Meet Preview: NCHSAA 1A State Championships


Boys NCHSAA 4A State Championship Preview

Individual

Last year we saw a battle between two juniors Kyle Rhodes (East Wilkes) and Luke Bennett (Voyager Academy).  The race resulted in Rhodes breaking Bennett over the last mile to take a 14 second win over Bennett.  This year, both boys are back and in great form.  Bennett is the current state leader in the NCHSAA 1A classification with a 16:01 PR, while Rhodes sits in 2nd with a 16:35.  Bennett has been super consistent this season running in the low 16s four times this season.  Rhodes has been good very dominant winning all but one race this season, and that was his conference meet to Brandon Miller (2A, West Wilkes).  This should be an epic rematch, but there are some other boys with the capability to challenge.

Timmy O'Neill (Raleigh Charter) sits in 2nd in the 1A Rankings, running 16:24 at adidas XC Challenge earlier this season.  Last weekend he took 2nd to Bennett at the 1A Mideast regional.  He was 18th last season, but based off this season's success you'd have to think he mixes it up in the front this weekend. Three boys out of the 1A West will challenge for the top spot, Hayden Alexander (Thomas Jefferson), Jake Baugher (CSD), and Darius Lambert (Cherokee).  Alexander and Baugher dueled it out at regionals last weekend as Alexander was able to win by 2 seconds in 17:07.  The two rank 4th in 5th in 1A with season's best times of 16:34 and 16:36 respectively.  Lambert was 4th last year as a freshman in awful conditions, so based off that you have to expect he will be ready to roll once again this weekend.  James Warren (Walkertown) had a breakout performance to kick the season off at Jungle Run running 16:51 for the win.  Thomas Moore (Raleigh Charter) and Austin Sullivan (Princeton) have also broken 17 minutes this season and should be in all-state contention.

Team

Walkertown beats Raleigh Charter in the virtual meet with a score of 56-61 showing that it's going to be a tight race this weekend for the defending champs.  Walkertown lost 3 of their top 5 from last season and it looked like it'd be a rebuilding year for them.  But adding freshman Jacob Gallant and Corbin Landowitz to their trio of juniors gave them the ability to defend their title.  Raleigh Charter has looked better as of late with a strong top two in Timmy O'Neill and Thomas Moore. Both schools won their respective regional meets last weekend and we will certainly be in for a tight team battle in the NCHSAA 1A.  Voyager Academy took 2nd to Raleigh Charter at the 1A Mideast Regional and could definitely snag a podium spot if they run well.  Community School of Davidson won the 1A West regional last weekend and need a strong day from their 3-5 runners in order to be on the podium.



Girls NCHSAA 1A State Championship Preview

Individual

Anna Petr (Bradford Prep) has posted the fastest mark on the season of 19:19, and after a 12 second win last week at the 1A Midwest regional, the freshman enters the race as the favorite.  She only hasn't broken 20 once this season, but it was 20:00 and her consistency proves she will be at the front of this field.  But their are a slew of girls that will challenge her this weekend.  Michaela Gammon (Lincoln Charter) has been very solid all year long holding a PR of 19:56. She was 3rd last year and will be the top returner heading into the weekend.  Caitlyn Burkett (Franklin Academy) has been 1st or 2nd in every race shes been in this season, and will hope to keep that streak alive through the weekend.  She ran 19:47 to win the 1A Mideast Region over Gillian Scott (Raleigh Charter).  Scott was 4th right behind Gammon at the State Championships last season and 2nd behind Burkett at 1A Mideast last weekend. 

Kathleen Burroughs (Granville Central) sits 2nd in the 1A Individual rankings and was 10th at the state meet last season.  She ran 19:41 at her conference meet earlier this season.  But last weekend she was beaten by freshman Emy Cloutier (East Carteret) at the 1A East regional.  Cloutier posted a big PR of 19:46 to take down Burroughs at the regional meet.  That should give her a load of confidence heading into the weekend.  It was the first time Cloutier was challenged this season and she is yet to lose so far in her HS career. 

Team

Three teams will be in contention for a 1A State Title this weekend, Franklin Academy, Bishop McGuinness, and Lincoln Charter.  All three won their respective regional meets last weekend and come in 1-2-3 in our virtual meet.  Franklin Academy has a strong #1 in Burkett and a tight pack from their 2nd through 5th runners.  Bishop McGuinness has the tightest 1-5 pack in the field with a 1:37 spread.  They'll be hungry for the top spot after taking 2nd last year.  Lincoln Charter will need a big day from their 2-5 if they hope to snag a podium finish this weekend.