Boys NCISAA 3A Preview
NOTE: This preview is based on our virtual meet of season bests. The performance list for the meet has not been released publicly, and we do not have all NCISAA results in our database, so our guesses as to the events in which an athlete will compete may not be accurate.
Athletes to Watch
He doesn't show in the virtual meet because his best mark was set while competing for a club team, but Chantz Sawyers (High Point Christian) is going to be the male star of this meet. In fact, you could argue that he's the top male athlete in the state this season, regardless of classification, having clocked 46.64 in the 400 to rank US #8. He has also run 21.68 in the 200, and has a season best of 10.87 in the 100 Dash, too. Could he take all three races? The problem for us is that his times run unattached or under Platinum Sports might not be counted toward seeding in this meet. Demarkes Stradford (Charlotte Latin) is the only other guy in the 100 with a sub-11 time in our database, and he'll also be in contention for a medal in a loaded 200. Stradford's teammate Adam Bear has run under 49 in the 400 this spring, and Christien Williams (Charlotte Country Day) has run under 49.5 - and in this race, that will get them a battle for second.
Isaac Johnson (Providence Day) is the heavy favorite in both hurdles races, and could be especially dominant in the 300, where Niko Harrell (Rabun Gap) appears to be the only competitor in range. In the 110, Kobina Johnson (Ravenscroft) is close enough to be able to pull off the upset if he has a great race.
Coleman Mitchell (Cary Academy) continues to progress as a distance runner, and he holds the top spot in both the 1600 and 3200 for this meet. Noah Dolhare (Providence Day) is a close second in both, with Ben Mitchell (Forsyth Country Day) also in range in the 3200.
In field events, Cory Deveaux (Cannon School) is the only competitor over 6' 4" this season and therefore the high jump favorite. A pair of Kevins lead the long jump: Kevin Snyder (Christ School) and Kevin Miller (Rabun Gap) have both jumped over 21 feet this season. Billy Edwards (Metrolina Christian) has a chance to win both throws; he holds the top mark in the discus, but in the shot put he's looking up at Robert Fuller (Charlotte Latin).
Events to Watch
The 200 Dash should be extremely interesting to watch, and not just because of Sawyers. Behind the top seed, the next 8 times in our system are within just over a half-second of each other. Johnson is the best of this group, but will he contest this event (and will he be at full strength after the 300 Hurdles if he does race?). Stradford and Bear have both run under 22.40, as has Tylor Moore (Cary Academy).
The 800 Run should be very competitive, as well: after top seed Millan Henegar (Providence Day), the only sub-2 runner in the field, there are 4 competitors clustered in the 2:01 range. That includes Mitchell, who will have to break 2:00 for the first time in his career if he wants to earn the title in this event. Jack Ratteree (Charlotte Latin) and Elias Eskind (Charlotte Country Day) should also be in contention for medals.
There are several solid Pole Vault competitors in the field, with Jackson Widener (Charlotte Country Day) holding the top seed at 14' 9". He is chased by a pair of 14-footers in Elliot Schenker (Asheville School) and Carter Mathis (Cary Academy), and Payton Lange (Christ School) lurks just behind them at 13' 6".
There is no clear favorite in the triple jump, where Harrell has the top seed at 42' 6". Tyler Funderburk (Metrolina Christian) has also been beyond 42 feet, and there are three more jumpers in the 41-foot range that could make the podium.
Teams to Watch
Charlotte Country Day has the top time in the 4x100 and the best chance of breaking 44, which should secure the win. Rabun Gap nearly broke 1:30 in their conference championship meet 4x200, which should set them in the favorite's position. Cary Academy has the best 4x400 team so far this season, as they sit on the edge of crossing the 3:30 barrier. The closest battle could come in the 4x800, where Durham Academy and Providence Day are both under 8:20 this season.
Using the virtual meet, Providence Day has produced the most top-8 performances this season and appears to be the favorite to take home yet another team title. Cary Academy is close enough to threaten, though - and Charlotte Latin is close enough to them to take second if things fall right. If the PD boys can pull out a win, it would be truly historic - this would be their fourth straight year of winning both boys and girls championships!