Coming in at No. 2 on the girls' pre-season countdown is Myers Park junior Mary Bonner Dalton! 

Dalton had an on-and-off injury that held her to limited racing during the cross country and outdoor seasons.

She didn't make her season debut until the NCHSAA 4A cross country state meet, where she took 7th and earned an all-state selection. She went on to run 17:44.65 at the Eastbay South Regional.

She won the indoor state title in the 3,200m where she ran 10:41.32. She also placed runner-up in the 1,600m clocking 4:53.30. Her indoor 1,600m time is a state sophomore class record. 

Outdoors, she won the All American Track Classic 3,200m where she ran a NC No. 1 time of 10:30.20. That mark is NC No. 12 all-time and sophomore class No. 3 all-time. 

As a freshman, Dalton really emerged as a long-term superstar in the state. She won the NCHSAA 4A Outdoor 3,200m state title, the first state title of her career. She also placed 4th at the cross country state meet earlier her freshman year. 

If Dalton can stay healthy for the whole season, then she could very well run away with the state title come November. She is an ultra talented runner who, now moving into her upper-class years, is ready to set a whole new standard for greatness in North Carolina.