Champions Tune-Up Recap

For the second straight year, Trent Friday stole the show - and this time he also claimed the top spot in the national rankings.

 

Though the pre-race coverage on NCRunners focused heavily on the girls' 800, given the depth of the talent in that race, it was Trentavis Friday that took over the show on Saturday night with two amazing performances.  First, he rolled through an incredibly smooth 100 meters as though he was just gliding through a practice run, making it even more stunning when his time of 10.17 was announced.  That makes him US #1 this season by a full tenth of a second, and also ranks him NC #2 All-Time and US #6 All-Time.  As the sun set and the temperatures dropped, the conversation centered around whether Friday could run something in the 20.60 range, moving him into second in state history in that event, as well.  It was clear from the start of the 200, though, that something special was happening.  Despite the cooler temperatures (around 75 at race time) and a track surface that isn't particularly fast, Friday clocked 20.33 for another US #1, this time by 0.22 over the second-best effort so far this season.  The time fell 0.01 seconds short of the all-time state record, leaving Trent as NC #2 All-Time and US #7 All-Time.  He's not done yet, either - Friday plans to run the 200 at New Balance Nationals, then wants to go on to World Juniors in Oregon.

Lydia Laws had a busy day, competing in the triple jump and the 100 Hurdles before turning in a new NC #1 US #25 NC #16 All-Time mark of 1:02.30 in the 400 Hurdles.  Layla White improved her state-leading 400 time to 55.09, while teammate Charminiqu Hackney won both the 100 (11.91) and 200 (24.61).

 

Of course, before Trent Friday started lighting up the Bishop McGuinness Track last year, this meet was best known for producing great distance races.  Such was the case again this year, especially with a girls' 800 that resulted in nearly identical times as last year's race.  Though the pace started out plenty fast, the lead pack slowed at the 300 mark, and they came through just under 1:04 (2-3 seconds slower than their desired pace).  That led to a wild race to the finish, and just like 2013 it was Blake Dodge that took command over the final 300.  Her time of 2:09.52 US #22 leaves the impression that there was more in the tank, which bodes well for another attempt at New Balance Nationals.  Behind her came Malia Ellington in 2:11.56 NC #2 NC #8 All-Time, then Eliza Dekker with a 2:12.12 NC #3 NC #12 All-Time, and also Casey Greenwalt at 2:13.01 NC #5 NC #21 All-Time.  In all, 5 of the top 7 times this season came from that race!  As 10 PM rolled around and the temperature continued to cool, Lily Anderson posted a PR of 17:33.83 in the 5000, good for US #5 and NC #7 All-Time.  (Side note: what an amazing collection of runners TC Roberson had this year - the 19th and 21st 800 runners in state history, and the 7th-best 5K runner.)

In other distance action, Patrick Sheehan won a competitive boys' Mile with his 4:19.27, which converts to 4:17.77 for 1600.  Jon Knight rallied from 3rd to 1st in the final 120 meters of the boys' 800, running 1:52.68.  Emily Pettis took the girls' Two Mile Run with an 11:05, while Blair Ramsey continued her amazing season by winning the girls' Mile in 5:02.  To end the evening, Connor Lane (Cardinal Gibbons) won a footrace to the finish in the 5000, running 15:47.18 to edge Jose Rosas (Sanderson).

 

 

Champions Tune-Up Meet

On-Site Coverage

Friday tunes up w/ US #6 all-time 10.17 100 & US #7 all-time 20.33 200!

Trentavis Friday, the New Balance Nationals indoor champion from March in both the 60 and 200 meter dash, appears to be rounding into top speed and form for his post-season of championship races. Friday has not had too many races with a wind gauge this spring to always legitimize his consistently fast times, but had no problem with looking more than legit at the end of his day at the Bishop Guinness Track in Kernersville on Saturday when he blazed down the straightaway to a pair of US #1's in the sprints with wind legal times of 10.17 in the 100 meter dash and 20.33 in the 200 meter dash. Both times were easily lifetime best races for Friday, while also putting him well ahead of the next fastest in the country in both events this spring.

Girls Highlights

Boys Highlights