Watch Emma Hall win the 2022 55mH state title.
We are finally here! Friday evening, the NCHSAA 3A classification kicks off our weekend of action at JDL Fast Track. You can watch all the action live on MileSplit starting at 4:00pm.
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Performance List
NCHSAA 3A Indoor Rankings
Defending 55m dash champion and 300m runner up, Brendan Henby (West Henderson), returns looking to capture his second state title. He is seeded second in the 55m dash and 11th in the 300m. NCHSAA 3A No. 2, Savon Hatchell (Jacksonville) is the top seed in the event, having clocked 6.34h.
In total, five runners have a seed time under 6.50: Yazeare Pearsall-Garcia (Cape Fear), William Ratliffe (Eastern Alamance), and Jayson Hedgepeth (White Oak).
The 300m and 500m might be the most competitive races in the NCHSAA 3A classification.
Sitting atop the 300m rankings is 3A No. 1 Allen Barnes (Northern Nash), who ran 35.22 this season. He is one of seven boys who have gone 36.00 or faster this indoor season. With a whole heat of runners within a half-a-second of each other, whoever has the best day Friday will likely be able to call themselves the state champion.
The other sub 36.00 runners include: Atkins' Elijah Elliott, DSA's Adrien Jacobs, Southern Guilford's Nick Blackston, West Carteret's Peyton Wheeler, and Pisgah's Evan Byrd.
We will see a few familiar faces doubling the 300m and 500m. Adrien Jacobs, who is seeded second in the 300m, is the top seed in the 500m.
His seed time of 1:05.19 is NC No. 6 overall on the season. However, Croatan's Matthew Quispe and Luke Nicolajsen have both done under 1:06.00 on the season.
A set of upperclassmen very familiar with each other will square off for the final time indoors in the distance events.
The 2-3-4 finishers at the NCHSAA 3A cross country state meet are slated to compete in multiple events
Stephen Fernetti (North Lincoln), the runner-up from cross country, is the top seed in the 1,600m and 3,200m, and is No. 5 in the 1,000m. He is also the defending indoor 3,200m state champion.
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2:32.26 | 2024 | ||
| 2 | 2:36.32 | 2023 | ||
| 3 | 2:37.00 | 2023 | ||
| 4 | 2:37.49 | 2023 | ||
| 5 | 2:37.63 | 2023 |
Cross country bronze medalist Eli Julian (South Rowan) is seeded third in both the 1,600m and 3,200m runs.
Harper Clark (West Johnston) is seeded second in the 1,000m and 3,200m, to go along with his No. 4 seed in the 1,600m.
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4:20.61 | 2023 | Bulldog Invitational1st F | |
| 2 | 4:23.22 | 2024 | ||
| 3 | 4:23.49 | 2024 | Bulldog Invitational6th F | |
| 4 | 4:28.00 | 2023 | Bulldog Invitational10th F |
Northwood's Noah Nielson has really broken out during his junior campaign. He is the top seed in the 1,000m run after clocking 2:32.26 earlier this season. He is seeded second in the 1,600m and will be in the fastest section of the 3,200m.
| RANK | TIME | ATHLETE/TEAM | GRADE | MEET DATEPLACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:20.30 | 2023 | ||
| 2 | 9:20.33 | 2024 | ||
| 3 | 9:30.55 | 2023 | ||
| 4 | 9:35.89 | 2024 | Bulldog Invitational2nd F |
That quartet all sit in the top four of the three distance events.
In the 1,000m, don't sleep on Croatan's James Wallace who will be on the freshest set of legs, and Central Academy of Technology's Emanuel Williams. Williams clocked 1:53.33 in the 800m during the outdoor season last spring and is the top returner in the outdoor event.
For the relays, Wallace looks to lead Croatan to the 4x800m state title. They have the No. 1 seed by over 10-seconds over Northwood. Don't let the seed times fool you, between those two schools, and add in Fernetti and North Lincoln, the opening event could start the fireworks early.
Croatan holds the top seed in the 4x400m, while North Lincoln and Dudley sit atop the 4x200m seed times.
Christian Hackett (Union Pines) will battle with fellow 6-4 high jumper Seallio Alphonse (Rocky Mount) and 6-3 jumper Royce Johnston (West Henderson).
The boys' long jump should be a battle as well, as the top 13 seeds are all over 21', but under 22' for their indoor bests.
In triple jump, Donovan Estes (Franklinton) holds the top seed by over a foot, having gone 44-10 this season.
Over to the girls' competition, defending outdoor 100mH and 300mH champion Emma Hall (West Henderon) is ready to defend her 55mH state title. She is No. 2 seed (8.30) behind freshman Lexi Tripp of Croatan (8.10).
The 55m dash will be just as exciting. Sophomore Texas transfer Briana St. Louis (Union Pines) will be chasing her first state championship. She is seeded No. 2 behind Statesville's Janiya Johnson.
St. Louis will double back in the 300m. The competition in that event is stiff, as Southern Guilford standout Tianna Spinks has gone under 40.00 this season. She is the only NCHSAA 3A girl to break 40.00 during this indoor season.
Spinks will be attempting the 300m/500m double. Grace Guilford (West Carteret) ran a three-second personal best in the 500m at the Coastal 3A Conference meet, clocking 1:15.30 (polar bear) to earn her the top seed ahead of Spinks. Guilford was runner-up in the 500m in 2022.
Alaya Gillespie (Statesville) will have a lot to say about that. She is the defending 300m indoor state champion, and does not look to give up that title freely.
2022 1,000m runner-up Delaney Horton (Swansboro) is back ready to chase the title. However, Katie Deacon (Freedom) has had a great season, running 3:02.43.
North Lincoln teammates Macy Parks and Olivia Ferraro are seeded 1-2 in the 1,600m. Parks is the defending cross country state champion from this past fall. Their teammate Bella Wood is the top seed in the 3,200m. Parks and Ferraro will join Wood in the 3,200m. As will Katie Deacon, who sits seeded No. 2.
West Carteret looks to dominate the 4x400m and 4x800m relays. They are the top seed in both events. Meanwhile, Dudley is the top 4x200m relay seed.
Superstar Alexis Willis (Cramer) will attempt to double the long and triple jump competitions. In 2022, she fell just short of her goal, as she won the triple jump, but placed 3rd in the long jump competition. It was Alaya Gillespie who took the win in long jump.
Meanwhile, Tyler Collins (West Carteret) will defend her state title in the high jump competition.