NCHSAA Regionals lit up tracks across the state and one thing is for sure, these athletes are locked in. Tickets were punched to the NCHSAA state championship next weekend at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC.
Once again the blue Aggie track will play host to what will be a record setting weekend. However, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We saw a state record on top of double digit state leads this weekend. Here are some of the best moments from an iconic pre-state weekend in North Carolina.
Mallard Creek Sets Record Books in 4x200m
Just weeks after setting the North Carolina state record in the 4x200m, the Mallard Creek boys were not done by any means. On top of qualifying three individuals in the 100m, two in the 200m, and one in the 300m hurdles, their relays may have stolen the show. They swept the 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m, while finishing 3rd in the 4x800m. The posted NC No. 1 times in the 4x100m and 4x200m. Their 4x200m time of 1:24.49 beats their previous state record run of 1:24.55 from the Blue Ridge Classic. All eyes will be on the track for the NCHSAA 4A 4x200m relay on Saturday, and it may take a state record to take down Mallard Creek, if that is even possible.
JaMeesia Ford Is Ready To Takeover 4A
The newly crowned queen of NCHSAA 4A left no doubt this weekend at the NCHSAA 4A Mideast Regional. She is NCHSAA 4A No. 1 in the 100, and No. 2 in the 200m and 400m. Kaylyn Brown (Mallard Creek) is ahead of her in the 200m and 400m, but is only running the 100m at the state meet.
Ford put on a show at the regional, running five different times throughout the day. She opened the morning with a breezy win in the 100m prelims before coming back an hour later to take the finals in 11.70. The 100m was the only event she did not set a season best. Ford knew her day ahead was plentiful. She ran season bests in the 200m (23.89) and 400m (54.34), while running away from the competition. She finished the day with a come from behind effort that secured her team's spot in the 4x400m state championship.
Ford went pretty much unopposed all season, have finished 1st place in all her competitions thus far. The national champion is hunting her 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th state titles this weekend.
Earlier this season at conference, she ran NC No. 3 all-time 11.34 in the 100m.
Reece Morgan Clocks Top 10 All-Time Mark
Antwan Hughes Jr. Explodes in 100m, Runs NC No. 5 All-Time.
Hughes Jr. been hearing all the talk since the indoor state meet, where he ran NC T-No. 1 all-time 6.19 in the 55m dash. He heard the doubters, and he came out swinging this weekend.
10.31 in the finals. NC No. 1 this season. Tied for NC No. 2 all-time (wind legal). US No. 36 this season.
Three boys in-state have gone under 10.40 this season, and they will all being lining up next to one-another at the state meet. Christian Parker (SW Guilford) was runner-up at regionals, and Morgan was 4th.
Shawnti Jackson Returns Looking As Strong As Ever
The Arkansas signee has been getting herself right these last few weeks to make sure her final NCHSAA state meet is a memorable one. Now apart of South Granville, Jackson will be taking to the track during the NCHSAA 2A state championship. Jackson is already a nine-time individual state champion (not counting relays) across indoor and outdoor track in five different events (55mi, 100m, 200m, 300mi, and 400m).
She made her season debut at the Aggie Classic in late April, running a personal best in the 400m (52.13). She is undefeated in 10 races during the outdoor season, including a win at Penn Relays in a professional 200m field.
Cuthbertson Girls Spread The Wealth
In their quest to once again defend their NCHSAA 4A team championship, the distance runners of Cuthbertson are spreading their talents out to try and secure the most points for the team's success. They will be relying on the 800m and 1,600m, and they had no 3,200m qualifiers. Which, looking around the state, might be the most difficult state title to come by this season.
Alyssa Preisano, a two-time individual state champion on the outdoor track, led the way in the 1,600m, getting the win at regionals in a comfortable 5:00.62. Joining her is Grace Hanson (Weddington), and teammates Charlotte Bell and Stella Kermes.
Bell and Kermes will be pulling double duty, as they also went 1-2 in the 800m, respectively.
Justine Preisano was 3rd in the 800m, and was a apart of the 3rd place 4x800m team.
Bell is NC No. 1 in the 800m and 1,600m. Kermes is NC No. 2 in the 800m and No. 4 in the 1,600m. A. Preisano is NC No. 3 in the 1,600m. J. Preisano is NC No. 4 in the 800m.
Just an Insane Boy's 800m at 4A Midwest
The 800m at NCHSAA 4A Midwest was something special. The top five times in the state all now come from this regional. The disappointing part? Only the top four can make the state meet. Jordan Good (Western Guilford) led the way running NC No. 1 and US No. 22 1:51.38. Behind him was the top returner from the 2022 state meet, Andrew Burrell (Mount Tabor). NCHSAA 4A 1,000m indoor state champion R.J. Gajan was 3rd, and Walt Peterson (R.J. Reynolds) was 4th in 1:53.88. The unfortunate odd-man out is the lone junior of the group, Jamel Brown (SW Guilford), who ran a personal best of 1:53.97. In a vacuum, his time would've won every other regional. Although it is hard to make that case with varying weather and race strategies throughout the state.
Jamir McCrae Joins Exclusive Company
Midway High School senior Jamir McCrae cleared 7-0 in the high jump at the NCHSAA 2A Mideast Regional, tying the 12th best performance in state history. He is the 26th athlete in North Carolina history to clear 7-0, and the fourth since 2005.
Camryn Massey Creeps Closer To State Record
169-10. Talk about a toss off the arm of Ashbrook's Camryn Massey. Only a junior, Massey competed for Gaston Day School in the NCISAA in 2021 and 2022. Now apart of the Ashbrook program, the defending indoor state champion in shot put is ready to take her talents to North Carolina A&T for the state championship.
She won the both the shot put and discus at the NCHSAA 3A West Regional, but the discus is where she made a name for herself. She became the fourth athlete in state history to toss the discus over 160-0, joining Veronica Fraley (C/O 2018), Aslynn Halvorson (C/O 2009), and Kamorean Hayes (C/O 2007). Her mark of 169-10 is NC No. 2 all-time, with Fraley's 175-9 record being the goal.