Breaking Down The NCHSAA State Meet MVP's

NCHSAA State Championship Coverage Hub

NCHSAA 1A/2A Girls: Akala Garrett (Albemarle)

The Texas signee had a busy morning as she was in both the 55m dash and 55m hurdles. With prelims and finals not far off each other, she had four races in around a one hour span. She took the win, as advertised, in the hurdles in 7.86. She turned around and took 3rd in the 55m dash. This was only her 3rd meet in her career in which she competed in the 55m dash (and second time indoors). She bounced back in the later part of the meet to secure victories in the 300m (40.44) and 500m (1:15.86).

NCHSAA 1A/2A Boys: Kenneth Byrd (East Burke)

Byrd went after a triple at the state championship that had never been done before. He was in a battle of the ages over the pole vault title with Matthew Gray. After clearing his opening height, 15-0, Byrd had to go to compete in the finals of the 55m hurdles. He won the state title in a tight battle against Ayden Thompson. He ended up taking runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 16-0. He went on to tie his personal best in the high jump, 6-6, to win his second state title of the day, and giving him 28 points. East Burke went on to win the state championship as a team.

NCHSAA 3A Girls: Tianna Spinks (Southern Guilford)

Spinks opened her morning in the 55m dash, running 7.17 in the prelims, earning her the No. 3 seed for the finals. In the finals, she once again clocked 7.17 and took 3rd place. She still had the 300m and 500m left on her plate. She completed the sprint double, running a personal best in the 500m (1:16.91) and 39.96 in the 300m.

NCHSAA 3A Boys: Stephen Fernetti (North Lincoln)

The 2022 cross country state runner-up would not be denied a state title during his senior campaign. He was all smiles as he won the 1,600m crown in 4:26.46. He was back on the track shortly after for the 1,000m, which he ran a personal best of 2:36.84 which was good for 4th. He ended his day in the 3,200m, where he earned another podium finish, taking 4th place. 

NCHSAA 4A Girls: Aria Wegh (Marvin Ridge)

Wegh collected four top-two finishes during the state championship. He had a busy morning, doubling the 55m dash and 55m hurdles. She won the hurdles in a personal best of 7.86, and she then took runner-up in the dash. She clocked 6.98 in the 55m dash, which is a personal best, and her first time under the 7.00 barrier. In her final track event, she ran another personal best, this time in the 300m (39.22) in which she finished runner-up. In her lone field event, she cleared 5-4 in the high jump to take runner-up. She tallied 34 points for her Marvin Ridge squad. 

NCHSAA 4A Boys: Jordan Polk (Jordan)

Polk only competed in two events on Saturday, but he made them both memorable ones. He ran a personal best of 1:04.25 in the 500m to win his first state title of the day. He doubled back in the 300m, once again taking the win. He ran 34.94 to get his second state championship of the day.