NCHSAA 2A Boys State Championships
Individual
Last season Noah Graham (Brevard) had a state title in his grasp, but senior Frank Kenny (NCSSM) pulled away over the last 10 meters to win by .5 seconds. He comes back as the top returner in the 2A classification, but he will have a ton of tough competition on Saturday afternoon. Dakota Mendenhall (Forbush) comes in with the top time on the season with a 15:58 and has been extremely solid over this XC season. Mendnehall won the 2A Midwest region will Graham won the 2A West region. Graham posted a 9:31 for 3200 last track season and it seems like breaking 16 on the XC course has really evaded him over the last few XC seasons. This certainly should be the day that he breaks down that barrier. This classification had the tightest individual battle from last season, and it seems like that'll be the same case this weekend. MileSplit's National site has it listed as the best head to head match-up on the boys side this weekend.
But there are plenty of others that are capable of contending for the individual crown as well, Brandon Miller (West Wilkes) took 2nd behind Mendenhall at the 2A Midwest Championships last weekend and has run 16:12 this season. Graham's teammate Andrew Robinson (Brevard) has been just behind Graham all season long, he has run 16:14 this season and is very capable of breaking 16 this weekend as well as Brevard looks to score a 1-2 finish this weekend. Lawton Ives and Skandra Sastry (NCSSM) went 1-2 last weekend at the 2A Mideast regional and both will be in contention to place top 5 this weekend as they hope to defend their team title from last season.
The only other boy besides Graham and Mendenhall from last season that was in the top 10 was Josh Weirich (CATA). Weirich was 4th last weekend at the 2A Midwest regional and will look to repeat his top 10 performance once again. Chris Maxon (Thomasville), Josh Ross (Draughn) and Nathan Richards (Franklin) should be on everyone's radar during the race. All three have the capability to contend up front with the leaders and are big sleepers in claiming a 2A State title. You can't count out the 2A East champ Skyler Stultz (First Flight) either. He has run 16:48 this season, and hasn't seen too many fast courses this season.
Team
NCSSM and Lake Norman Charter are separated by 1 point in our virtual meet! But three other teams are not too far behind in Lincolnton, East Burke, and First Flight. LNC has a very small gap amongst their top 5 guys with just a 39 second gap on the season. Ives and Sastry for NCSSM will serve as solid low sticks for the Unicorns, but really need a good day from their 3-5 guys. Lincolnton has a tight pack as well with a 50 second spread on the season and come into the race as underdogs after losing to LNC at the 2A West Regional.
NCHSAA 2A Girls State Championship
Individual
Mariah Howlett (Lake Norman Charter) has been very solid all season dominating all but 2 races she's been in this season. She loves to take the pace out hard and break the field early on, so it'll be a question if anyone is willing to go out hard with her or hold off and try to reel her in over the course of the race. Howlett ran 18:21 at Wendy's all by herself and certainly won't be afraid to race the clock tomorrow afternoon. Anna-Kathryn Kilby (Forbush) has shaved a minute off of her PR this season running an 18:41 at Hagan Stone. She held off Anna Bristle (Parkwood) at the 2 Mideast regional last weekend in 19:07. Bristle's 19:11 last weekend was a 10 second PR and should give her a lot of confidence heading into the state meet tomorrow.
Eliza Witherspoon and Ava Findlay (Brevard) have both broken 19 this season and will both challenge the top 5 tomorrow. Findlay was third last weekend at the 2A West regional and was beat by Izzy Evely (LNC). Evely holds a season's best of 19:03,but a PR of 18:37. She ran very well on a tough Freedom Park course last weekend and could be back in top form this weekend. Evely was 4th at last years state championships. Alex Rodman (First Flight) has be dominant on the East Coast this season and won at the 2A East regional last weekend in 20:03.
Team
Last year we saw an epic three way team battle between Brevard, Lake Norman Charter and Carrboro were all separated by 6 points, with Brevard winning and LNC missing the podium by 4 points. Last weekend LNC beat Brevard by just 4 points at the 2A West regional showing that we're in for a huge rematch tomorrow afternoon. Both schools have a very strong 1-2 punch, but LNC will need a good day from their #5 if they want to bring home a state title. Durham School of the Arts can also challenge for a podium spot after winning the 2A Mideast region last weekend. NCSSM took 2nd at the same meet behind DSA and have the best 1-5 spread in 2A by a long shot at just 37 seconds. Forbush girls have also been very strong this season and won the 2A Midwest region last weekend. This should be a very similar team battle to last year as the last race of the day could certainly be the best.
NCHSAA 2A Boys State Championships
Individual
Last season Noah Graham (Brevard) had a state title in his grasp, but senior Frank Kenny (NCSSM) pulled away over the last 10 meters to win by .5 seconds. He comes back as the top returner in the 2A classification, but he will have a ton of tough competition on Saturday afternoon. Dakota Mendenhall (Forbush) comes in with the top time on the season with a 15:58 and has been extremely solid over this XC season. Mendnehall won the 2A Midwest region will Graham won the 2A West region. Graham posted a 9:31 for 3200 last track season and it seems like breaking 16 on the XC course has really evaded him over the last few XC seasons. This certainly should be the day that he breaks down that barrier. This classification had the tightest individual battle from last season, and it seems like that'll be the same case this weekend. MileSplit's National site has it listed as the best head to head match-up on the boys side this weekend.
But there are plenty of others that are capable of contending for the individual crown as well, Brandon Miller (West Wilkes) took 2nd behind Mendenhall at the 2A Midwest Championships last weekend and has run 16:12 this season. Graham's teammate Andrew Robinson (Brevard) has been just behind Graham all season long, he has run 16:14 this season and is very capable of breaking 16 this weekend as well as Brevard looks to score a 1-2 finish this weekend. Lawton Ives and Skandra Sastry (NCSSM) went 1-2 last weekend at the 2A Mideast regional and both will be in contention to place top 5 this weekend as they hope to defend their team title from last season.
The only other boy besides Graham and Mendenhall from last season that was in the top 10 was Josh Weirich (CATA). Weirich was 4th last weekend at the 2A Midwest regional and will look to repeat his top 10 performance once again. Chris Maxon (Thomasville), Josh Ross (Draughn) and Nathan Richards (Franklin) should be on everyone's radar during the race. All three have the capability to contend up front with the leaders and are big sleepers in claiming a 2A State title. You can't count out the 2A East champ Skyler Stultz (First Flight) either. He has run 16:48 this season, and hasn't seen too many fast courses this season.
Team
