Will Distance Races Steal the Show at Taco Bell? NC Preview

NC Boys Preview: Taco Bell Classic

The best boys' event from a North Carolina perspective might be the first final, as Friday's 4x800 will bring Cardinal Gibbons, Weddington, and Asheville together to renew a series of battles that started indoors.  Saturday afternoon's 3200 will provide an excellent bookend to the meet, as well, with Zach Marchinko (Jesse Carson) leading an entry list that features 6 NC runners among the top 10 seeds, including Matthew Conner (Weddington) and Ben Savino (Apex).  There will be an intriguing 800 match-up between Mitchell Resor (Weddington) and James Gildard (East Chapel Hill), although neither cracks the top 10 in the seeding for an event headed by US #5 Devin Dixon (Eagle's Landing GA).  Gildard will also race the mile.

The hurdles should be a bonanza for North Carolina, with Marcus Krah (Hillside) leading the 110H entries and facing Brent Carroll (Berry Academy) and Isaac Johnson (Providence Day) as well as the out-of-state competition.  Johnson and Carroll will also run the 400 Hurdles, where the #3 returner in the nation, Infinite Tucker (Huntington NY) is slated to race.  Cravont Charleston (Mallard Creek) is the top NC athlete in the 100 Dash, and it's about time for him to put up a big 200 - with Maxwell Willis (Archbishop Carroll DC) in the race, he'll have the chance.

Krah is also entered in the triple jump, along with Shameek Miller (Berry Academy), and they could go 1-2 if they jump well.  North Carolina holds the top 4 seeds in the boys' pole vault, with Elijah Cole (Millbrook) at #1 and Bailey Frederick (Marvin Ridge) at #2, but we know that Joseph Popek (Ragsdale) is capable of winning, as well.  Providence Day's Johnson has the potential to rank among the top high jumpers in our state this year, and this will be a good meet for him to display that ability, as there is no dominant entry in that event.  The throws should feature at least two NC scorers, with Daniel McArthur (Mooresville) and Zachary Farmer (Hunt) holding the top 2 seeds in the shot put (and Chetney Taylor of Ragsdale is seeded 6th).  The discus could be a tougher road, though, with two guys seeded above 170 feet.