NCHSAA 4A State Championship Meet Preview

Boys Sprints

55m 

The boys 55m Dash will be loaded with some of the best sprinters in the country and it's truly a wide open race.  It's headlined by freshman Michael Gupton (Rolesville) and senior Royal Burris (Harding University).  They hold seasons best of 6.36 and 6.39.  Gupton has only raced twice this indoor season and it was a truly remarkable showing.  What will he have in store for his third indoor race?  You also have Khafre Brown (West Mecklenburg) who emerged on the scene late in the year to run 6.40 for NC#3.  Isaiah Gadson and Cameron Rose (Hickory Ridge) have run 6.42 and 6.44 this season and will both be eyeing the crown.  DJ Moyer (Reagan) took down all of these guys, other than Gupton, at the Mondo Elite Invitational in the 60m Dash running a NC#1 mark of 6.87.  It's going to come down to who has the most flawless race and it's any athletes for the taking.

500m

Randolph Ross (Garner) has run 1:04.88 this season and looked to be the class of the field in 4A as he'll attempt to defend his title from last year.  But Kyle Goodman (East Mecklenburg) has come on strong as of late running 1:04 outdoors and 1:05.92 winning the Eastern HS Challenge last weekend.  Danny Renard (Heritage) ran 1:06.73 back in December and should be able to drop time off that mark in a fast race this weekend.

300m

Ross will come back in the 300m where he holds the North Carolina Indoor State Record at 33.80 set at he VA Showcase.  His performance is almost a full second faster than Romell McRae's (Southeast Raleigh) 34.77.  McRae, Brian Williams (Southeast Raleigh), Burris, Rose and Christian Ruffin (Southeast Raleigh) will all be chasing Ross and likely battling for 2nd in what should be a fast final two heats.

55m Hurdles

The 55m Hurdles will be a showdown between Kyle Lind (Olympic), Justin Leaston (Millbrook) and Bryce Anthony (Ragsdale) come in with PRs of 7.52, 7.60 and 7.64 respectively.  Though Lind has the fastest PR amongst the three, Leaston has edged him at the VA Showcase, Mondo Elite Invitational and NCRunners Holiday Invitational.