Sprints & Hurdles | Distance | Field | Relays | Team Battle
Boys 55m Dash
J Johnson (Panther Creek) took the state by storm when he threw down a 6.36 to defeat an elite field, including 300m national record holder, in the 55 at the VA Showcase. Since then the target has been on his back as the man to beat. But Brandon Ray (Athens Drive) equaled Johnson's 6.36 at the Eastern Challenge two weeks ago adding an immense amount of hype into this event for the state meet. In third behind Ray in that race was Van Gupton (Rolesville) who ran a 6.41, who is the third seed in this field.
Johnson was handed his first loss of the season in the 60m Dash at David Oliver, which should get him motivated to put on a big bounce back performance at the state championships. Johnson was 4th at the state championships in the 55 a year ago and is the only returner from last year's finals. James Maye (Rocky River), Ahmad Ellis (Berry Academy) and Rondell Terry (Garner) are all going to come prepared to run their best race of the indoor season and each have a shot to be the state champion.
Boys 300m Dash
Trequan Barnes (Parkland) had been the only boy in NC under 35 seconds in the 300 until last week when Ishaq Smith (North Mecklenburg) ran a 34.99. Barnes mark of 34.94 has been NC#1 since December 15th. Will Hoffmann (Green Hope) has proved that he's a stud, posting a 35.05 NC#3 mark. Hoffmann is known more as a 500m runner indoors, but certainly could leave as the 300 meter state champion. J Johnson (Panther Creek) sits at 35.30 and certainly has much more potential in this event.
Barnes and Smith seem to have the edge heading into the race as they just have the 4x200, while Hoffmann has the 4x200 and 500 while Johnson has the 55m Dash, Long Jump, and 4x200 preceding the 300. But both boys have proved they can double very well this indoor season. Hoffmann actually beat Barnes in a 300 at the JDL Dual Challenge after running the 4x200 and 500. And Johnson's NC#1 6.36 came 5 minutes after running a 200 meter leg on the SMR at the VA Showcase. It's certainly going to be a quick final section and I can guarantee it'll take a NC#1 mark to leave the state champion in this event.
Boys 500m Dash
Last season Josh Cooper (Ardrey Kell) held off Will Hoffmann (Green Hope) to win the 500 by .22 seconds! This year Hoffmann comes back as the top returner, but there are four boys entered in this event that have run 1:05. this indoor season. Canoy Tyree (Mallard Creek) holds the top mark of 1:05.36 as he beat Will Hoffmann by just .05 seconds at the VT Premier Invitational. Raymonte Dow (HP Central) is primarily a hurdler, but posted a 2 second PR at the David Oliver Classic, showing he's a contender. Dow was the 300m Hurdles State Champion last outdoor season. Lee Mckoy II (Hopewell) blasted a 1:05.50 just over a week ago and is a serious contender as well. Mckoy ran 1:05 last indoor season as well, but did not compete at the state meet. Mckoy should be hungry to go after his shot at the state title in this event.
Boys 55m Hurdles
Cedric McGriff (Providence) and Josh Brockman (Ardrey Kell) have been dueling it out over the 55m Hurdles all indoor season and will finally put everything on the line. The two have been back and forth throughout the year matching, and it's always a dip at the line between them. Brockman recently got the better of McGriff in the 60mH at the David Oliver Classic. McGriff is the top returner in the event after a 3rd place finish last season. Just behind them is last years 4th place finisher Raymonte Dow (High Point Central), who is more of a 300/400m hurdler, but fares very well over the short hurdles. McGriff holds the top 4A 55mH time mark from this season of 7.43 in what should be a barn burner of a final.