Girls Team
West Carteret is projected to pick up 59 points, and has a lot of ways of doing it. Mackenzie Whitaker and the distance duo of Emme Fisher and Jenna Reiter are responsible for the better part of these points, but Randi Yeomans and the relay squads will be tasked with building and maintaining that edge over the field.
Behind them, four other teams have at least 40 points in the virtual meet. Cleveland has strong sprints and relays, and a multitude of ways to put points on the board in an effort to bridge the gap from their 48.5 projected points. Cuthbertson also has strong relays, and Sarah Latour will ensure a solid points base for the team with her 18 projected individual points. Marvin Ridge and Chapel Hill aren't far behind, and every spot will count in the top five battle this year.
Boys Team
Weddington will look to edge out their local rival Marvin Ridge, and the virtual meet gives the Warriors a 60-47 advantage.
Weddington has at least one scorer in the 200, 400, 800 and 3200, as well as relays that are projected to pick up 28 points.
Marvin Ridge will look to Ben and Peter Shelley and Mason Bhatia for all of their individual points. If those three can move up from their seeds, Marvin Ridge could chip away at Weddington's lead, setting themselves up for some head-to-head relay matches. Marvin Ridge also has a projected 17 points from relays, brings us to an exciting proposition: the decisive final event of the meet, the 4x400. Weddington is the favorite to pick up 10 points in the event. But Marvin Ridge is not far behind, projected in fourth place. If Marvin Ridge can chip away early, there is a possibility the rivals could decide the state title in the final event of the day.
Southern Durham and West Craven are the next two closest to getting between the rivals, but at 35 and 29 projected points, respectively, a lot would have to go right for them to make up ground on the top two. Swansboro projects at 24.5 points in fourth place, and has the diversity of point scorers to give them some insurance over Charles B. Aycock, Northwood and Concord, none of whom have more than two sources of points.