Highland Tech's Lauren Tolbert announced her decision to attend Duke University in the fall. Tolbert is a multiple time state champion across cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Tolbert is the defending NCHSAA 1A 400m and 800m state champion, along with a 2020 cross country state title and 2020 indoor track 1000m title.
Tolbert is the No. 3 all-time 800m runner in state history. She clocked 2:07.77 at the NCRunners Twilight. She was runner-up in the 800m at The Outdoor Nationals 2021 running 2:08.30. She bounced back at the AAU National Championship capturing the gold medal in the 17-18 800m.
She is bringing some elite range to the Blue Devils. She was runner-up in the 100m, and 3rd place in the 200m at the 2020 NCHSAA 1A Outdoor State Championship. Tolbert is coming off a 3rd place finish at the 2021 NCHSAA 1A Cross Country state meet, earning all-state honors for the fourth consecutive year.
With indoor season returning in 2021-2022 Tolbert is in range to drop some big time 500m and 1000m performances. Her personal best in the 1000m from her sophomore season, 2:58.18, is No. 15 all-time in state history. She only needs to trim 2 seconds off her time to move up to the top five all time. She will be chasing the time of 1000m indoor state record holder Nevada Moreno, 2:49.79.
Looking forward to outdoor season Tolbert will be hungry to capture the all-time state record. Mackenzie Pierce holds the current record of 2:06.66 from 2003.
The Blue Devils are adding one of the best of the best in the country to their squad in 2022.
