Meet Preview: NCISAA State Championships, 6 athletes look to defend their titles Friday at Hagan Stone




NCISAA 3A Boys

Five boys in this field have stood out the most this season and have all been ranked in our Top 25 at some point this season.  You have Cary Academy's trio of Coleman Mitchell, Chase Coley, and Tommy Bright, FCDS Ben Mitchell, and Noah Dolhare of Providence Day. Coley and Bright did not race at the TISAC Conference Championships last weekend causing a question on if they were just resting up for the state meet or had to sit out due to an injury or illness. Coleman Mitchell will seem like a heavy favorite on paper with a seasons best 25 seconds ahead of the rest of the field and being the defending champion from 2015.  But I don't think Dolhare and Ben Mitchell will let him run away with it, as both are hungry to bring home a state title.  The three had an epic battle at the NCISAA 3A Track State Championships in the 3200 where Dolhare took the win in 9:30.41 over Coleman Mitchell's 9:30.46 with Ben Mitchell in third in 9:31.97.  So this certainly has been a highly anticipated rematch for all three of these boys.

All season Cary Academy has been a heavy favorite to defend their team title from last season, but just last week Durham Academy beat them at the TISAC Conference Championships as Cary Academy were without their 2nd and 3rd men.  If this is the case once again this week we should see a tight battle for the top spot.  We have virtual team scores below without Coley and Bright for Cary Academy.

PLACETEAMPOINTSSCORERSSPLITAVERAGE
1Cary Academy621+5+12+21+23 (34+39)2:12.6016:51.64
2Durham Academy704+7+8+19+32 (37+55)1:22.7017:02.02
3Providence Day School1063+17+24+26+36 (49+63)1:50.8117:17.58
4Metrolina Christian Academy1096+11+18+27+47 (53+54)1:27.0017:23.60
5Forsyth Country Day School1162+9+20+35+50 (60+65)2:32.2017:13.52
6Charlotte Country Day School11914+16+22+25+42 (46+68)45.9517:32.24


It projects a tight battle upfront for Cary Academy and Durham Academy. Neil Mosca leads a young DA squad that has improved with every race they've run this season.  They were projected to be right with Cary Academy in the preseason, but a late transfer of their #2 returner hurt their returning ranking.  Providence Day, Metrolina Christian Academy, FCDS, and Charlotte Country Day should all be contending for a podium finish as well.  All 4 schools come in very close in our virtual meet and it'll certainly depend on who runs the best on the day.  If Coley and Bright end up being healthy and racing tomorrow it will be extremely tough for anyone to dethrone the defending champs.