Akala Garrett (Mountain Island Lake Academy)
We were expecting a big day from the superstar hurdler Akala Garrett and she certainly exceeded those expectations. In 2018 she won the 100m Hurdles in 14.80. This year she was set to run the 100m Hurdles and also her first ever 300m Hurdles. Garrett was smooth in the 100m Hurdles to kick off the day clocking a NC No. 1 and US No. 2 14.43 performance.
She came back in the 300m Hurdles and certainly put on a show. Coming into Saturday the North Carolina High School State Lead was 43.77. Garrett clocked a 43.79, just .02 seconds off the state lead regardless of middle or high school. She also demolished the North Carolina and National Leading marks with her performance.
Garrett certainly has a long way to go, but with a state this fast at 14 years old you have to question if Anna Cockrell's long hurdle state records (40.42 and 55.20) will be in jeopardy as Garrett gets to high school.