Both the girls' and boys' NCHSAA 4A team state titles went down to the final event, the 4x400m, but it was the Cavaliers of Cuthbertson that prevailed in the end on both sides.
The girls' team totaled 64 points, outlasting Mallard Creek, who finished runner-up with 58 points. For the boys' team, they scored 57 points and held off runner-up Mount Tabor's 51 points.
Women - NCHSAA 4A - Team Rankings - 22 Events Scored
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1) Cuthbertson High School 64 2) Mallard Creek 58
3) Olympic 47 4) Wakefield 45 Men - NCHSAA 4A - Team Rankings - 20 Events Scored
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1) Cuthbertson High School 57 2) Mount Tabor 51
3) Ardrey Kell 38 4) Hillside 34 Things started off hot on the girls' side, as the Cavs took home the first track race of the day, the 4x800m. The team of Lily Fierick, Lily Nasta, Gabi Lassiter, and Alyssa Preisano clocked 9:12.43, and Priesano held off a final push from Mount Tabor on anchor leg.
The core of this team has been their elite runners in the 800m-3,200m, but Elizabeth Sawicki deserves just as much, if not more, recognition for her 3rd place finish in the shot put and 5th place finish in discus which gave the Cavaliers a crucial 10 points.
Stella Kermes and Justine Preisano took to the track for the 1,600m in what was the hardest to predict races of the weekend. Kermes and Preisano both earned all-state honors, finishing 3rd and 4th respectively.
Kermes' time of 4:50.96 is good for NC Sophomore No. 2 all-time. Preisano clocked 4:56.65, which is NC Sophomore No. 6 all-time.
Charlotte Bell and J. Preisano were representing the Cavaliers in the 800m, and they put on a show. The duo went 1-2 with Bell running 2:12.23 and Preisano 2:13.35.
Kermes had herself a busy day as she was back on the line for the 3,200m alongside Nasta. They both fought through the heat and snagged 5th and 6th place positions.
With Cuthbertson only 6 points ahead of Mallard Creek, they needed to leave it all on the track. And that they did. The Cavs clocked 4:56.62, taking home 2nd place, and the final 8 points of the afternoon. Mallard Creek had an incredible fight in the first heat and finished 3rd overall.
The boys' team had a much different approach, but it was just as strong. The girls scored 36/64 points in distance, while the boys didn't score any of their 57 points in the distance category.
They used their depth to their advantage by absolutely dominating the relays. The team of Brad Sweeter, Keenan Jackson, Killian Fahy, and Reece Morgan took home victories in both the 4x100m and 4x200m, giving their team 20 points. Fahy took home the open 400m, adding another 10 points.
Field events took the Cavaliers home. Carson Hegele had a 6" personal best in pole vault, clearing 14-6, and taking home 2nd place. Teammate Adam Dodd cleared 13-0 and finished 6th. Christian Seibert was 5th in the triple jump, jumping 45-10.75.
They finished the day with a runner-up finish in the 4x400m, giving them the final 8 points to cap off a tightly contested team battle.