How Each NCHSAA Team State Champion Got The Job Done

Feb 14, 2023

Cuthbertson's Head Coach Dustin Allen talks success, motivation, and giving the credit to his coaching staff.

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NCHSAA 1A/2A

East Burke

East Burke was led by Kenneth Byrd and his 28 points, but he could not do it alone. The only points scored on the track were Byrd's 10 from the win in the 55m hurdles. Byrd was named NCHSAA 1A/2A MVP with an additional win in the high jump and runner-up finish in the pole vault. High jump teammates Avery Fraley and Ian Cox placed 3rd and 6th respectively. Fraley doubled back in the long jump to take 5th. Michael Hathcock and Brady Bostain were 4th and 7th in the shot put, as well. They won the NCHSAA 1A/2A state championship with only one track event, the rest were field events. Talk about well rounded.

Swain County

Swain County was firing on all cylinders all across the track and field realm. They swept the distance events, taking the wins in the 1,000m, 1,600m, 3,200m, and 4x800m. Arizona Blankenship won the 1,600m and 3,200m while Amaya Hicks took the 1,000m. Gracie Monteith was 5th in the 1,000m, as well.

One of two freshman, Annie Lewis, took 6th in the 500m. Meanwhile, fellow freshman Carley Teesateskie was 8th in shot put. Their two other relays earned them points as well: 3rd in the 4x400m and 7th in the 4x200m. Swain County also went 1-2 in the pole vault. Amelia Rogers took the win in her senior campaign, while sophomore Alden Thomas was runner-up. Hannah Wingate also scored a point placing 8th.

And lastly, Gracie Sutton took runner-up in high jump.

NCHSAA 3A

Franklin

Franklin only had one individual or relay champion, but that did not stop the team from all doing their jobs, leading to the NCHSAA 3A state title.

Blake Cassada won the pole vault in 13-06, with teammates Adam Rogers (13-00) and Aaron Jennings (12-06) finishing 2nd and 4th, respectively.

Cal Drake and Talon Smith placed in the high jump. Drake was runner-up, earning all-state honors, and Smith was 8th.

Their relays gave them key points as well, finishing 4th in the 4x800m and 7th in the 4x400m.

Elijah Cochran and Logan Russo were the big time players on the track for Franklin. Coachran placed 4th in the 55m hurdles and 3rd in the 300m dash. Meanwhile, Russo was 5th in the 1,000m and 7th in the 1,600m. Isaiah Roots added points in the 500m to top it off.

Dudley

Team > Individual. With no state champions, the woman of Dudley made sure to leave it all on the track in search for glory with their team. They had three scorers in triple jump: Serenitie Johnson (3rd), Gabrielle Cheek (7th), and Tanzania Washington (8th). Lyric Watkins added a point in shot put, while Senadzi Rankin was 5th in long jump.

On the track, the were 3rd in the 4x200m and 8th in the 4x400m.

Rankin and Washington finished 2-3 in the 55m hurdles finals. Nathalya Daniels was 3rd in the 300m with Cheek right behind her in 4th. Cheek also placed 5th in the 300m.

NCHSAA 4A

Cuthbertson

"This is not normal." Coach Dustin Allen's words to his boys and girls squads after the award ceremony of the NCHSAA 4A state championship.

The Cavaliers swept the NCHSAA 4A boys and girls indoor titles yet again. However, it took a battle on the boys' side to get things done.

Cuthbertson's boys opened things off confidently, as they took 5th in the 4x800m, earning points right off the bat.

They scored some key points in the field, as Gatlin Lundy took runner-up in the shot put. Lawson Windsor was 4th in the pole vault. Christian Seibert was 2nd in the triple jump.

Charles Spellings took 5th in the 55m hurdles.

UNC signee's Killian Fahy and Reece Morgan did their jobs as well. Fahy was 4th in the 300m and 5th in the 500m, while Morgan was 6th in the 300m. They were both apart of the 4x400m team that clinched their victory with a win to end the afternoon.

The girls used their distance power to lead the way to the state title.

Justine Preisano earned her first individual state title, running 2:54.73 to win the 1,000m run. Teammates Stella Kermes and Charlotte Bell were right behind her, taking 2nd and 3rd respectively. In the 1,600m, Bell was victorious in a 1,600m North Carolina state record of 4:45.19. Kermes notched another runner-up finish, clocking 4:47.27.

Senior Alyssa Preisano ended her indoor career with two more podium finishes: 1,600m and 3,200m.

They scored points in all of the relays: 2nd in the 4x800m, 5th in the 4x400m, and 6th in the 4x200m.