EASTERN HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE - GIRLS PREVIEW
Girls 55m Dash
The top 4 girl’s in the 55m from 2008 are all back. This should be a great event with some fast times. Also, in the event are 2 other girls who broke 12 flat in the 100m during the 2008 outdoor season.
*Times are from 2008
Nyosha Bryant, West Charlotte, 6.94
Stormy Kendrick, Forestview, 7.02
Dominique Weathers, Vance, 7.06
Sushannie Blake, NW Cabarrus, 7.09
Zakiya Tyson, Jordan, 11.82 (100m)
Varonia Johnson, Myers Park, 11.87 (100m)
Girls 300m Dash
5 of the top 8 returning individual from 2008 will be competing in the 300m dash. Nyosha Bryant was the fastest in the state last year and is only seeded 14th here. Also, Marlena Wesh of Landstown (VA) has made the trip to Chapel Hill. She has run 55.89 in the 400 meters.
*Times are from 2008
Marlena Wesh, Landstown, 39.41 (has run 39.73 already this season)
Nyosha Bryant, West Charlotte, 40.19
Miata Morlu, Providence Day, 41.04
Dominique Weathers, Vance, 41.05
Zakiya Tyson, Jordan, 41.53
Sherice Walker, Cummings, 41.70
Trisha Bennett, Winston-Salem Prep, has run 41.24 outdoors this season
Girls 500m Dash
Most of the top-returning NC athletes are back in this event. Lauren Gulley of Mallard Creek ran 1:17.33 last year and is the top individual coming back. Miata Morlu of Providence Day also cracked 1:18:00 last year and is seeded 9th. Taylor Wheaton of Landstown (VA) has run 1:19.31, her PR, already this indoor season.
*Times are from 2008
Lauren Gulley, Mallard Creek, 1:17.33
Miata Morlu, Providence Day, 1:17.76
Becca Deloache, Myers Park, 1:19.08
Taylor Wheaton, Landstown, 1:19.31 (this season)
Deanna Foshee, Cary, 1:19.54
Kaneisha Williams, Dudley, 1:19.82
Jaleah Wilder, SE Raleigh, 1:20.24 (top time in NC this season)
Kiarra Gilliam, West Charlotte, 1:20.33
Girls 1000m
The Virginia athletes look to even more in the mix as the distance moves up. 5 of the top 9 seeds in the event are from VA. Maraya Slatter of West Johnston has the fastest PR of the group, but it was last season. Lea Anna Godwin of Triton has run fast outdoors this season and Landstown’s Samira Johnson is coming off a fast PR. Two NW Guilford ladies are mentioned but have no times thus far. They are coming off of strong XC seasons.
*Times are from 2008
Maraya Slatter, West Johnson, 3:04.37
Lea Anna Godwin, Triton, 3:04.50 (outdoors this season)
Samira Johnson, 3:04.92 (indoors this season)
Rachel Grochowski, Chantilly(VA), 3:09.65
Becca Kassabian, Oakton(VA), 3:10.64
Amanda Jones, East Forsyth, 3:11.76
Lanie Smith, Oakston(VA), 3:11.89
Girls 1600m Run
The seeded race of the girls 1600 looks to be a good one. Most of the 17 girls have PR’s of sub-5:20. It should be a nice battle between some of NC’s top milers and a handful of Virginians.
*Times are from 2008
Kenyetta Iyevbele, Olympic, 5:07.29
Kimberly Spano, North Mecklenburg, 5:07.91 (coming off Foot Locker Nationals in December)
Becca Kassabian, Oakton(VA), 5:14.01
Stephanie Frenchik, Landstown(VA), 5:14.39 (indoors this season)
Samantha George, Millbrook, 5:15ish (not sure of PR, but she ran very fast for an 8th grader)
Margaret Leak, Mount Tabor, 5:15.02
Lanie Smith, Oakton(VA), 5:17.43
Lauren Strapp, Leesville Road, 5:19.00 (top time in NC this season)
Girls 3200m Run
This could be a one person show as Kimberly Spano has a PR of 10:48 and the next fastest comes in at 11:22. However, anything can happen and there is no telling where people’s fitness is right now. Stephanie Frenchik of Landstown(VA) has run 11:22.09 and is coming off a PR in the 1600. She may be ready to challenge the FL finalist.
*Times are from 2008
Kimberly Spano, North Mecklenburg, 10:48.60
Stephanie Frenchik, Landstown(VA), 11:22.09
Lexie Schustrom, Pinecrest, 11:32.28
Lauren Strapp, Leesville Road, 11:42.00 (this season)
Allison Gregor, Oakton(VA), 11:44.45 (this season)
Kersie Jhabvala, Apex, 11:56 (this season)
Girls High Jump
The girl’s high jump is loaded with a number of 5’2” jumpers. This one truly could be anyone’s to win. The leader is Cassidie Burdick of Butler who has cleared 5’4” so far this season.
*Heights are from 2008
Cassidie Burdick, Butler, 5’4”
Breanna Staves, Leesville Road, 5’2”
Michaela Birek, Wakefield, 5’2”
Laquesha Hemphill, West Charlotte, 5’2”
Taylor Wheaton, Landstown(VA), 5’2”
Alexis Sherrill, Northern Durham, 5’2”
(There are probably more at 5’2”)
Girls Pole Vault
Atlee HS from Virginia looks to be very strong in the girl’s pole vault. Emma Dejarnette has a personal best of 12’6”. Her teammate Cameron Overstreet also has an impressive PR of 11’7”.
*Heights are from 2008
Emma Dejarnette, Atlee(VA), 12’6”
Cameron Overstreet, Atlee(VA), 11’7”
Taylor Cook, Watauga, 11’0”
Ashley Wala, Butler, 10’6” (this season)
Cassie Crawford, Panther Creek, 10’6”
Meredith Wilson, AC Reynolds, 10’6”
Girls Long Jump
This event will feature 7 of the top 10 returning long jumpers from last year. Nyosha Bryant of West Charlotte leads the way with a personal best jump of 19-8.75. Three girls in the even have bests of 19’ or better.
*Distances are from 2008
Nyosha Bryant, West Charlotte, 19-08.75
Chrishawn Williams, SE Raleigh, 19-07.25
Sherice Walker, Cummings, 19-01.75
Kayla Jackson, West Craven, 18-09
Brittany Wilkins, Cummings, 18-06.25
Joann Blakney, Mallard Creek, 18-04
Eunica Singleton, Ragsdale, 18-00
Girls Triple Jump
This should be a great event as well. There are a number of solid triple jumpers competing and some have already jumped quite well this indoor season. Sherice Walker of Cummings leads the way with a personal best of 39-06.50 and has jumped 38-07.50 already this season.
*Distances are from 2007 & 2008
Sherice Walker, Cummings, 39-06.50
Chishawn Williams, SE Raleigh, 39-02.75
Kayla Jackson, West Craven, 39-02.00
Brittany Wilkins, Cummings, 38-00
Aisha Cannon, Mooresville, 37-11
Jazie Daniels, Page, 37-11
Girls Shot Put
The girl’s shot put features Aslynn Halvorson of Butler. Aslynn has been a dominant force in North Carolina and is ranked highly in the US as well. Nnenna Okwara of Charlotte Latin is listed at 41’ but her best on NCRunners is just over 36 feet. She does train with Aslynn . . . has she improved significantly?
*Distances are from 2008
Aslynn Halvorson, Butler, 44-09
Jessica Williams, Landstown, 38-08.75
Clair Watkings, Butler, 35-05 (this season), 38-08 personal best
Nnenna Okwara, Charlotte Latin, 36-02.75
Latoya Wright, Harnett Central, 34-04 (this season)