1A Girls
Teams to Watch:
North Rowan is the defending champion and looks like the team to beat again. The Cavaliers are led by potential state meet MVP Teaunna Cuthbertson, who is the top returning athlete in the long jump, the triple jump, and the 100 hurdles. Yasarian Bush is the #2 returner in the long and triple, and she also ranks highly in the 200. North Rowan has a pair of solid discus throwers, and they always have strong sprint relays (they ran 1:49 for 4x200 already this winter). UPDATE: Meloney Ramos (formerly of Salisbury) is now at North Rowan. The addition of her hurdling and jumping (she would be ranked 3rd or higher in three events) will make the Cavaliers a daunting foe. Meloney finished 2nd in the triple jump, 2nd in the hurdles, and third in the long jump at the 1A/2A/3A Winter Super Meet.
West Wilkes appears to be the team with the best chance to dethrone the champs. The Blackhawks also have a load of field event athletes, led by Makayla Roten (#1 returner in the high jump) and Courtney Dancy (#1 in the 300H, ranked in the LJ/TJ). Katelyn Bungarner is also one of the top high jumpers in this classification, and the West Wilkes has a pair of vaulters as well.
Hendersonville also has a shot at a title, with their two stars leading the way. Hailey Cook took the state by storm last year as a freshman, winning both the throws! Kristen Stout heads a strong group of distance runners, and the Bearcats have a pair of good hurdlers.
Can Science & Math make another run to the podium this year, after their seond-place finish last year? They will have to reload after losing a lot of athletes to graduation.
Other Athletes to Watch:
Monroe has one of the best athletes in the state, regardless of classification, in Janeiyah Collins. She leads all returners in the 100 and 200, and she is ranked second in the 400 and the 100 hurdles. Chelsea Treadway won the 800 title last year, and her PR of 2:15.42 makes her one of the state's fastest returners overall. Carol Blankeship looks to conclude a dominant distance career with titles in the 1600 and 3200; will she try to add the 800 for a triple win? The high jump may be the most hotly contested event at this state meet, with several girls having cleared 5-2 or higher.
UPDATE: North Stokes has two athletes in contention for individual titles: Tess Rogers leads all returners in the vault (and has upped her PR already this winter), and Shandellah Martin is the #2 returner in the shot put. Jazman Richardson of Winston-Salem Prep has been working on her speed in the short sprints, and that might mean a big breakthrough in the 200 and 400 by the end of the spring.
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(Based on returning results from the Milesplit database.)
1A Boys
Teams to Watch:
North Rowan is the clear preseason favorite for the boys, and of course they have a triple-jumper leading the way! Samuel Starks is the preseason #1 in that event, and he's also the leader in both hurdles races.. Garland Archie leads all returners in the shot and discus, and Darius Jackson is #2 in the discus. Haussen Walser is the top returning vaulter and one of the best in the state, and Johnny Oglesby is hard on Starks' heels in the 110 hurdles.
Mount Airy has two stars on which to pin their hopes for a team title. Matus Kriska is the top returner in both the 800 and 1600, and he will be a contender for the 3200 if he attempts the triple. Jockton Moore is the preseason #1 in the 400, and he will contend for the title in the long and triple as well. Will depth be a problem for the Bears?
Science & Math battled Hendersonville for last year's title, but both teams lost some firepower. Science & Math still has a shot, though, with Matthew Jordan leading a strong distance crew and Andrew Chung looking for titles in the long and triple jump. Hendersonville has several good athletes in different events, led by Jake Cosgrove, and they will look to piece together a strong team score through their depth.
Other Athletes to Watch:
Marty DeFrancesco, Jr (Bishop McGuinness) is the leading sprinter in this classification, and he had a strong winter with especially good 300 times. Storm Clonch (North Wilkes) is by far the top returner in the high jump with his mark of 6' 6".
Subscribers: CLICK HERE for a virtual 1A Boys state meet!
(Based on returning results from the Milesplit database.)