Defending 100H champ Kylie Polsgrove (Avery) and all the representatives from North Carolina's mountain region will have their hands full Saturday with a batch of strong teams from outside the area.
The Blue Ridge Classic is traditionally a showcase for the best talent in Western North Carolina, but this year an interloper from the "lowlands" threatens to take over the meet. When Parkland's girls roll into town, they bring one of the nation's best sprint squads, with 6 seniors on their farewell tour of the state. It's possible that the Mustangs might not load up the relays, using the meet to help develop younger talent, but their big guns are entered individually as they tune up for the postseason in a meet that mimics the regional and state meet schedules. It's easy to get jaded when we hear about another big Parkland time, but these girls are amazing and should not be missed if you're in the Asheville area: Katlin Sherman (100 & 200), Ebony Cunningham (100H & 300H), McKinley McNeill (400), and Erin Morrison (400) are among the best ever in our state, and they are certainly worth watching.
In addition to Parkland we will also see sprint power Mallard Creek (though not at full strength), and there are several strong teams from Tennessee in the meet. Of course, there will also be the usual wide range of talent from the mountains of North Carolina. Check out the most competitive events below, as well as the individual athletes that stand out in their areas. MileSplit reporter Jentzen Jones will be on-site to catch all the action, so look for her photos and videos after the meet!
Events to Watch:
- Girls 100 & 300 Hurdles: If these races were just Anna Cockrell (Providence Day) vs. Ebony Williams (Parkland), that would be enough - they are the two best hurdlers in the state at both distances, and they should push each other very hard. Williams is US #2 and Cockrell US #4 (wind-legal) in the high hurdles, so their showdown in the final could be epic! Gabriele Cunningham (Mallard Creek) will try to pull herself under 14 seconds for the first time, while defending champ Kylie Polsgrove (Avery) is looking to get under 15. In the 300H, Polsgrove and Kimani Davis (Parkland) should have a great secondary battle behind the top two seeds, with Cockrell having a distinct advantage based on this season's times.
- Boys High Jump: Xzavier Robinson (Ashbrook) holds the top seed with a 6' 8" jump, but he has Daniel Lauffenburger (Forsyth Country Day) right behind him at 6' 6". Add in Sean Jones (A.C. Reynolds) at 6' 5" and Blake Matthews (North Buncombe) at 6' 4", and you have a group of 4 that could all take the win depending on the conditions and how each athlete jumps.
- Girls 4x800 Relay: The top two seeds (Reagan and Hardin Valley) might have an interesting race up front, but it's the next group that is looking to be fiercely competitive. Five teams are entered with times within 9 seconds of each other, led by Watauga and Pisgah, both with 10:43's this season.
- Boys 200 Dash: No dominant sprinters are entered, but that actually enhances this event, because it makes the field very competitive. Isaac Johnson (Providence Day), stepping out of his normal hurdles races, is the top seed at 22.69, but there are 4 other athletes with verified times under 23 seconds in the race. Koyaki Cobb (Asheville School) and Ethan Thomas (Elizabethton TN) might be tired after the 400, while T.C. Boston (Freedom) and Satorrius Uddyback (Asheville) are lookin for FAT marks to back up their hand times.
- Girls 1600 Run: With the 3200 running early in the morning, this meet provides a slightly different sequence for the distance runners. Many will make the 3200 - 800 double, which is much harder on a traditional schedule, but on the girls' side the talent seems to come together in the 1600. Brooke Turner (Tuscola) is in pursuit of a sub-5 time, while Kathleen Mansure (Watauga) is showing that she is not just a long-distance specialist. The battle for 3rd could be very intense, with Lily Anderson (T.C. Roberson) at 5:13, followed by three other sub-5:20 runners, including Shawnda Martin (Robbinsville). Mansure and Martin are also in the 3200 along with Emma Brown (Providence Day), while Turner will take on Anna Vess (A.C. Reynolds) in the 800 later in the meet.
- Boys 800 Run: Normally, Nick Linder (Providence Day) vs. Tanis Baldwin (East Henderson) in this event would be a no-brainer, as Linder is one of the top 800 runners in the state. However, Nick has been out with an injury this season, and that brings him back to the field a little. Adding in 1:59 guys Dartanian Oakley (Hardin Valley TN) and Isaiah Hannah (Reagan) should make for a competitive group at the front. Don't be surprised if someone like Jacob Wolfe (Polk County) takes advantage of this to pull under 2 minutes for the first time.
- Girls Triple Jump: There isn't another event in this meet where the top 3 seeds are so close to each other. Nateja Hale (Parkland) has developed into a real weapon for her team, and this weekend she will square off against the T.C. Roberson tandem of Elyse King and Michelle Cobb. All three are in the 37's, separated by only 5.5 inches by season bests! There is also a trio of 35-foot entries, making this one of the most competitive events of the meet overall.
- Boys Triple Jump: Noah Tyson (Asheville) has struggled during outdoor season to regain the 46-foot form he showed indoors, and this weekend he has to battle two 44-foot jumpers in Weldon Wright (Hardin Valley TN) and Chaston Raye (Providence Day). Behind those three is a jogjam of 41- and 42-foot guys, which should make for interesting results.
- Boys 4x400: Reagan and North Buncombe have both run 3:27 so far this year, and there are 3 other teams in the race that have been under 3:30 - and that doesn't even count Asheville, a team certainly capable of getting there.
Athletes to Watch:
- Parkland Girls Relays: Top-seeded in all three spring relays, the Mustangs will face another sprint power in Mallard Creek in the 4x1 and 4x2, but may be relatively unopposed in the 4x4.
- Jacob Blevins (Ashe County): His seed time in the 110 Hurdles is almost a second faster than anyone else.
- Miaysha Bryant (Parkland): Had a breakthrough 200 at Arcadia, moving all the way up to NC #2 in the 200 with a 24.42. Doesn't get as much press as some of her teammates, but A&T is getting a gem here! She might not beat her teammate, Katlin Sherman, but she has become an increasingly critical component of the Mustang's success this season.
- Chace Washington-Saunders (Reagan): Has quietly moved up to #2 in the state rankings in the 400, and is chasing that sub-48 time.
- Tamia Crockett (Hardin Valley TN): With Alycia Springs not entered for Mallard Creek, she is the heavy favorite in the throws with PR's of 44' 4" and 143' 2".
- Hakeem Mustafaa (Shaw GA): A 4:21 and 9:17 miler making the trip up from Georgia, he should give Zach Boone (Mitchell) a big push in the 3200.
- Kylie Polsgrove (Avery): In addition to the hurdles, she is the defending champ in the high jump, and should be able to win handily in that event.
- Nick Linder (Providence Day): Returning from an injury layoff, he is in the 3200 as well as the 800 mentioned above. Hope to see him running well!
- Tyson Fortenberry (Ashbrook): Shoulddominate the discus, where his best is 22 feet better than anyone else, as well as in the shot put (where he has a 6-foot advantage).
- Tyler Leak (Hayesville): Top seed in the long jump by over a foot, and the only 22-footer in the field.
More Blue Ridge Classic Coverage
Defending 100H champ Kylie Polsgrove (Avery) and all the representatives from North Carolina's mountain region will have their hands full Saturday with a batch of strong teams from outside the area.
The Blue Ridge Classic is traditionally a showcase for the best talent in Western North Carolina, but this year an interloper from the "lowlands" threatens to take over the meet. When Parkland's girls roll into town, they bring one of the nation's best sprint squads, with 6 seniors on their farewell tour of the state. It's possible that the Mustangs might not load up the relays, using the meet to help develop younger talent, but their big guns are entered individually as they tune up for the postseason in a meet that mimics the regional and state meet schedules. It's easy to get jaded when we hear about another big Parkland time, but these girls are amazing and should not be missed if you're in the Asheville area: Katlin Sherman (100 & 200), Ebony Cunningham (100H & 300H), McKinley McNeill (400), and Erin Morrison (400) are among the best ever in our state, and they are certainly worth watching.