East | Mideast | Midwest | West

East Regional

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Lauren Evans (Pine Forest) has thrown over 42 feet this spring, making her one of the state's leaders in the shot put. Teammates Amara Bell and Shakinah Brooks (Southeast Raleigh) will try to score big points in the field events, with Brooks leading the long jump and Bell near the top of the LJ, TJ, and HJ lists. Bell has her work cut out for her, especially with Shirlee Evans (Pine Forest) in the triple jump. Brooks is also one of the top seeds in the 100 and 200, where Jasmine Dawson (West Johnston) has been running well enough to be considered the favorite. Mollie Williams (Clayton) always seems to round into shape right in time for the postseason, and she is the defending state champ in the 100 Hurdles, but Jacklyn Howell (Southeast Raleigh) is no pushover. Jennie Cunningham (Pinecrest) should dominate the distances here while tuning up for her run at a coveted 800 state title. Southeast Raleigh is an overwhelming favorite with their depth across all events, while West Johnston likely takes second (although Pinecrest has a strong team, too).

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Knightdale came within 0.08 seconds of having the top seed in all four relays, and only the Richmond County 4x200 appears to stand in the way of a Knights sweep. Brandon McRae (Hoke County) is one of the best athletes in the state, as evidenced by him having the top seed in the 100 and the long jump here. That 100 mark is a hand time, though, and defending 4A state champ Jahmaal Daniel (Terry Sanford) is lurking in the field. Philip Hall (Terry Sanford) should run away with whichever distance races he chooses to run (expect the 1600 and 800, but I'd be surprised if he ran the 3200). To complete the trifecta for Terry Sanford, Josh McNeill leads the incoming rankings in the shot put. There are 3 sub-49 400 runners (and 7 under 50) in the regional, led by Knightdale's Marquavious Johnson. A pair of Xaviers lead the hurdle races: Xavier Carter (West Johnston) will battle Sandy Chapman (Southeast Raleigh) in the 110's, while Xavier Brown (South View) is the state leader in the 300. Kimani Hoffman (Knightdale) is one of the top triple-jumpers in the state, while Ryan Davis (Pine Forest) has surpassed 160 feet in the discus. Jesse Freeman (Harnett Central) is looking to reach 6' 6" for the first time this year, and perhaps go beyond. Knightdale's superior depth makes them the favorite to win the team title, although Terry Sanford will make it closer than the Knights would like, and Southeast Raleigh also has a very good team. In fact, this could be a spot for an upset.

Mideast Regional

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Broughton and Cary both have loaded 4x8 teams, but may not want to spend maximum energy going all-out here with so many other events to cover (that won't be an issue at the state meet, though). Youth is served in the hurdle races, where Breanne Bygrave (Wakefield) and Shellbi Chapman (Sanderson) have been battling since the winter season (and before that, in club track). The sprints are very deep, featuring Sydnei Murphy (Apex, 100 & 200), Tyra Lea (Wakefield, 100 & 200), Atlanta Woodall (Riverside, 100 & 200), Layla White (Cary, 200 & 400), Tiana Patillo (Wakefield, 200 & 400), and many more good athletes. That makes the 200 arguably the most exciting event of the day. There are also fleets of talented distance runners in this region, with Pegah Kamrani (East Chapel Hill) leading Rebekah Greengrass (Panther Creek) in both the 1600 and 3200 coming in. The 800 is absolutely loaded with talent, including Torre Moser (Apex), Maura McDonnell (Green Hope), and Megan Sullivan (Broughton), who hasn't posted a huge time yet but is sure to hit stride soon. In field events, Kristen Lee (Wakefield) is the top vaulter in the state, and she is also the #1 seed in the high jump here. If Lee slips at all in her signature event, then Rayna Yvars (Green Hope), Anna Eaton (Apex), and Zoe Early (Green Hope) are right on her heels; that's 4 of the top 5 vaulters in the state in one region. Lauren White (Leesville Road) holds the top spot in the long jump, while Lea is seeded first in the triple. Brianna Heilsnis (Apex) should have good competition in the shot put to push her toward that coveted 40-foot mark, although she will likely dominate in the discus. The Wakefield girls are, as expected, going to run away with the team trophy in this meet, but there could be an interesting battle for second place between Apex and Green Hope.

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Marcus Krah (Hillside) was dominant in age-group competition last summer, but the transition to high school seems to have been a bit rough for him. Nonetheless, he is here at the regional with strong seeds in the 110 Hurdles, long jump, and triple jump. Chris Hodge (Broughton) and Paul Taylor (Cary) are also strong hurdlers. The boys' 100 should be a barn-burner, with no clear and dominant favorite; Therius Styles (Broughton) won the Wake County meet, but Bryce Love (Wake Forest - Rolesville) has the pedigree if he is healthy. Bakri Abushouk (Cary) may be the best distance runner in the state (which only became a question in the last month), but he can't rest at all in this meet. Nik Kreiling (Jordan) will be tough in the 1600 and 3200, while Abushouk's other opponents can throw fresh bodies at him in each race. Broughton's John Dalton Rohr has unfinished business regarding the state meet and the 1600, while teammates Willliam Roberson and Asher Smith-Rose will be poised to capitalize if fatigue sets in for Cary's star (Abushouk could help this out by dropping the 800, but we'll see). Jack Nosbisch (Holly Springs) and Caleb Conwell (Wakefield) should have quite a high jump duel, while Phillip Thomas (Cary) has a big incoming advantage in the pole vault. Laast, but certainly not least, Jon Beyle (East Chapel Hill) is the state's best thrower, although he would like to improve on his shot put mark from the winter season; in the discus, he has been nearly untouchable this spring. Broughton's overall depth will be difficult for anyone to overcome, although Cary has the best shot at getting past the Caps.

Midwest Regional

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Kayla Montgomery (Mount Tabor) has been in a bit of a slump this spring, but she has shown the ability to rise to the occasion in the past. She has chose to return to her best event on the track, the 3200, where she will face Grimsley teammates Blair Ramsey and Tori Churchill, plus Chandler Borton (RJ Reynolds). Those three will be at a slight disadvantage for having duked it out in the 1600 earlier in the day. Mason Kepley (High Point Central) has had a tough year, but all that can be washed away with two strong races in the 800 over the next 8 days. There are two 5' 6" high jumpers in this region, and they have already dueled a few times this year: Jocelyn Culbreath (Reagan) and Bojo Jada (Ragsdale). Jada gets my nod for coolest name of 2013, by the way. Hunter Roberts (Southwest Guilford) carries on her school's tradition in the 100 hurdles, and she is hungry for a state championship this year. Dejah Hayes (Western Guilford) has the top spot in the rankings for both the long and triple, and her teammate Bre'anna Warren will dominate the throws as she gears up for a run at repeat state titles. Parkland's girls will attempt to dominate the sprints and hurdles, bringing both top seeds and great depth. The Mustangs have Erin Morrison (100, 200) and Ebony Williams (100H, 300H) to anchor around, and their relays would be contenders for best in state history if it weren't for that team in Wake County. McKinley McNeill has been a great addition for Parkland, as she is seeded 1st in the 100 and 2nd in the 400 (behind Culbreath, one of the best in the state there). All of that talent makes Parkland the favorite for the team title, with rivals Reagan and Mount Tabor likely fighting it out for the silver trophy.

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Two big names will command attention in the sprints: Jakara King-Penn (Reagan) is best in the 100, while Xavier Jones (Ragsdale) is a tremendous 400 runner. The two will meet in the 200, where Jones has a better seed; however, his battle with Phillip Bryant (Northwest Guilford) in the 400 could drain some of his energy and make the race tighter. Ian Milder (Mount Tabor) has emerged as a legitimate star in the distance races, and the latest iteration of Mount Tabor's great tradition there. He is the top seed in the 1600, where his chief competitor is Ariel Shores (Southeast Guilford), and also in the 3200 where he will he will face Collin Loy (Southern Alamance). In the 800, Josiah Elliott (Parkland) will try to redeem himself for a poor ending to the indoor season, followed by a very quiet spring. Winston Craig (Ragsdale) has responded to the surge in boys' throwing in the state by producing an amazing season, and with warm temperature (FINALLY) coming, he could still have more improvement ahead. Craig currently ranks 7th in state history in the discus. Tevin Quick (Ragsdale) is the only 23-foot long-jumper in the region and one of the few in the state this spring. The virtual meet names Mount Tabor as the likely champion, but they are down one key athlete this weekend, and that could open the door for Ragsdale or Reagan to steal the title. The Spartans have a way of getting it done, though, so don't count them out yet.

West Regional

Girls Preview (Virtual Meet)

Sabrina Moore (North Mecklenburg) may not be the top seed in the 100 and 200, but she is the one to watch; hopefully she is fully recovered from mild hamstring issues earlier in the year. She is also quite capable of winning the long jump, even against a field full of upper 17-footers. Alexis Davis (Butler) is one of the small number of 37-foot triple-jumpers in the state, and she should win handily. Freshman Khayla Dawson (Olympic) has made the transition from the lighter shot put to high school implements look easy, throwing over 43 feet this spring. She hasn't quite caught up in the discus yet, though, and so it looks like India McWhorter (Alexander Central) and Bryanna Hames (Myers Park) will be duking it out in that event. TC Roberson has a legitimate shot at winning 4 relays, but it will be tough: Providence has a great 4x800, and West Mecklenburg and Butler can assemble strong sprint relays. Brooke Gordon (TC Roberson) is the top seed in the 3200 and will be competitive in the 1600, where the Providence trio of Grace Sullivan, Gina Daniel, and Bianca Bishop are seeded 1-2-4. Daniel won't have it easy in the 800 due to the emergence of Casey Greenwalt (TC Roberson) this spring. Overall, the Roberson Rams seem to have the best combination of talent and depth, and they are favorites to win the team title, although Mallard Creek could have a shot.

Boys Preview (Virtual Meet)

Chris Cubra (AC Reynolds) is another thrower that has risen with the tide in those events, and he continues to improve in both the shot put and the discus throw. Immanuel Henderson (Ardrey Kell) is the only boy in all of the 4A regionals to hold the top seed in the long and triple jump. Elijah Edwards (Garinger) burst onto the scene with a 6' 6" high jump in mid-March, and he could really separate from the pack in that event by getting 6' 8" this weekend. Mallard Creek will try to control the 4x1 and 4x2 (their 1:26 hand time is difficult to believe), while North Mecklenburg lays claim to the longer relays. Erin Jenkins (ZB Vance) is a top-notch 300 hurdler, and he can pull out a very strong 110 race when he is fit; however, Drew Barker (TC Roberson) holds the top seed in the highs. Wyatt Maxey (Providence) is entered in all three distance races, and while he is capable of winning any of them, it seems unlikely that he will try the triple. In the 800, he will have to get past Watauga's Bryan Brackney, whereas in the 3200 it will be Patrick Sheehan (Lake Norman) that stands in the way. The one lock is that Maxey will run the 1600, and he is an overwhelming favorite there. Kwame Donyinah (Myers Park) leads a strong group of long sprinters in this region; I get the sense that he still has a big 200 in him that we haven't seen yet. Donyinah has the fastest FAT mark in all three sprint races, but there are 3 other sub-50 400 runners and a handfull of talented short sprinters (Aaron Tindall of Olympic comes to mind) that could challenge him. The team battle in the region could be intense, with Mallard Creek, Providence, and Vance all scored within 10 points of each other in a virtual meet.