East | Mideast | Midwest | West

NOTE: All virtual meets are drawn only from results submitted to NCRunners. Unverified marks will not appear in the virtual meets.

East Regional

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Glen White (Jones) has some monster hand times this season, but this weekend's cooler temperatures may not be the best for backing them up. Still, White should dominate in the 100 and 200. The same goes for Malcolm Hunter (Lejeune) in both hurdle races. Jamaz Richardson (Lejeune) has jumped 22' this spring, which puts him well over a foot ahead of the competition. Southwest Onslow can score big points in the throws, led by Devin Velez, but Lejeune can counter with a huge advantage in this regional: pole vaulters. Expect the team title to come down to a close battle between those two schools, with Dixon also having a chance.

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Chryssandra Tatum (Lejeune) is one of the best athletes in the 1A classification, and she will have a strong chance to win the 200, 400, and the triple jump. If she can improve her long jump, it could be 4 golds on the day for her. Ed-Konie Gilman (Lejeune) has a 25-second advantage on the next-best runner in the 1600, and is also the top seed in the 800 (although she looks to have more competition there). Although there are no stars in the girls hurdles, both races look like they will be intensely competitive. Southwest Onslow has hurdlers, and if they come through it could mean a regional championship for the school in their battle with Lejeune. Relays are also key for Southwest Onslow, but if Lejeune or Pamlico have female vaulters (nobody from this region has a verified mark in that event) that could be enough to steal the title.

Mideast Regional

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

There could be different winners in all three sprint races in this meet, although it looks like Ethan Bischof (Trask) is a big favorite to win both hurdle races. Chris O'Brien (Raleigh Charter) has a change to win the 1600 and the 800, with the second race being the tougher challenge for him. Chris Panuski (NCSSM) is the top seed there, and he has two sets of sibling teammates that could score big in the longer races: the Ellwangers and the Rees-Joneses are seeded for a total of 40 points. That should be enough to put Science & Math in contention (and they have the advantage of having pole vaulters), but they will be hard-pressed to get past a Trask team that is powerful in the throws, sprints/hurdles, and relays.

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Desire Brown has the look of a future sprint star; the Trask 9th-grader is already the top seed in the 200 and 400 in her region. Science & Math has the distance races on lock-down according to incoming times, from Kim Ngo in the 800 to Sophia Rowland in the 1600 and 3200, and they have strong depth in those races, too. The Unicorns also have Princess Stone, who is the likely champion in the long and triple jump (and a threat to be 1A state champ in both of those). For those reasons, expect Science & Math to pull away for the team title, with Rosewood appearing to be the only team with a chance to unseat them.

Midwest Regional

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

With FAT times of 11.02, 11.02, 11.03, and 11.04 for the top 4 seeds in the 100, the potential is there for an incredible race. Eric Gadson (North Rowan) could pull off the 100-200 double if he can get past those other guys, as he is the top seed in the 200. Elijah Inuwa (Central Academy of Tech) has the potential to win two distance races, but needs to choose wisely: he would be seeded first or second in any of the three events, but might torpedo his chances for a double if he tries for the triple. Hunter Walker (North Rowan) leads the lists in both hurdle races, and he combines with Gadson on the Cavaliers' top-seeded 4x1 and 4x2 teams. Add in Alexis Archie, the #1 ranked shot-putter in the region, and you might see something very unusual: North Rowan winning a regional title without anyone in the top three of the long or triple jump. Monroe will be right on their heels, though, and will not give up the championship without a fight.

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

No question about it: this region belongs to Monroe. Even after graduating a ton of talent the last few years, the Redhawks are overwhelming favorites here, powered by Reneazia Collins (100H, 200, 400) and the jumping due of Kendall Cox (who also sprints) and Julice Crowder. Winston-Salem Prep has three of the top 4 seeds in the 100 dash and also tops the 4x1 and 4x2 lists, but that will only get them a distant second place (if they can hold off Bishop McGuinness, that is). Sloan Williams leads the Phoenix, and don't be surprised if she drops time in the 200 and challenges Collins. Malia Ellington (Community School of Davidson) can cruise to three wins in the distance races here and then decide what to focus on at the state meet. Behind her, the competition for second in each distance race will be fierce; Bailey Seach (Bishop McGuinness), Carly Kreber (Bishop McGuinness), and Kirstin Parries (Mount Airy) will all be on the hunt for medals and good seeding at the state meet. Bishop McGuinness has by far the best 4x800 time in the 1A classification, and the Villains are looking for sub-10 this weekend. Danielle Jessup (South Stokes, triple jump), Makayla Roten (West Wilkes, high jump), and Tess Rogers (North Stokes, pole vault) all hold the #1 spot among 1A athletes in their respective events, making this by far the strongest of the four regions for girls.

West Regional

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Trentavis Friday (Cherryville) is a legitimate sprint star, and athlete that can compete against the best in any classification. The triple - 100, 200, 400 - is a virtual lock here, and I can't wait to get some FAT times on this guy now that he's healthy and fully invested in track season. Like Trent in the sprints, Mitchell High has the distance races under control. The Mountaineers have Chase Stevens in the 800 and Zach Boone in the 1600/3200, and depth behind them (as evidenced by the top 4x8 in the region). Grant Rivers (Hendersonville) is one of the best athletes in the 1A classification, and he should dominate the 100 hurdles and the high jump, as well as being the top seed in the long jump. The throws should be very competitive, with no clear favorite, as should the triple jump. In the end, expect the team battle to come down to Hendersonville and Mitchell in a close battle.

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Hailey Cook (Hendersonville) is simply the most dominant athlete, male or female, in 1A track. Mathematical proof: in the 100 dash, Friday is 9% faster than the nearest competitor; Cook throws a whopping 37% farther than the second-ranked shot putter, and 41% farther in the discus. Although she can push herself well, the cooler temps this weekend do not favor big throws, and we may not see her best until the state meet (or perhaps even June 1). Erin West (Andrews) is the clear favorite in the triple jump, while the other three field events should be extremely competitive. Likewise for the hurdle races, which both have at least 3 competitors that could win. Freshman Shawnda Martin (Robbinsville) is the top seed in all three distance races, but pulling off the triple in one day will be tough with some of the competition in this meet. Miata Roberts (Bessemer City) has the top seed in the 100 and 200, but it is a narrow lead and those races should be interesting. Murphy, Robbinsville, Andrews, and Hendersonville all have a legitimate shot at the team title in what should be the most competitive championship of all the 1A regions.