The field is absolutely loaded. Both the boys and girls races will provide top tier firepower and will be sure to excite any racing fan.
The headliner of the group are the MileSplit US 50 No. 9 ranked Cuthbertson Cavalier girls. They had more hype going into a season than any North Carolina team in recent memory. Returning their top six from the 2021 championship team, they are looking to become the fourth girls' program in state history to win five consecutive NCHSAA state titles. They won the 2018-20 NCHSAA 3A state titles, before moving up to 4A and winning in 2021.
They have multiple threats to take home the individual title, including NC No. 1 Stella Kermes and NC No. 2 Alyssa Preisano. As a junior, Preisano, was 4th and as a sophomore she was runner-up at the state meet. The other three Cavaliers all have what it takes to take home the crown. Charlotte Bell was runner-up at the 4A Midwest Regional, clocking 18:04.29 at Ivey Redmon. She was the No. 1 finisher for Cuthbertson. Justine Preisano was 4th at the regional, 3rd at Union County, and 8th at Friday Night Lights.
Lily Nasta wants to make her final cross country state meet the most memorable of them all. She was 10th as a freshman, 4th as a sophomore, and 11th as a junior.
Kermes has emerged as the one to beat this season, however. She has a NC No. 1 time of 17:22.50 from Union County Championship. She also ran a 3-mile time of 16:09 at Woodbridge Classic. She won the Friday Night Lights Festival, the Union County Championship, and the SCC Championship. She was 3rd to Bell and Chandler Welsh (RJ Reynolds).
Welsh cannot go without mention. She won the NCHSAA 4A Midwest crown, the NCRunners Elite, and was 3rd at both adidas XC and Friday Night Lights. Her 17:44 best is NC No. 3 on the season.
The biggest threat to the Cuthbertson five-peat comes from 4A East Regional champion Cardinal Gibbons. Led by regional champion Hannah Rae Shaffer, Cardinal Gibbons is ready to make themselves the talk of the state. Shaffer, who was a little banged up earlier this season, looked strong as ever during her regional victory. She is also the defending outdoor 3,200m state champion.
Gibbons' Ina Lazarczyk was 3rd at the regional, and was the CAP 6 Conference champion. She ran 18:02 at MileState.com XC Invitational in VA.
Myers Park's Mary Bonner Dalton made her season debut at NCRunners Elite and came in strong with a runner-up finish. Her only other race was a victory in the 4A West Regional.
In the team scores there are two records to watch. The least amount of points scored at the NCHSAA 4A girls state meet is 28, set by Chapel Hill in 1984. The overall girls state record low is 21, by 2A Cardinal Gibbons in 2007.
The boys' race is going to be just as electric. There are so many reasonable options for individual champion. And there are some major team battles that may be impacted by just a few places. NCHSAA No. 1 belongs to Krister Sjoblad (Athens Drive). His 15:07.10 from adidas XC was his breakout moment, where he instantly became a household name. He was 7th at the 2021 state meet and is the top returner.
Caden Townshend (Weddington) is NC No. 2 on the season, and is fresh off a dominating win at the 4A Midwest Regional. He also won the SCC and Union County Championships. He was 8th at adidas XC and runner-up at Providence XC Invitational.
NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional champion Zack Gilbertson (Pinecrest) has been on a tear. He won the 4A Mideast title in NC No. 4 15:23.50. He also has wins at NCRunners Elite and Providence Invitational, along with a runner-up finish at Friday Night Lights.
Cary's Marco Evans was the one to beat Gilbertson at FNL. He is NC No. 6 on the year after his 15:26.50 3rd place effort at 4A Mideast.
It was Green Hope's Gavin Hansen who finished 2nd at 4A Mideast, and led Green Hope to the win. Green Hope also won the NCRunners Elite XC Invitational, taking down Broughton and Charlotte Catholic.
Broughton, led by Cooper Widmayer's 3rd place finish and Will Venable's 5th place finish, won the 4A East Regional title by one point over Hoggard, and 15 points over Athens Drive.
Charlotte Catholic won the 4A West Regional backed by Ian Pierce's runner-up finish.
There are a few names we cannot forget. NCHSAA No. 3 Ian Rouse is always a threat to take a race out hard and go for the win. He ran 15:17.70 at adidas XC and was 4th at 4A Mideast.
Ardrey Kell junior Raghav Gopalkrishnan went 15:30.50 at adidas and is NCHSAA 4A No. 8 this season.
Athens Drive's Noah Valyo was runner-up at 4A East to teammate Sjoblad. If the duo can make a run to the top of the state, Athens Drive can poise as an upset threat.
Mount Tabor is banged up as well, but they can always find a way to the top.
