Despite the cool weather, the J.J. Knox Invitational produced several good performances, especially in boys' competition. It was not a good day for relay times or field event performances, but a few bright points shine through when you look at the results. Check out the main highlights below!
More J.J. Knox Invitational Coverage
Highlights:
- Iyin Battle (East Chapel Hill) continued to sling the discus, improving his state-leading mark in that event to 172' 7". That puts him at US #25 right now, even though many of those ahead of him in the rankings have been throwing in MUCH warmer conditions.
- McKinly Brown (Hillside) showed that he is the real deal in the hurdles. He ran 14.60 in the 110 Hurdles, defeating Emmanuel Jackson (Sanderson) - that's NC #2 this season. Then he followed that by improving to 38.83 NC #1 in the 300 Hurdles, which is just outside the national top 25.
- Less than 24 hours after winning the Dream Mile qualifier at Raleigh Relays, Philip Hall (South View) ran 1:56.78 NC #5 for the 800. It's possible that he has been replaced by a robot.
- Ashley Comer (Southeast Guilford) ran 25.15 for the 200, the 3rd-best FAT mark in the state - and the 12th-fastest time by a freshman nationwide so far this season.
- Marija Crook (Chapel Hill) won a hotly-contested 3200, running 11:30.96 while pulling away from 4 girls that were within 7 seconds of her.
- Diamonte Foreman (North Pitt) claimed both the 100 and 200 dashes.
- East Chapel Hill teammates James Gildard and Connor MacDonald battled hard in the 1600, pushing each other under 4:30 as Gildard won in 4:29.15.
- Michael Staples (South View) added to the parade of big 3200 times this weekend, with a 9:33.78 (losing only to Micah Pratt from Roanoke, VA).
