Sprints/Hurdles | Distance | Relays | Field | Team Title
Girls Relays
4x100
This is going to be a battle amongst three squads with High Point Central coming in as the top seed at 47.57 from last weekend. Southeast Raleigh certainly takes a big hit in this event losing their top sprinter Kylia Wright to a hamstring injury at the regional meet. They do have tremendous depth and still clocked a 47.62 at the regional meet. They're the type of program to only become stronger as they lose their top runner and certainly do not like to lose. North Mecklenburg were the West Champions last weekend and only other team under 48. They, along with SE Raleigh, only have one senior on their relay and are going to be a force for years to come!
4x200
Hillside ran the fastest time of the weekend at the Midwest regional of 1:39.39, and if the results are correct they were without their best 200m runner Alysia Johnson. If they add in Johnson they're going to be tough to beat and could run in the 1:37s. Hoke County were the East regional champs with two strong legs in Maya Singletary and Leonie Kluwig. They ran 1:39.83 last weekend and have the second best time on the season in this field at 1:39.41. With Southeast Raleigh catching a DQ at regionals and HPC focusing on the 4x100 & 4x400 this looks to be a two team battle.
4x400
Indoors it was all High Point Central in this event, and I expected it to be so outdoors as well. But a young Hillside team proved that they are indeed the favorites heading into the weekend with an NC#1 3:44 and win over High Point Central. High Point Central still ran well at 3:49, but will have to do much better to have Tamara Clark in contention on anchor leg. Southeast Raleigh of course are going to be in the mix as well. The won the Mideast region with ease last weekend in 3:55.16. These three programs are the three contenders for the team title. It'd be an awesome conclusion to the 4A meet if this indeed was what determined the top two teams on Friday night.
4x800
Coming into the regional meet I would have Mt. Tabor as the favorites, but an unfortunate injury to Tiara Patterson-Mills make this anyone's race for the taking. Tabor, Providence, Gibbons, T.C. Roberson and AK all have run under 9:40 this season. The 4A West race was the fastest of last weekend where Providence edged TCR 9:35.41 to 9:35.91 with Ardrey Kell and Charlotte Catholic within reach. This is the first final of the day and it's expected some teams won't rise to the occasion, and the pressure will drive teams to a massive seasons best. I also expect Green Hope and High Point Central to be in the mix. Green Hope took second the Mideast last weekend to Wake Forest without their top girl Alessandra Rodriguez. She ran 2:18 in the open race later that day and with her on anchor it certainly puts them on the podium Friday. HPC won the 4A Midwest over Mt. Tabor and I'm sure they did just as much as they had to to win the race. The 4x8 is going to be an extremely crucial event for them in the team title race.
Boys Relays
4x100
The 4x100 is one of the most fun events to watch on the track, because to win against a tight field like this you have to have perfection around the track. Parkland, Mallard Creek and Reagan come in with the three fastest times of the year with a 41.97, 42.05 and 42.14 respectively. We did see a good battle last weekend between Panther Creek and Garner at the 4A Midwest Regional as both ran seasons best of 42.43 and 42.49. Panther Creek certainly has the best anchor in J Johnson if they elect to run him in the event. They'll likely add him in whatever they think they can place the highest in between the 4x100 and 4x400. Parkland will look to sweep the 4x1, 4x2 and 4x4 on Friday as they come in with the top time in all three, it certainly will not be an easy feat.
4x200
Parkland is the top seed and have the best two 200m runners in the field between Trequan Barnes and Justin Burnette who will both be in the 200 final later on in the day. Parkland ran the top time at the regional meets by a second better than every school but Reagan clocking 1:26.65, their fastest FAT mark of the year. They'll certainly have a target on their back and the West Champions Mallard Creek and the Mideast Champions Garner are going to come out hungry for the state title. It will likely come down to who has the bets anchor leg of Barnes (Parkland), Rondell Terry (Garner) and Brenton Ervin (Mallard Creek). Reagan is the second seed and have a handful of guys that could run on anchor leg, but I would expect Mashion Powell.
4x400
Cary, the indoor state champions for 4A, have been incredible in the 4x400 all year long. While I expect them to certainly be on their A game, the Midwest region had 3 teams break 3:20 in Parkland, Grimsley and Mount Tabor going NC#1-3 this season. You also have Mallard Creek, who won the 4A West, that have run 3:21.71 this season and will certainly be in the mix as well. Mallard Creek and Parkland are two favorites for the team title and according to our virtual meet, it's going to come down to the 4x400! Who will rise to the occasion to claim the team title?