Boys 55m
Well here we go! I’m glad we have prelims and finals. The times on the list are once again inflated an incredible amount, but whatever. The fastest will prevail and will show up in the finals. I’ve never heard of many of the guys among the top 20 listed, so I’ll go with what I know.
*Times are from 2008
Fuquawn Green, New Bern, 6.42 & 10.73 in the 100 (top returning NC athlete in the 55m)
Hunter Furr, Mount Tabor, National 100m Champion with 10.46 PR
Austin Lewis, Mallard Creek, 6.45
Davre Stinson, Vance, 6.54
Wayne Davis II, SE Raleigh, 6.54 (this season)
Boys 300m
This should be a great race. The 300 is a fun race because you have some talented guys moving up in distance and some studs moving down. The top seeds should also show up at the top of the results.
*Times are from 2008
Lamont Jackson, RJ Reynolds, 34.84h (this season outdoors)
Orange Lipcomb, Riverside, 35.34h (this season outdoors)
Fuquawn Green, New Bern, 35.70
Kevin Fogg, Apex, 35.94 (this season outdoors)
Emmanuel Stevens, Rose, 35.94 (this season outdoors)
Santonio Johnston, West Charlotte, 36.01
Then there are a number of guys without a 300m time, but you should watch out for them:
Anthony Hendrix, New Bern
Andrew Hendrix, New Bern
Hunter Furr, Mount Tabor
Kenneth Brooks, Riverside
Boys 500m
The boy’s 500m features some of the state’s top 400 and 800 meter runners. Look for this one to be between the Hendrix brothers, Tadarrin Phronebarger of West Charlotte, and Grassfield’s(VA) Curtis Campbell.
*Times are from 2008
Curtis Campbell, Grassfield(VA), 1:04.99
Anthony Hendrix, New Bern, 1:05.24
Paris Reddick-Simmons, SE Raleigh, 1:06.24
Andrew Hendrix, New Bern, 1:06.83
Lamont Jackson, RJ Reynolds, 1:06.98
And a few others:
Connor Brooks, NW Guilford, 50.09
Tadarrin Phronebarger, West Charlotte, 1:55.12
Boys 1000m
This race features Bobby Peavey from Kellam(VA) and a number of very strong North Carolina runners. Bobby owned this track last year as he went out and stole the show in the 3200, then came back and won the 1600. Alex Taylor and David McCuiston have already run quite well this season outdoors, can they match that indoors?
*Times are from 2008
Bobby Peavey, Kellam(VA), no time
Alex Taylor, Providence, 2:33.00 (this season outdoors)
David McCuiston, Marvin Ridge, 2:33.60 (this season outdoors)
John Harwell, Asheville, 2:37.80
Paris Reddick-Simmons, 2:38.00 (this season outdoors)
Isaac Presson, Asheville, 2:38.10
Steve Merritt, Knightdale, 2:39.00 (this season outdoors)
Boys 1600m
This event features Leoule Degfae of Thomas Edison(VA). Degfae ran 15:04 at McAlpine and was a Foot Locker Finalist in November/December. His brother Tihut and Bobby Peavey should help lead a strong contengent of Virginia runners against some of NC's best.
*Times are from 2008
Bobby Peavey, Kellam, 4:16.35 (this season - full mile)
Leoule Degfae, Thomas Edison, 4:16.92 (this season - full mile)
Tihut Degfae, Thomas Edison, 4:20.73
Isaac Presson, Asheville, 4:19.09
Alex Taylor, Providence, 4:19.23
Dakota Peachee, West Johnston, 4:21.60
Boys 3200m
This could be a great race with a number of guys running up front. Last year Dakota Peachee of West Johnston finished 2nd in this race, but will look to take the title here. He'll have his work cut out for him against Chris Foley of Chantilly and Steven Bollinger of Olympic.
*Times are from 2008
Dakota Peachee, West Johnston, 9:24.44
Chris Foley, Chantilly(VA), 9:31.09
-I'll be honest, there are about 14 other guys who have run 9:35-9:50. This race is up in the air. Look for anything to happen.
Boys 55m Hurdles
Wayne Davis II, Wayne Davis II, Wayne Davis II . . . enough said? The hurdles have been an incredibly deep event for North Carolina over the past few years. A number of the top NC hurdlers graduated last year, so the question is . . . who will step up and fill their shoes?
*Times are from 2008
Wayne Davis II, SE Raleigh, 7.06 (National Record)
David Lindsay, Winston-Salem Prep, 7.64h (this season outdoors)
Kamran Javadi, Providence, 7.74h
Lamont Jackson, RJ Reynolds, 7.84h (this season outdoors)
Benjamin Major, EE Smith, 7.85h (this season outdoors)
Daishion Barger, East Rowan, 7.86
Cory McCoy, SW Guilford, 7.97
Boys High Jump
This event looks to have a number of new faces as most of last year's top jumpers graduated. Devin Parker of Charlotte Catholic and Coye Still of Hickory Ridge are tied in the database for #1 this season. They have both cleared 6-04. This event looks to be wide open based on personal bests, as most of them have cleared 6-02 to 6-04. Logan Elliston of Western Alamance is the top seed with 6-08, but in the system we have 6-04. Should be a fun one!
*Heights are from 2008
Coye Still, Hickory Ridge, 6-04
Devin Parker, Charlotte Catholic, 6-04
Logan Elliston, Western Alamance, 6-04
Anthony McDonald, South View, 6-04
-There are many more.
Boys Pole Vault
This even features the top 2 returning pole vaulters in North Carolina. These two will compete for 2 state titles this year as both are in the 4A classification. Aaron Zakula of East Forsyth has a best of 15' and Stephen Hodapp of Butler has cleared 14'7". Wes Sun of Chantilly(VA) is coming off a personal best of 14'8" as well.
*Heights are from 2008
Aaron Zakula, East Forsyth, 15'
West Sun, Chantilly(VA), 14'8"
Stephen Hodapp, Butler, 14'7"
-Then there are a number of other vaulters who have cleared 13' plus:
Evan Sandling, Rockingham County
Brian Bartlett, Charlotte Christian
Alex Lomax, Maiden
Shane Swick, Clayton
Boys Long Jump
Can the winner crack 23'? Mike Price of New Bern comes in with the top seed and he did jump 23-07.25 last year at the state indoor meet. Close behind him was Austin Lewis of Mallard Creek who jumped 23-06.50. Lincoln Carr of Pine Forest is also in the competition and has a personal best of 24 feet!
*Distances are from 2008
Lincoln Carr, Pine Forest, 24-00
Mike Price, New Bern, 23-07.25
Austin Lewis, Mallard Creek, 23-06.50
The Samuel brothers, Vance, around 22 1/2 feet
Boys Triple Jump
Lincoln Carr of Pine Forest is one of the top triple jumpers in the US. Last year he jumped 49-09.75w to place 3rd at the USATF National Junior Champs. Lincoln's best is about 4 feet further than his competition here, but hopefully he'll push the others to a few big jumps.
*Distances are from 2008
Lincoln Carr, Pine Forest, 49-09.75w
John Minott, Union Pines, 45-11w (#2 this season @ 43-07.50)
Cordell Livingston, SW Guilford, 45-07.25
Craig Williams, Mallard Creek, 45-06.50
Mike Price, New Bern, 44-09
Boys Shot Put
Kenneth Rowland from Northside(2A) is the top returning indoor shot put thrower in the state this year. Kenneth threw just over 53 feet indoors last year and has a best of over 57 feet. Look for Kenneth to be the class of the field. Noland Cobb is just another one of the top products that keep coming out of Farmville Central. My best is he continues to improve. He currently has the top mark in the state.
*Distances are from 2008
Kenneth Rowland, Northside(2A), 57-05.75
Noland Cobb, Farmville Central, 52-09.75
Ashton Anglin-Stone, Garner, 50-06.50