Akala Garrett will be attending Albemarle High School, NC for her senior season. Garrett is fresh off a world title in the 400m hurdles at the World Athletics U20 Championships at only 17 years old.
Garrett, a University of Texas commit, leaves a historic legacy at Harding. She is a 7x NCHSAA 4A state champion across indoor and outdoor track. She is a 2-time indoor 55m hurdles, 2-time 100m hurdles, 2-time 300m hurdles, and 1-time indoor 500m state champion. Garrett also won the 2022 Nike Indoor Nationals 60m hurdles, 2021 The Outdoor Nationals 400m hurdles, 2021 AAU Indoor Nationals 400m and 60m hurdles national titles.
She is North Carolina No. 3 all-time in the indoor 60m hurdles (8.39) and No. 2 in the 100m hurdles (13.33), 300m hurdles (40.62), and 400m hurdles (56.16).
In the spring, Albemarle finished 10th as a team at the NCHSAA 1A State Championship.
"I am looking forward to continuing to represent those that are overlooked or forgotten," Garrett said, "Four years ago they forgot about Harding and we made them remember. Now, going into my senior year, I'm going to continue to share my light and impact and lift those who are around me."
She is joining up-and-coming star Amari Baldwin on this Bulldog squad. Baldwin, a rising sophomore, was 2nd in the triple jump, and 6th in the 100m and 200m at the state meet last spring.
Other returners include Abigail Clayton (5th in 400m), Aryjha Baldwin (12th in 100m hurdles), and MaryGrace Krol (10th in long jump). They were also 4th in the 4x100m and 9th in the 4x200m relays.
| Garrett at The 2022 NCHSAA 4A State Meet | ALL RESULTS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EVENT | PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | RESULT | WIND | H# | |
| F 200m | 5 | Akala Garrett | 11 | 24.53 | -0.9 | 2 | |
| F 100H | 1 | Akala Garrett | 11 | 13.69 | -0.3 | 1 | |
| F 100H | 1 | Akala Garrett | 11 | 13.94 | 0.9 | 2 | |
| F 300H | 1 | Akala Garrett | 11 | 41.42 | 2 | ||
With the addition of Garrett, Albemarle instantly becomes a favorite to win the 2023 NCHSAA 1A State Championship. If you add Garrett's performances from the 4A state meet, Albemarle would shoot up from 10th to 3rd. With a full state-meet roster returning, the Bulldogs are a force to be seen in the state.
Garrett's mother and coach, Sonja Collins, has accepted a position as Dean of Students in Stanley County. "I am looking forward to making an impact on Stanly County while continuing to represent North Carolina at the highest level," Collins added.