Jacklyn Howell (Southeast Raleigh) has a chance to be the state's most dominant female athlete this spring.
The lists below are separated into the state's top national-caliber stars, plus those athletes that should be contenders at the state meet. Only FAT times were used to determine these lists. There is always someone who doesn't quite make the list, or improves enough to become a "surprise" contender - if you think someone that's not in this article deserves recognition, add their name in the comments section!
Overall:
The girls in North Carolina don't have a lot of returning national rankings from 2013 outdoor, but they have racked up indoor national rankings this year. There should be serious competition for the top of the state lists in every event, although it doesn't look like anyone can touch Jacklyn Howell in either hurdle race.
-
Jacklyn Howell (Southeast Raleigh): 42.94 for 300 Hurdles US #25, 13.79 for 100 Hurdles US #7; 7.95 for 55 Hurdles US #2, 7.15 for 55, 40.28 for 300 this winter
-
Kyllie McMillan (Southern Guilford): 14.20 for 100 Hurdles, 25.93 for 200; 7.25 for 55, 8.03 for 55H US #5, 41.65 for 300 this winter
-
Anna Cockrell (Providence Day): 13.93 for 100 Hurdles US #19, 43.12 for 300 Hurdles, 12.06 for 100; 8.03 for 55 Hurdles US #7 this winter
-
Jasmine Moore (Wakefield): 14.33 for 100 Hurdles; 8.16 for 55 Hurdles US #15 this winter
-
Gabrielle Cunningham (Mallard Creek): 7.14 for 55, 8.16 for 55 Hurdles US #15 this winter
-
Charminique Hackney (Cary): 6.99 for 55 Dash US #3 this winter; PR's of 12.41 and 26.46 outdoors
-
Ama-Selina Tchume (Wakefield): 11.90 for 100, 24.04 for 200 US #23; 7.06 for 55 US #14, 39.21 for 300 US #9 this winter
-
Layla White (Cary): 55.38 for 400, 24.68 for 200; 39.40 for 300 US #10, 57.29 for 400, 1:15.12 for 500 US #3 this winter
-
Ebony Williams (Parkland): 14.08 for 100 Hurdles, 43.58 for 300 Hurdles, 56.09 for 400; 8.13 for 55 Hurdles US #14, 39.77 for 300 US #15 this winter
-
Tia Robinson (Wakefield): 1:15.83 for 500 US #8 this winter
-
Lakeisha Warner (Cary): 1:16.59 for 500 US #15 this winter; PR of 56.49 for 400 (previous career in the British Virgin Islands
NCHSAA 4A
The 100 dash is shaping up to be incredibly competitive, with Tchume squaring off against Murphy and Sherman. Howell is dominant in the hurdles, but the battle for second in the 100H could be intense between Moore, Cunningham, and several other contenders.
-
Katlyn Sherman (Parkland): 24.47 for 200, 12.04 for 100; 7.19 for 55, 39.83 for 300 this winter
-
Sydnei Murphy (Apex): 12.00 for 100, 24.86 for 200; 7.11 for 55 this winter
-
Atlanta Woodall (Riverside): 12.09 for 100,
-
Jamie Durham (Ashley): 12.10 for 100,
-
Erin Morrison (Parkland): 12.14 for 100, 57.19 for 400; 40.40 for 300, 1:16.89 for 500 this winter
-
Jocelyn Culbreath (Reagan): 55.76 for 400, 24.69 for 200; PR's of 40.59 for 300, 1:17.06 for 500
-
JeMay Ward (Wakefield): 56.45 for 400
-
McKinley McNeill (Parkland): 56.50 for 400
-
Breanne Bygrave (Wakefield): 14.32 for 100 Hurdles; PR of 8.11 for 55 Hurdles
NCHSAA 3A
Kylie McMillan established herself as more than just a hurdler this winter, and should add even more depth to strong 100 and 200 fields for the spring season (or will she make a run in the 300 Hurdles?).
-
Qizeah Jackson (Westover): 12.18 for 100, 24.54 for 200; 7.34 for 55 this winter
-
Lydia Laws (Western Alamance): 43.79 for 300 Hurdles, 14.75 for 100 Hurdles; 8.70 for 55 Hurdles this winter
-
Nikolete Hurrinus (Cuthbertson): 56.69 for 400, 25.10 for 200
-
Courtney Crawford (Western Guilford): 12.20 for 100, 24.62 for 200
-
Alex Council (Northwood): 12.38 for 100; 7.24 for 55 this winter
-
Kaylah Ruff (Hickory): 15.03 for 100 Hurdles, 46.94 for 300 Hurdles; 8.42 for 55 Hurdles this winter
-
Tamilia Wright (Williams): 45.94 for 300 Hurdles
-
Cambria Shuford (Statesville): 41.43 for 300 this winter
-
Tajah Walston (West Craven): 41.57 for 300 this winter
NCHSAA 2A
:With Monroe and Cummings both competing in the 2A level this year, expect more highly-contested hurdle and sprint races. It looks like the 100 and the 300 Hurdles are up for grabs this year, while big-name athletes rule the other events.
-
Reneazia Collins (Monroe): 56.28 for 400, 15.23 for 100 Hurdles, 25.47 for 200; 7.24 for 55, 8.43 for 55 Hurdles, & 40.54 for 300 this winter.
-
Jaleesa Smoot (Salisbury): 25.38 for 200, 56.59 for 400, 12.46 for 100
-
Kayla Moore (Cummings): 8.20 for 55H, 7.36 for 55 this winter
-
Tia Glover (St. Paul's): 12.31 for 100, 26.03 for 200
-
Courtney Miles (Beddingfield): 12.42 for 100
-
Makayla Estep (Wilkes Central): 47.59 for 300 Hurdles
-
Tangela Williams (North Johnston): 25.88 for 200
NCHSAA 1A
It looks like the short sprints will see a familiar squad continue to rack up points, while the classification is surprisingly strong in the 400. The hurdles could be extremely competitive here, as well.
-
Sloan Williams (Winston-Salem Prep): 12.15 for 100, 25.92 for 200, 46.63 for 300 Hurdles; 7.40 for 55 this winter
-
Deonica Reid (Winston-Salem Prep): 25.83 for 200, 12.44 for 100
-
Shakai Ward (Elkin): 57.89 for 400, 26.28 for 200; 41.60 for 300 this winter
-
Desire Brown (Heide Trask): 58.38 for 400, 26.14 for 200
-
Maria Kammire (Bishop McGuinness): 58.42 for 400
-
Kylie Polsgrove (Avery County): 16.01 for 100 Hurdles, 46.17 for 300 Hurdles
NCISAA 3A
There is quite a bit of star power in this classification, especially when you factor in Cockrell (above). There should also be good competition for the state titles in the sprint events.
-
Cha'Mia Rothwell (Durham Academy): 12.27 for 100, 25.09 for 200, 14.94 for 100 Hurdles
-
Mariah Slade (Salem Academy): 25.73 for 200, 12.68 for 100
-
Chanin Scott (Charlotte Latin): 58.41 for 400, 25.79 for 200
-
Jonah Edwards (Providence Day): 59.57 for 400, 25.95 for 200; 42.18 for 300 this winter
-
Mia Wilson (Charlotte Country Day): 45.75 for 300 Hurdles.
-
Sarah Whitmore (Charlotte Latin): 46.46 for 300 Hurdles
NCISAA 1A/2A
The most interesting thing about this classification is that none of the top 100 Hurdlers run the 300 Hurdles. The 100 and 200 should be competitive, but the 400 looks like it's on lockdown.
-
Tyreon Gaddis (Victory Christian): 13.20 for 100, 27.14 for 200, 59.88 for 400
-
Terra Johns (Westchester Country Day): 1:01.46 for 400
-
Tyvori Franklin (Word of God): 27.23 for 200, 13.40 for 100
-
Rebecca Wooddell (O'Neal School): 13.34 for 100, 27.40 for 200
-
Gracie Miller (Burlington Christian): 13.39 for 100
-
Spring Williams (Victory Christian): 16.56 for 100 Hurdles, 27.65 for 200
-
Aleksandra Majka (O'Neal School): 16.60 for 100 Hurdles
-
Olivia Goodwin (Cary Academy): 48.63 for 300 Hurdles