The individual throne atop the NCHSAA 3A classification in both the boys' and girls' races is wide open. The top three boys and girls from 2021 have all graduated, giving a golden opportunity to the returning athletes ready to hunt for a state championship.
On the boys' side, eight individuals have dipped under 16:00 this season, led by Harper Clark (West Johnston) and his 15:30.59 win at the Bo Run. Clark is just getting his feet wet in 3A, as he was 5th at the 4A East Regional in 2021. He has been on quite the streak this season, picking up back-to-back wins at the Quad County Conference Championship and 3A East Regional.
The top returner from 2021 is North Lincoln senior Stephen Fernetti. In fact, he was the only non-senior boy to make all-state in the 3A classification in 2021, when he placed 4th. Fernetti won the 2022 3A West Regional in 15:43.00 and was also the Western Foothills Athletic Conference Championship. On the track last spring, he ran 9:13.24 for the 2-mile run and he is the defending NCHSAA 3A Indoor 3,200m state champion.
Eli Julian (South Rowan), Gabriel Schmid (Orange), and James Wallace (Croatan) all hold huge threats to walk away Saturday as the state champion. Hudson Rice (West Henderson), who finished runner-up to Fernetti at regionals, is another name to watch.
Julian was 11th in 2021 and is NCHSAA 3A No. 2 this season. He ran 15:36.40 at the adidas XC Challenge and is the SPC Conference and 3A Midwest Regional Champion. South Rowan was runner-up to Atkins at 3A Midwest.
Schmid is another huge name who has some big time runs this season. He took runner-up at NCRunners Elite, where he ran 15:39.92. He also placed 7th at Friday Night Lights and 3rd at Hare & Hounds. Schmid proved this season he can insert himself in a lead pack and hang around until it is time to make a move.
Wallace, and teammate Tyrese Cone's performances will have major implications on the team battle. Croatan was runner-up to North Lincoln in 2021, and it is likely the two will do battle once more for the title in 2022. The duo finished 2-3 at the 3A East Regional and led Croatan to a victory, tallying only 34 points.
Keep an eye out for Durham Academy, they have a 50-second 1-5 split on the season based on their team's personal bests.
The team to beat, however, is once again North Lincoln. The defending champions return four of their five scorers from their title team. Connor Bagwell, Alex Bradley, and Logan Richardson went 8-9-10 at the 3A West Regional to help North Lincoln score 42 points and snag the win.
On the girls' side, there are six returning all-state runners, but like the boys, the top three have all graduated.
Bella Wood (North Lincoln) was 5th in 2021, but the emergence of transfer Macy Parks has been the biggest story for North Lincoln. In 2021, Parks was 17th at the state championship, and hadn't broken 20:00. Now, in 2022, she won the 3A West crown in 18:29 and was 13th at NCRunners Elite. Wood is just as likely to walk away champion, she was 3rd at the regional, and 15th at NCRunners Elite. In 2021, Wood won the 3A West Regional.
The individual battle up front will dictate the team battle. Breanna Budzinski and Noelle Houlihan led West Henderson to the win at 3A West over North Lincoln, 44-49.
Budzinski finished runner-up to Parks, and right in front of Wood.
Over in 3A East, First Flight's Lucy Stecher and Morgan Miller went 1-2 to lead them to the team title, scoring only 27 points.
North Buncombe was 3rd at 3A West, but had a strong run by Katie Johnson, who took 4th place in the regional. Other notable names to watch out for include NCHSAA 3A Mideast Regional Champion Natalia Serre, 2021 state meet 4th place finisher Delaney Horton (Swansboro), and Jillian Parks (Central Davidson).
However, the x-factor in the girls' race is 3A Midwest Champion, Lily Yampolsky (Lake Norman Charter). On the track, she was the 800m state champion and 3rd in the 1,600m. If the field is tight going around the baseball fields at Ivey Redmon, look for Yampolsky to break away from the pack.