Meet Page

Championship Events | Emerging Elite Events

The folks at NSAF always do an excellent job of putting together the most exciting possible final day for their multi-day competitions, and Sunday should be no exception. After running through several qualifying and unseeded sections, the late afternoon features a strong mix of top-notch track and field events in a fast-paced environment. If you haven't been to New Balance Nationals, and you really want to experience how amazing it can be, you should come for Sunday afternoon. The electricity extends beyond the athletes and announcers to the crowd and even the media, who are all scrambling to interview the latest national champions and record-breakers.

Championship Events

200m Dash

According to Trentavis Friday, this will be his final sprint event of the summer, and I know he wants to go out with a bang (he mentioned in an earlier interview that he expects to run the 800 the rest of the summer). The Cherryville junior will be trying to improve on his US #9 ranking, not to mention his spot at #3 on the all-time state rankings. Including Friday, the top 6 boys' 200 runners in the state are all entered here, so final bragging rights are also on the line. Byron Smith (DH Conley) will be interesting to watch: he ran 21.18 at the 3A East Regional, but was not able to duplicate that kind of performance at the state meet. Though the top two girls in the state in this event opted out to concentrate on relays, North Carolina will still be well-represented by Katlin Sherman (Parkland), Courtney Crawford (McMichael), and Jasmine Dawson (West Johnston).

400m Dash

State leader Layla White (Cary) was so inspired at New Balance Indoor Nationals that she cranked out an amazing 54.56, so I can't wait to see what she can do on the outdoor track. Maya Evans (Fike) had a bit of a rough outdoor season, but she is in shape now, and both she and Jocelyn Culbreath (Reagan) have run well under 56. As for the boys, Marquavious Johnson (Knightdale) has come tantalizingly close to running a time with "46" at the beginning of it, and that is surely a major goal (although if I know him and his teammates, the 4x400 is much more important to them). Jamaree Murray (Southeast Raleigh) could be a sleeper candidate to make the podium here, as he has been improving rapidly after some downtime earlier this school year.

800m Run

The last time I spoke to West Carteret's Blake Dodge, she wasn't sure if she would be here for Sunday's events. She is entered, though, and if she competes we could see a challenge to one of North Carolina's hardest state records (MacKenzie Pierce ran 2:06.67 in 2003). Dodge isn't even the highest-ranked athlete from her school; that honor goes to John Crossley, who is currently our state's top male individual in the national rankings for any event at US #3. Eliza Dekker (Durham Academy) and Christian White (Charlotte Latin) could easily move into the top 10 all-time with strong races here.

1 Mile Run

If everything goes well this week, Wesley Frazier will be gunning for her third national title of the meet, which I believe would be her 8th national title overall (I need to do some more research before the race rolls around!). Though the 5000 was her first national title, during her sophomore year here, the mile was truly her breakthrough that year, as she stormed by several competitors with a furious kick that has now become one of her trademarks. Malia Ellington (Community School of Davidson) is searching for a sub-4:55 time (although I know she has her eyes on 4:50), and the competition in this race should be perfect for that goal.

400m Hurdles

Tametris Morrison (Southeast Raleigh) and Erin Jenkins (ZB Vance) have been the state's best at this unusual (for us, at least) event over the past two years, and they are back to prove it one more time. Morrison will have tough competition for tops in NC from teammate Jacklyn Howell and also from Nora McKiver (TW Andrews).

4x1 Mile Relay

North Lincoln has made this one of the signature events for their boys this year, having run 17:56.35 this year (which puts them just outside the top 25 in the national rankings). This is a great opportunity for them to cement themselves as being one of the best boys' distance squads currently in the state, and perhaps enter the conversation as one of the better groups ever.

4x400m Relay

North Carolina really shines in the final event of the meet, as Knightdale puts their US #1 rankings on the line against the best that the country can bring. If nothing else goes right for them, the Knights will always be happy to leave with gold in this event, which has become their signature. Wakefield's girls ran 3:43 earlier this season, and Parkland has posted a 3:47, so both of them should be extremely competitive. The girls from Cary are also in the race, and having an anchor like Layla White does help.

Long Jump

Shakinah Brooks (Southeast Raleigh) came within a hair's breadth of jumping 20 feet earlier this year (or more specifically, within 0.25 of an inch). That still puts her at US #16 this year, and should would certainly like to get that past that barrier and move up. Courtney Crawford (McMichael) and Lydia Laws (Western Alamance) are both hunting for their first 19-foot jump. Although Isaiah Moore (Cummings) is the current state leader in this event, Diondre Butler (Jack Britt) is the only North Carolina jumper with a 24-foot mark in his past, and Frank Quarles (Douglas Byrd) has been awfully close.

Pole Vault (Boys)

It has been an up-and-down spring (see what I did there?) for Ethan Smith (Cedar Ridge), though he has cleared 15' 4" to earn the state lead. I don't think there is anyone that doubts he has 16-foot potential, and this would be an excellent venue for that breakthrough to happen.

Hammer Throw (Girls)

This event seems to be gaining in poularity in our state, particularly in the eastern part, as evidenced by the five total athletes (two boys, three girls) entered at this meet. Brianna Heilsnis (Apex) is the current state leader, although club teammate Samantha Layko (Croatan) is close behind her. Mohogany Baker (who attends Berry Academy but does not compete for them) was the best in the state at throwing the 25-pound weight this winter, and has thrown the hammer 135' in the past, putting her right in the mix with the other two competitors from our state.

High Jump

Makayla Roten (West Wilkes) has been the most consistent 5' 7" jumper in the state, but has never gotten 5' 8". Jocelyn Culbreath (Reagan) has jumped 5' 8", but has been somewhat inconsistent. Amara Bell (Southeast Raleigh) is trailing both of them, but will be less scattered than usual today, and perhaps increased focus on this one event could result in a big PR. Samuel Allen (West Wilkes) is searching for a repeat of his 6' 10" leap earlier this year, although he has hit 6' 8" twice.

Shot Put (Girls)

Bre'anna Warren (Western Guilford) has produced fantastic discus results this spring, but has not yet equalled her 45-foot shot put from the indoor season. I know she will go all-out on Sunday to change that, and also to stay ahead of one of North Carolina's young throwins stars, Khayla Dawson (Olympic).

Discus Throw (Boys)

Winston Craig (Ragsdale) has been on the cusp of a national ranking in this discus this year, currently sitting at US #32. Although the uphill field at A&T is probably not the best place to do it, Craig will certainly be aiming for 190'.

Emerging Elite Events

800m Run

To my knowledge, Grace Morken (Carrboro) has never gone into a big meet with her sole focus being the 800, and that should put her in position to run under 2:15. For those that only follow school track results, Tametris Morrison (Southeast Raleigh) might be a surprising name to see in this event; however, she does have experience in this event through her club (and her school's 4x8), and her 400 Hurdles training lends itself well to the half-mile. Just in case you're wondering, Tametris has run 2:13 in the past, and that puts her in contention to win this.

400m Hurdles

Aminah Ghaffar (Fayetteville Academy) has the most experience of the North Carolina girls in this race, but that won't matter much if she is exhausted from doing 8 events over the course of Friday and Saturday. Daniqua Dye (Sanderson) has quietly become one of the best long hurdlers in the state, clocking a sub-44 at the 4A state meet that amazingly only ranks her 7th in a state full of great female hurdlers.

4x400m Relay

The Southeast Raleigh girls are here instead of in the Championship race, and that might indicate that they do not plan to run their strongest team (or perhaps the schedule was just more favorable for them in this race). Whatever the reason, you can bet the Bulldogs, owners of a season best of 3:48.71, will be in the hunt for the win. Wakefield has a B-team entered, while Phillip O. Berry will be searching for the elusive sub-4 time.

Long Jump

Jamie Durham (Ashley) opted for the Emerging Elite division despite having a best of 18' 10.5", and that should put her in contention for a gold medal. Lauren White (Leesville Road) has a best of 18' 4", which ranks her 13th in the nation for 9th-graders. Imari McLean (Hillside) has battled injuries this spring after a strong indoor season, but when healthy she clearly has the speed to be a force in this event.

Shot Put (Girls)

Alycia Springs (Mallard Creek) is just a freshman, and she has already thrown 41' and 135'. That's some potential, right there! She will be battling several familiar North Carolina foes in this event, including 40-footers Alexis Dickerson (Western Alamance) and Mallard Creek teammate Ashley Wingo.