Mallard Creek put in the work Friday at the Blue Ridge Classic at North Bumcombe High School in Weaverville, North Carolina.
The team of Jayden Lee, Benjamin Black, Darren Morrison, and Christian Dixon put on a show for the crowd as they were firing on all cylinders.
Lee shot out of the blocks in lane four and made it clear it was going to be them versus the clock. Earlier in the day, Lee took 2nd in the 100m, running a personal best of 10.64, which is NC No. 14 this season.
He handed off to junior Benjamin Black. Black was 4th in the 55m at the NCHSAA 4A Indoor State Championship in February. As a freshman in 2021, he was 13th in the 100m at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship.
Black had a clean leg, pulling away from the field and leaving them out of the picture. The baton cleanly went to Darren Morrison.
Morrison, who is known for his prowess in hurdles, is no stranger to the 200m, as he holds a 22.41 best from early April. He took 2nd in the 300m hurdles as well at the Blue Ridge Classic.
Morrison made the final pass to rising superstar Christian Dixon. Dixon, only a sophomore, was runner-up in the 55m and 300m at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship. He went on to win the Emerging Elite 200m at Nike Indoor Nationals.
Dixon roared down the home straightaway and crossed the line with force, and the time on the clock was something we've never seen before in North Carolina: 1:24.55. This is the first sub 1:25.00 in state history and surpasses Knightdale's previous state record of 1:25.04. from 2011.
Their time is also U.S. No. 5 this season, and they are one of only 10 programs to have a mark under 1:25.00.
Big things are coming from this squad with conference, regionals, and states all around the corner.
This is the fifth state record we have seen this outdoor season already. Mallard Creek joins Cuthbertson Girls (4x800m), Akala Garrett (100mH), Rocky Hansen (3,200m) and Hannah Grace (Pole Vault) as new record holders.