will be trying to repeat as Division 1 team champion in boys’ and girls’ competition at the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association state meet in Mount Olive.
Here is all you need to know to prepare for this weekend’s action:
The details
When: The 3A and 2A state meets are Friday, and the 4A and 1A athletes compete Saturday. Field events begin at 10 a.m., with most running events beginning at 1 p.m.
Where: N.C. A&T, Greensboro.
Defending team champions: In 4A, it’s Millbrook (boys) and Olympic (girls). In 3A, Cuthbertson swept both titles. In 2A, North Lincoln swept the titles. In 1A, it’s Mountain Island Charter (boys) and Swain County (girls).
5 questions to be answered
What will Akala do?
Harding High junior Akala Garrett swept the 110- and 300-meter hurdles titles in 4A last year and also ran on a winning relay team, earning Most Valuable Athlete honors. This year, she has the fastest qualifying times in both hurdles events and the 200-meter dash. She could sweep three individual events and give the Rams plenty of team points.
It’s the final time for Garrett to run against Cardinal Gibbons hurdler Taylor McKinnon, who has repeatedly finished second to the Harding standout. McKinnon is a senior.
Can Cuthbertson step up?
The Cavaliers dominated 3A, but how will it go in the bigger size classification. Cuthbertson swept the boys’ and girls’ team titles in last week’s regional meet. The Cavaliers look stronger in girls’ events than in boys.
Can the Pirate complete a sweep?
Porter Ridge junior Jacob Laney is among the nation’s top distance runners and has the top qualifying times in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter events in 4A. Weddington’s Isaac Clark might give him a run at 1,600 meters.
Will West Meck challenge?
West Mecklenburg is dropping to the 3A ranks this year, and Hawks’ senior Sanu Jallow has the No. 1 qualifying times in the 100, 200 and 400 meter events. A sweep of those races will give her team plenty of points.
Can Trevin Moyer be caught?
Moyer, a senior, is a big reason why Mountain Island Charter is poised to repeat as 1A boys’ team champion. He has the top qualifying times at 100, 200 and 400 meters. The biggest threat for him could come from a teammate, Jaylin Milton-Hall, a senior who has the No. 2 time at 100 meters.
6 to watch
Blaise Atkinson (Lake Norman Charter, 3A boys): This senior lives up to his first name. He is more than a second faster than the next-fastest entrants in the 110- and 300-meter hurdle events.
Kenneth Byrd (East Burke, 2A boys): A sophomore, Byrd has pole-vaulted 15 feet this season. That’s better than anyone else in the state, in any size classification.
Brittany Ellis (North Rowan, 1A girls): Ellis, a sophomore, ranks No. 1 in qualifying in the shot put and discus.
Graham Guteknecht (South Mecklenburg, 4A boys): Guteknecht figures to have a real battle with Cuthbertson’s Carson Hegele in the pole vault. Both these seniors have top efforts of 14 feet this spring.
Cheyla Scott (Butler, 4A girls): Scott, a junior, is the favorite in the high jump and long jump. Her top high jump of 6-2 is 4 inches better than the next-best performance.
Aniya Woodruff (Hickory Ridge, 4A girls): Woodruff anchors 4-by-100 and 4-by-200 teams that are favorites in those events.
The favorites
4A boys: Cuthbertson, Mount Tabor, Rolesville, Leesville Road, Cardinal Gibbons.
4A girls: Cuthbertson, Panther Creek, Wakefield, Cardinal Gibbons, Harding.
3A boys: Dudley, North Lincoln, Croatan, West Henderson, Southern Nash.
3A girls: North Lincoln, Durham School of the Arts, West Carteret, Dudley.
2A boys: Eastern Wayne, Northeastern, Bandys, East Burke, Cummings, Wilkes Central.
2A girls: Camden, R-S Central, Cummings, West Stanly.
1A boys: Mountain Island Charter, Pender County, Lejeune, Albemarle, North Rowan.
1A girls: North Rowan, Mountain Island Charter, Pender County, Pamlico.
Private school finals
The N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association’s state meet will take place Friday (preliminaries) and Saturday (finals) at Mount Olive College.
Defending champions: Providence Day boys and girls in Division 1; Forsyth Country Day in Division 2; O’Neal School boys and Victory Christian girls in Division 3.
Favorites: Providence Day is the big favorite in Division 1, although Cannon School could challenge the Chargers in the boys’ competition. Forsyth Country Day again looks strongest in Division 2, with Division 3 wide-open.
Athletes to watch:
Spencer Mermans (Charlotte Country Day): A senior, Mermans is among the state’s best in the discus and the shot put.
Christopher Peal (Providence Day): A junior, Peal won the 100 meters and was third in the 200 meters at last year’s state meet.
Teri Pridgen (Cannon School): A sophomore, Pridgen leads the Cougars’ girls’ squad. She is a title contender at 100 and 200 meters and in the long jump.
Landon Roemer (Providence Day): A junior, Roemer is the favorite at 1,600 and 3,200 meters.
Bryce Scott (Providence Day): Scott, a senior, is defending 400-meter champion and a contender at 200 meters.
Falon Spearman (Providence Day): A senior, she captured both hurdles events last year.
