NCHSAA 4A State Championship Meet Preview



Boys Relays

4x100

Of the top 10 4x100 times this season, seven came at regionals and two more came at conference championships. With this many teams just bringing their A-relays into top form, and each of the top 11 times this season separated by less than a second, this race is too close to call. Garner and Richmond Senior will be at the front, as they clocked the two fastest times of the year in their regional wins. Though Southeast Raleigh fell to Garner in the East regional, it's unwise to ever count out a sprint relay from Southeast Raleigh. North Mecklenburg and Jack Britt round out the regional champs, but both East Forsyth and Z.B. Vance have run faster times this season. The 4x100 never disappoints, and this year won't be any different.

4x200

Ronald Reagan looked smooth in their 4A Midwest win as they edged Richmond Senior in the two fastest times of the year. They will be looking to avenge a runner-up finish at the indoor state meet and they showed that they are in good form to do it. Jack Britt took home the win in the Mideast region, and Hough won in the west. Both were under 1:29, but they will have to step it up on Saturday to contend for a title in this event.

4x400

Cary and Green Hope went 1-2 at the Mideast regional and also hold the top two times this season, though Cary has run more than a second faster than anyone else this year. Mallard Creek was the only squad within 2 seconds of Cary's regional winning time, and Grimsley is the only other school along with Mallard Creek and Green Hope to run within 2 seconds of Cary's season best. Look to these four to be your overall title contenders in the event.

4x800

There are no sure things in track, but if there were it would be that Green Hope will thrash the field in the 4x800. With four of the top-5 800 runners in the state, it's just a question of how much Green Hope wants to invest in the first running event of the day. They have four runners under 1:55, another four at 2:00.6 or better, and a ninth runner also in the top 50 800 runners in the state. The only other school within 20 seconds of Green Hope's 7:39.28 season-best from Penn Relays is Cary, who clocked a 7:55.85 earlier this season. The Mideast regional has a stranglehold on the rankings as Apex and Cardinal Gibbons join Green Hope and Cary in the top five of the state rankings. Only Millbrook breaks up the group with their 8:02.6 from the Bojangles Track and Field Classic. Unless Green Hope holds back, it seems likely that this will be a race for second place.