Sprints and Hurdles
Isabelle Duchemin (Franklin) holds the top seed time in the 55mH, having gone 8.87 this season. Emma Hall (West Henderson) joins her as the only two in the field to dip under 9.00 so far this season. There's a pack of girls all in the 9.01 to 9.04 range. These prelims are going to be tight! On the boys' side two sophomores lead the field in the 55mH as Derrick Buchanan (Swansboro) and Da'Mare Williams (Smoky Mountain) have both dipped under 8.0 this season.
The boys 55m dash could be chasing the 3A state meet record of 6.32 from Terrell Robinson Jr. in 2020. Brendan Henby (West Henderson) ran 6.30 this season and one other runner, Nathaniel Larrieu (White Oak), has dipped below 6.40. Isaiah Monroe (Dudley) is another big name to watch in this event.
In the 55m Wheelchair it is Croatan's Christian Drawhorn racing against the clock. He is the only competitor and his seed of 16.09 is below the 3A state meet record of 16.47.
Three seniors top the field on the girls' side of things in the 55m dash: Sha'niyah Gethers (West Carteret), Sadiyah McGregor (Dudley), and Sanu Jallow (West Mecklenburg). Junior Alaya Gillespie (West Iredell) is another name to watch in the event.
Jallow is chasing history in the 300m and 500m dash. She is NC No. 1 this season in the 500m, having clocked 1:12.62 at The VA Showcase. Her mark is NC No. 4 all-time and US No. 3 this season. She is NC No. 3 this season and NC No. 5 all-time in the 300m, having run 38.76 at The VA Showcase.
In the 300m, the 3A state meet record is 39.32 from 2019, and the 500m 3A state record is 1:14.05. The overall state meet record in the 500m is 1:12.33.
Monroe leads the field in the boys' 300m dash with his personal best of 35.31. Right on his tail is Southern Guilford senior Kameron Austin. Henby and Dudley freshman Le'Ezra Brown join Monroe and Austin as the only four to have dipped under 36.00 this season.
The field in the 500m is loaded, and is headlined by Durham School of the Arts junior Adrien Jacobs. His best of 1:04.53 is just a tenth of a second off the 3A state meet record. Quinn Baker (Carrboro) has found a lot of success in this event this season and will be challenging for the state title.