Photos: courtesy of PrettySporty.com
Here’s a look at the upcoming Durham Striders High School Invitational. This meet is LOADED with entries as usual and as usual this is the first time much of the state will hear of certain athletes. I look forward to this meet every year because this is truly the beginning for many athletes. Young athletes, new athletes, hard working athletes, all of a sudden prove they are contenders this indoor season and outdoor season here at the Durham Striders meet.
Once again, like the boy’s preview. There will be names I’m either not familiar with or accidently leave off. I apologize. Best of luck to everyone competing this weekend.
Girls 55m
Although, Dominque Weathers hasn’t run anything on the NCRunners radar yet, she is the favorite to win on Saturday. Dominique ran 7.04 at last year’s 4A state meet to win. She will have stiff competition, however, as Ebony Scott of SE Raleigh ran 7.14 last weekend and is currently ranked 10th in the US. Also, Wakefield’s Olicia Sharp ran 7.17 at the end of December and could push the 7.00 mark.
Top Contenders:
Dominque Weathers, Vance – 7.04 last year
Ebony Scott, SE Raleigh – 7.14 (US #10) at Tar Heel Invite last weekend
Olicia Sharp, Wakefield – 7.17 (US #16) at Boo Williams on 12/28
Zakiya Tyson, Jordan – 7.19 (US #19) at Tar Heel
Gabrielle Gray, High Point Central – ran 7.16 last year at this meet as a 9th grader
Varonica Johnson, Providence Day – 7.25 (US #26), ran 7.18 last season
Girls 300m
This should be a great event for NC. Due to the seed times, many of the state’s finest will not compete together in the same heats, but looking at last week’s times, it will be fast. 3 girls went under 41 seconds at the Tar Heel Invite, won by Jack Britt’s Sanura Eley-O’Reilly. I’m going to call her the favorite, but honestly could go to a handful of athletes. 2 other ladies have broken 41 this season at other indoor meets and that was earlier in the 
Top Contenders:
Sanura Eley-O’Reilly, Jack Britt – 40.43 (US #18), 54.07 last season in 400m
Miata Morlu, Providence Day – 40.99 PR, 54.95 400m & 59.24 400m hurdles
Zakiya Tyson, Jordan – 40.51 (US #19), PR of 24.00 in 200
Aiesha Goggins, Riverside – 40.63 (US #22) @ Liberty on 12/12, 54.63 400m PR
Ebony Scott, SE Raleigh – 40.67 (US #23)
Ariah Graham, Wakefield – 40.73 (US #24)
Girls 500m
Aiesha Goggins of Riverside ran 1:17.75 at Liberty Elite Invitational way back on December 12th. She is the favorite here, but there are challengers. T’Sheila Mungo of Independence has run 1:18 in a polar bear meet, but indoors is a different race. However, T’Sheila had the #3 time in the state last year. Sanura Eley-O’Reilly was #4 in the US last year in this event and should be the favorite, but I’m going with an underdog, plus she’s only hit 1:19 outdoors so far this year.
Top Contenders:
Aiesha Goggins, Riverside – 1:17.75 (US #8), running extremely well right now
T’Sheila Mungo, Independence – 1:18.70 @ polar bear meet
Miata Morlu, Providence Day – ran 1:18.45 at this meet last year
Alyssa Omile, Enloe – ran 1:18.92 last year at 4A state meet
Sanura Eley-O’Reilly, Jack Britt – ran 1:14.89 last year #1 in state, #4 in US last year
Girls 55m Hurdles
Dannielle Davis of SE Raleigh looks to be the new standout hurdler in NC. Last weekend she ran a new personal best in the prelims, hitting 8.20. So far the next best time in the state is Clayton’s Molly Williams at 8.52. Even in a tough race for Dannielle last week, she hit 8.40 in the finals. She looks to be a head above the rest right now.
Top Contenders:
Dannielle Davis, SE Raleigh – 8.20 (US #7)
Molly Williams, Clayton – 8.52 (US #26)
Chantal Scott, Wakefield – 8.54 at Boo Williams on 12/28
Kasey Jones, Watauga – 8.65 on 12/12, 4th at 4A state meet last year
Teaunna Cuthbertson, North Rowan – 8.52 last year, 2nd at 1A/2A/3A meet
Girls 1000m
Last year was a great year for North Carolina in the 800. Myers Park and West Johnston threw down the fastest times ever run in the 4x800s and Becca Deloache ran a speedy 2:11.96. So, what does this season have in store at the 800/1000m distance? Kenyetta Iyevbele, Olympic, has run 3:00 outdoors already, alone. Deanna Foshee of Cary ran 3:04 last weekend at the Tar Heel Invite. I can’t bet against Becca in this one.
Top Contenders:
Kenyetta Iyevbele, Olympic – hit 3:00 alone, 2:17 PR in 800m
Becca Deloache, Myers Park – 2:11.96 and 5:07 PRs
Deanna Foshee, Cary – 3:04.43 last week for 7 second win over sister
Jocelyn Keen, Fuquay-Varina – has a PR of 2:16.60 in the 800
Destine Kirkman, Harding – 2:17.26 PR in the 800m
Girls 1600m
Laura Hoer of TC Roberson ran 5:00 and 2:15 last year on the track. Then she had an outstanding XC season, too, winning the 4A title. She has to be the favorite coming in. Again, last year was a great year for the 1600 in NC. The best year I can remember, and with this lineup Saturday . . . can’t wait to see the race!
Top Contenders:
Laura Hoer, TC Roberson – 5:00 last year outdoors, 2:15 800
Kenyetta Iyevbele, Olympic – 5:01 last year outdoors, watch her kick
Lexie Schustrom, Pinecrest – 5:14 in this early season, 5:07 PR
Kelly Montague, West Johnson – 5:09 last year outdoors
Margaret Leak, Mount Tabor – 5:08 outdoor PR
Girls 3200m
Honestly, I can’t wait for the 3200m run this season on the girl’s side. There is so much talent in NC this year. Just take a look at the tune-ups prior to Foot Locker, amazing times. Lexie Schustrom of Pinecrest threw down a 10:59 by herself in December. Yes, she was coming off of the XC season, but then she ran 5:14 a week ago. She’s legit and is the favorite in this race.
Top Contenders:
Lexie Schustrom, Pinecrest – 10:59 winning by a huge mark in December
Kenyetta Iyevbele, Olympic – what races will she run? All 3? 11:06 PR
Lauren Strapp, Leesville Road – 11:18 PR last year
Kersie Jhabvala, Apex – 11:20 PR, huge XC season for her
Girls Long Jump
Teaunna Cuthbertson of North Rowan jumped 19-0 last year at the 2A state meet but it wasn’t quite enough to win the title. This could be her year, as she returns as the top jumper in North Carolina. Teaunna has to be the favorite, especially since she is currently sitting in the #1 spot in NC with her 17-7.75 mark from 12/12.
Top Contenders:
Teaunna Cuthbertson, North Rowan – 19 foot PR, over 17 ½ in December (US #25)
Dominique Weathers, Vance – haven’t seen her jump before, but speed goes a long way
Hannah Hensley, Pinecrest – 17-6 already this season, outdoors
Kortney Williams, Cummings – jumped 17-9.5 last outdoor season, 17-4.5 indoors this season
Ashley Christie, Marvin Ridge – jumped 17-10.5 last outdoor season
Girls Triple Jump
The girls triple jump could turn out to be one of the strongest events for North Carolina this year. Last year, 8 girls went over 38-6 outdoors and 5 look to be returning. Then a look deeper, 7 of the top 11 girls return, with all those girls going over 38 feet. And in this indoor season thus far, the #7 returning athlete, Tristine Johnson of Jordan is ranked #5 in the US. So let’s take a closer look who is competing this weekend.
Top Contenders:
Tristine Johnson, Jordan – 38-7.75 last week (US #5)
Teaunna Cuthbertson, North Rowan – hit 39-4.5w last year
Aisha Cannon, Mooresville – 39-4.5 outdoors last year
Alexis Hall, Page – 38-8 last year
Kendra Douglas, SE Raleigh – 37-7 outdoors
Girls High Jump
Last weekend there was a solid competition between two jumpers. Hannah Hensley of Pinecrest and Cierra Burdick of Butler both cleared 5-4 at the Tar Heel Invitational. That puts them in a tie for 22nd in the US. With 4 girls listed at 5-3 and 5-4 this one could be up for grabs. I’m going to call Cierra Burdick for the win.
Top Contenders:
Hannah Hensley, Pinecrest – 5-4 last weekend (US #22, tied)
Cierra Burdick, Butler – 5-4 last weekend (US #22, tied)
Jazmin Flagler, South Granville – 5-2 this season at Boo Williams, big PR
Devin Clausen, East Forsyth – jumped 5-4 last year outdoors
Girls Pole Vault
The pole vault competition on Saturday should be a good one. The favorite has to be Cassie Crawford of Panther Creek. Cassie had the highest clearance in the state last year of 11-7.75. Two other 11-0 vaulters are in the competition, Ashleigh Culpepper of Franklin and Caitie Simmons of Clayton.
Top Contenders:
Cassie Crawford, Panther Creek – 11-7.75 last year, best mark outdoors last year
Ashleigh Culpepper, Franklin – 10-6 last week and 11-0 outdoors last year
Sydney White, East Forsyth – 10-6 last weekend, a new personal best
Caitie Simmons, Clayton – 11-0 last year outdoors
Emily Simmons, Clayton – 10-3 outdoors last year
3 others have cleared 10-0
Girls Shot Put
Without Claire Watkins of Butler the competition looks to be a bit more up in the air. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a number of solid throwers, but the 40 plus mark may be safe this weekend. Latoya Wright of Harnett Central looks to be the favorite as she comes in with the best mark of 39-10 from last year during outdoor track.
Top Contenders:
Latoya Wright, Harnett Central – 39-10 last year outdoors
Jasmin Suydam, Mallard Creek – threw 38-2 last year
Kayla Rudisil, Charlotte Country Day – 34-8.5 outdoors
Then there are lots of names that are new, but it just takes a strong athletic person to be good at the shot put
Girls 4x400
Give this one to Wakefield right now. Are there other teams that will be able to compete at some point? Most likely, but right now with Wakefield’s 3:57 at Boo Williams they look to be heads above the 
Top Contenders:
Wakefield – 3:57.69 (US #3) this season, held US #1 spot for a week
North Mecklenburg – ran 4:08 at polar bear in December and 4:01 last year outdoors
SE Raleigh – ran 4:09 last weekend at Tar Heel
Girls 4x800
It’s a full plate for the Foshee sisters of Cary, but with 3 girls who have run 3:11 indoors already this season, they have to be the favorites. They also ran a very quick 9:24 last year outdoors and were ranked 3rd in the state.
Top Contenders:
Cary
West Johnston
Green Hope
