Girls NCHSAA 1A/2A Indoor State Championships Preview: Can North Rowan dethrone Cummings?


Sprints & Hurdles

55m Dash

Nicole Barnes (T.W. Andrews) will come in as the favorite and top seed after having a huge indoor track season.  Barnes has  from cut down her time to 7.20 from 7.34 a year ago.  She has transferred to North Rowan from Southwest Guilford and is truly a star for their program.  She took 19th in the prelims at the 4A Indoor State Championships last year running 7.50. Kayla Moore (Cummings), Micaiah Darity (Hendersonville) and De'ja Reid (WS Prep) will be looking to take her down and have run 7.38, 7.44, and 7.49 respectively under FAT timing this season.  Top returners from last year is sophomore Selena Franco (Red Springs) who ran a 7.44 to take 2nd place. Franco only has one FAT mark from this season, and a hand-timed mark of 7.54.

300m Dash

Payton Russell (North Rowan) is the top seed and has a FAT mark nearly a second better than the rest of the field.  Russell got injured last indoor season, but took 2nd in this event her freshman and sophomore year.  Top returner is last years 2nd place finished Peighton Simmons (T.W. Andrews) who ranks 5th under FAT timing this season with a 43.01, her PR was from this meet last year where she ran 42.03.  Araybian Lilly (West Montgomery) is the second seed with a 41.72 and she will look to run down Russell down the homestretch.  Can the 300m title elude Russell once again?

500m Dash

Kaleigh Hanson (Croatan) has the fastest 500 this season in 1A/2A of a 1:17.80 in what should be a fast final section.  Last years race was won in 1:21.60 by Julia Grainda (CSD) and there are 3 girls under 1:20 this season in 1A/2A.  Araybian Lilly (West Montgomery) and Izzy Jackson (Polk County) have run 1:18.65 and 1:19.81 respectively this indoor season.  Simi Gbadegesin (DSA) took 2nd last season by a late charging Grainda by just .08 seconds and will certainly be hungry for the 500m crown.  

55m Hurdles

Kayla Moore (Cummings) has yet to be denied a 1A/2A 55m Hurdle crown throughout her high school career and sits NC#11 All-Time in the event (8.02).  While Moore has her sights set on the 8 second barrier, Nicole Barnes (T.W. Andrews) will be looking to score an upset and breaking up a 1-2-3 finish for Cummings as they did last season.  Kelsia Moore and Kenyae Majors (Cummings) come in with the 3rd and 4th seeds of 8.46 and 8.47.  Ashya Smith (WS Prep) is just behind them with a 8.49.