Girls Distance
800m
Megan Marvin (Chapel Hill) and Emme Fisher (West Carteret) both won their regionals by over six seconds, and yet somehow managed to push themselves to the top two times entering the event at 2:16.31 and 2:16.52. Sarah Bechtel (Weddington) has a season best between Marvin and Fisher at 2:16.36. Fisher has the advantage of being a veteran of the 3A elite circuit, but it remains to be seen how big of an advantage that experience will be come Saturday. Behind the front pack is a whole mess of contenders including Colbie Williamson (Pisgah), Katie Verrill (Piedmont), Jennae Jacob (Marvin Ridge) and Katie Ropers (Marvin Ridge).
Elizabeth Becker (Weddington) boasts a US #8 and US #15 all time mark of 2:30.08 in the wheelchair 800m and will be competing solo in the event to try to better her time as she is eligible to complete a quadruple at the state meet with her four qualifying events.
1600m
Emme Fisher seemed to just be toying with the competition at the East regional. She took home the win in 5:30 while pulling a teammate to a second place finish. But don't be fooled, Fisher packs a punch with her 5:07 season best. The only 3A runner to go faster this season is Katherine Dokholyan (Chapel Hill), who logged a 5:06.68 en route to her conference title in the event. Sarah Latour (Cuthbertson) is no stranger to that kind of speed either, and her and Sarah Bechtel (Weddington) won't be thrown off of the lead pack. The chase pack trying to real them in will include Chandler McCaslin (North Lincoln) and Maeve Gualtieri-Reed (Chapel Hill), who both have sub 5:20 marks this season.
3200m
Sarah Latour is the standard bearer for the 3200 as the only 3A girl to break 11 this season, but with 8 girls in the field breaking 12 minutes at the regional meet a strategic race could bring a large pack of runners into contention. West Carteret teammates Emme Fisher and Jenna Reiter are used to working together in races, and will be a threat to Latour picking up the title she came less than a second away from taking last year. Reiter looked strong in the East regional, but Fisher holds the second fastest season best in the field at 11:19. Sydney Burke (Weddington), Jonna Strange (West Iredell) and Jaeden Phelix (Piedmont) trailed Latour at regionals, but posted the next three fastest times from all regionals. Maeve Gualtieri-Reed and Elizabeth Zarzar (Cedar Ridge) both have the ability to establish themselves in the pack and look for opportunities to move up in the strong field.
Boys Distance
800m
Ricky Kidwell (Swansboro) blew away the East region in his state-leading 1:56.76 last weekend, with Caleb Silver (Smithfield-Selma) finishing second in 1:58.08. Austin Carroll (Corinth Holders) was the third-place finisher in the East region and is always a contender in the distance events. The top four from the Midwest regional will all vie for podium spots, exemplified by the fact that Cameron Butler (West Rowan) scraped by in the fourth spot despite having a 3A-second-best 1:57.08 this season.
1600m
Austin Carroll comes in with the top time in the 3A and the fastest time from regionals, and should have a very solid chance to take the title in this race. Landon Maxwell (East Gaston) and Haven Honeycutt (Asheville) battled it out in the West regional, with Maxwell edging Honeycutt with a 4:25.92, the second fastest regional time posted. Dylan Shamburger (West Henderson) has the second fastest time in 3A this season, and after getting edged by Maxwell and Honeycutt at regionals he will have redemption on his mind. David Melville (Northern Guilford) has been the dominant force in distance races in 3A, but his 1600 PR of 4:27.28 puts him behind some of these other names. However, if he can translate his long-distance domination to the mile, he has a chance to lower his PR and compete for a title.
3200m
David Melville has been just about unbeatable at the 3200 among 3A competition this season, but he has some stiff competition behind him that will try to make sure the title is anything but easy to come by. Haven Honeycutt has a season best just four seconds slower than Melville at 9:18. Gable Dershem (Cleveland) has a sub 9:30 season best, and beat Melville at the State Meet last year with his runner-up 3200 finish, and also has the advantage of running it fresh this year. Jacob Gonzalez (South Johnston) posted a 9:46 to finish second to Dershem at the East regional and has a 9:36 PR in the event. Ben Verchick (Union Pines) and Ian Elliot (Cedar Ridge) were both just two seconds behind Melville at the Mideast regional and could also push the pace and lead to a competitive finish.