NCISAA 3A Boys
Teams to Watch:
Charlotte Latin is the defending champ in this classification, and they appear to have another championship-caliber team this year! Jalen Ross leads all returners in the triple jump and the 100, and Tyrone Smith leads a strong group of 110 hurdlers. The Latin boys have athletes in nearly every event, and that depth may be the key to another title this spring!
Charlotte Country Day looks like the strongest challenger in the preseason, as they have the sprinters to challenge Latin. Cyrus Bahram leads the list of returners in the 300 hurdles, Royce Turnbull is the top guy back in the 200, and States Lee leads the preseason rankings in the 400. Having less depth in the field events could be a problem for CCD, although they appear to have more firepower for the sprint relays to make up for it.
Durham Academy and Cary Academy are two other teams to watch.
Other Athletes to Watch:
Thomas Graham (Cary Academy) is the returning leader in all three distance races, and based on his performance at the Brooks PR Invitational he is in fantastic form! Durham Academy's Carl Ward looks like his primary challenger. Ben Cooper (Covenant Day) leads the lists for both the shot put and the discus. Demarcus Harrison (Christ School) is the top returner in the high jump, and Max Hartmann (Asheville School) will contend for titles in both the long and the triple. Event to watch: a wide-open 100 dash could be won by many contenders, and could be key in the team scoring as well! UPDATE Cameron Walton of Cary Academy is the top returner and defending state champion in the long jump.
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(Based on returning performances from the Milesplit database.)
NCISAA 3A Girls
Teams to Watch:
Last spring, the girls teams from Charlotte Latin and Ravenscroft battled for the state title, with Latin taking a close win. Those two teams look like the favorites again, with Durham Academy and Providence Day also having a shot in the team competition.
Latin has Kameron Spence (leading returner in the 800) and Haylee Dawe (#2 returner in the 1600 and 3200) back to lead a deep and talented distance group. They also have the best vaulter in the classification in Genny Ward, as well as one of the best hurdlers in Sarah Whitmore (#1 in 300, #3 in 100). Latin looks like they might have some depth in the sprints, led by Stephanie Coma, and that could give them an edge in the relays.
The big question for Ravenscroft lies with their dominant distance runner, Wesley Frazier. She sat out cross country season, but she is the only girl in the state who can tame Latin's distance crew. Ravenscroft has a load of athletes in the field events, though, led by Jenna Pepe (#1 ranking in LJ), Katie Kumbar (#1 in the discus), and Laura Beacham (a contender in the HJ).
Other Athletes to Watch:
Providence Day boasts one of the best athletes in the state, all classifications, in Varonica Johnson. She leads all returners in the 100, 200, and 400! Teammate Dacia Thompson is the top girl back in the shot put. McCabe Galloway (Forsyth Country Day) is the preseason leader in the triple, and she is also #2 in the long. Her teammate for this year, Doreen Lagemann, is an exchange student who might have something for the distance runners around the state. Allison Bailey (Cary Academy) leads all returners in the 100 hurdles, and she's also a contender in the high jump.
Subscribers: CLICK HERE for a virtual NCISAA 3A Girls state meet!
(Based on returning performances from the Milesplit database.)