Hoka One One Dash For Doobie Elite Heat Preview

2016 Race - Connor Lane 9:05

Skip to Girls

Boys Heat Sheets

Boys Meet Records

The boys field is loaded, and I think Ian Milder's 8:58 meet record is going to be broken tomorrow.  Why? Cameron Ponder has already run faster than that as a junior.  He wouldn't be coming here to not try and clock a new PR.  Ponder won the NCHSAA 3A XC State Title running the fastest time of the day of 15:19.  Even though he's got a PR 13 seconds faster than the field in the 3200, he ranks 5th based off 5K PRs.  Specifically he and John Tatter (R.J. Reynolds) have been back and forth all season, and Tatter will certainly have his eyes set on breaking 9.  Tatter has the best 5K PR in North Carolina of 15:00, and a 3200 PR of 9:09.35.  Tatter dominated the NCHSAA 4A field two weeks ago clocking 15:20.

David Melville (Northern Guilford) lost to Ponder at the regional and state meet as both races came down to a kick, but he's been able to hang with him showing he also is going to be ready to break 9 minutes this weekend.  Melville has run 15:03 this year and qualified for NXN last fall as a junior.  Just behind Ponder and Melville at states was Laderique McNeill (Harnett Central).  McNeill hung with these guys throughout the entire race.  He's been the states biggest breakout star this season, and I think it's safe to say his 9:45 3200 PR from last indoor season is going to be blown away.  

Coleman Mitchell (Cary Academy) and Ben Mitchell (Forsyth Country Day) battled to the line at the NCISAA 3A State Championships three weeks ago, and they're going to be ready to go this weekend.  C. Mitchell holds a PR of 9:18 for the 3200 and is looking to prove he's ready to contend for a Foot Locker Nationals qualifying spot.  B. Mitchell was injured last outdoor season, and steadily has improved throughout the XC season holding a seasons best of 15:23.  Also in the mix with them at NCISAA's was Noah Dolhare.  Dolhare has run 9:21 in the 3200.  Last year in this race Dolhare made a big move for second, but was caught at the line narrowly by a few guys.  This could once again be a big breakout for him.

We'll also see some strong out of state athletes competing for the Dash for Doobie title in Wynn Johnson (Dorman, SC), Noah White (Eastside, SC), Colin Baker (Academic Magnet, SC) and Aaron Withrow (Winfield, WV).  Johnson was the SCHSL 5A XC State Champion, Withrow was the West Virginia State Champion, White was the SCHSL 4A Runner-Up and Baker the SCHSL 2A State Champion.  I think Johnson and White will be chasing the low-9 and sub 9 minute mark tomorrow.  

Peyton Barish (Green Hope) holds an XC PR of 15:18 and will be looking for a breakthrough in the 3200 this weekend after a semi off day at the state meet.  Wesley Provost (Apex Friendship) is coming off a huge day at states where he took 3rd and should have a sub 9:20 in store.  Marshall Williamson (Myers Park) came up big once again at the state meet taking 4th in a PR of 15:48, one of the only boys to PR at the state meet this year.