The two-time defending state champion North Lincoln Knights look to repeat atop the 3A classification once more in 2022. They took home the 2020 NCHSAA 2A title before moving up classifications to 3A where they reigned supreme once more in 2021.
They return five of their top seven from 2021, including NCHSAA 3A West Regional champ Bella Wood.
Wood finished 5th at the 2021 NCHSAA 3A cross country state meet before going on to capture a 5th place finish at the indoor state meet in the 3,200m and 7th place in the same event outdoors.
Kelbi Pierce and Bella Green also return for the Knights. They finished 6th and 10th respectively at last year's regional.
Pierce, along with Emily Laramie, are the two rising seniors that return from 2021. Pierce had a breakout performance at the NCHSAA 3A Outdoor state meet in the 3,200m where she ran 11:29 and finished 3rd place. She ran 11:24 for the full two miles during the spring as well. During last indoor season, she was 6th at the state meet in the 3,200m.
Pierce has the top time in the NCHSAA 3A classification in the 3,200m amongst 2022-23 returners.
Green is the other key piece up front for the Knights. As a freshman, she finished 5th in the 800m at the state meet. During indoor season, she was 4th in the 500m dash. She has proven she has the range to move up to the 5,000m in cross country, as she placed 12th at the state meet in 2021.
Expect this experienced group of returners to return to the top of the NCHSAA 3A classification in November.
| 1 | North Lincoln (NC) | 82 | ||
| 1) Bella Wood | 19:11.00 | 3 | ||
| 2) Kelbi Pierce | 19:48.47 | 10 | ||
| 3) Bella Green | 19:54.10 | 12 | ||
| 4) Cagney Brusso | 20:33.40 | 26 | ||
| 5) Emily Laramie | 20:40.50 | 31 | ||
| Average Time: 20:01.49 Total Time: 1:40:07.47 1-5 Split: 1:29.50 | ||||
| 6) Sienna Rush | 22:32.30 | 100 | ||
| 7) Halle Rogers | 22:54.61 | 126 | ||