Some mega-stars are set to take to the track Saturday for the NCHSAA 2A State Track and Field Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina on the campus of North Carolina A&T. The giant bulldog on the scoreboard will have the best seat in the house to watch these athletes put on a show once again in 2023.
New to the NCHSAA 2A classification, South Granville's Shawnti Jackson's day will be followed closely, as the Arkansas signee is looking for her tenth, eleventh, and twelfth individual state championships on the track. She opened her season in late April, but as we expect her season to run deep into the summer, this was not a surprise. She ran away with the 100m, 200m, and 400m titles at NCHSAA 2A Mideast. She is NCHSAA 2A No. 1 in all three sprint events, and is the heavy favorite to walk away with the titles, and some new state meet records.
A future star to keep an eye on is Serenity Harvey. The Whiteville sophomore was runner-up to Jackson in the 100m and 200m, and she sits NCHSAA 2A No. 2 in both events. She is the only other girl in 2A, alongside Jackson, to break 25.00 in the 200m (24.87).
The battles in the distance events will be similar sights to cross country and indoor track season. Cross country champion and Western Carolina signee Katherine Hopkins (Lincolnton) is NCHSAA 2A No. 1 in both the 1,600m and 3,200m. She won the NCHSAA 2A West Regional 1,600m and was runner-up in the 3,200m.
Meah Walsh (East Burke) will be the top seed in the 3,200m after running the top time of the weekend. She ran a personal best of 11:48.16 on fresh legs to get the win over Hopkins. Anika Raburn (NCSSM) won the 1,600m and 3,200m at NCHSAA 2A Mideast, and was runner-up in cross country season at states.
The 800m will test the maturity of two top tier freshmen as they race on North Carolina's biggest stage for the first time. Kelsey Burleson (West Stanly) will be the top seed in the 800m after winning the NCHSAA 2A Midwest Regional in 2:23.45. Over at NCHSAA 2A Mideast, freshman Cali O'Neill clocked 2:26.19 to get the win.
The two runners-up from those regionals, Fatima Cepeda (East Davidson) and Ainsley Heath (Heide) are looking for redemption and glory of their own.
Freshman superstar D'Anna Cotton (Cummings) is going to put on a show in the hurdles, that's for sure. She ran away with the NCHSAA 2A Mideast Regional titles in the 100mH and 300mH.
Cotton was runner-up to Akala Garrett during the indoor season in the 55mH.
Back to Cotton, she will be the top seed in the high jump and triple jump competitions as well. She is putting herself in strong contention to win four individual events and challenge Jackson (only running three individual events) for State Meet MVP.
Farmville Central is seeded top three in the 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m. They could score a lot of points to make the team battle interesting.
Shot put is a close battle as the top two seeds were only 4.5 inches apart from their respective regional. Top seed honors goes to North Surry's Ella Riggs (39-4.5), who won the NCHSAA 2A Midwest Regional. And seeded second will be 2A West champ Alana Warren (R-S Central).
The two will be back for discus, but the field is much tighter. Riggs is seeded 3rd after winning her regional. Warren finished 3rd at regionals and is seeded 4th. The top two from 2A West are the top two seeds this weekend, Kaylee Cutshaw (Bandys) and Ella Capps (Madison).
On the boy's side there are some top tier sprinters all vying for the crown.
All eyes are on defending triple crown winner Jonathan Paylor (Cummings). The junior sprinter and highly coveted football player won the state title in 2022 in the 100m, 200m, and 400m. Now in 2023, he has a rising star in Rahkeem Faison and fellow junior Correy McManus. McManus is the current NC No. 5 in the 100m (10.42) and has the top time in 2A. During the indoor season, McManus took down Paylor in the 55m dash finals. Meanwhile, Faison is coming in hot having won the 100m and 200m at NCHSAA 2A East, posting a 100m personal best in the process.
A rematch from 2A Mideast will highlight the 800m. NCSSM's Andrew Parker (1:58.43) got the win over Seaforth's Will Cuicchi (1:58.68), but only narrowly. 2A West champion Matthew Radin (Lincoln Charter) went under 2:00 at regionals as well. Daniel Ahearn (Community School of Davidson) has the top time overall on the season, having clocked 1:56.24 in early April.
Parker will have a busy day on his hands as he qualified in the 1,600m and 3,200m on top of the 800m. He is NCHSAA 2A No. 1 in the 1,600m, and he backed that up with a win at 2A Mideast. The 2A West winner Elijah Jones (Charles Owen) is 2A No. 3 in the 1,600m and No. 2 in the 3,200m.
Seaforth sophomore Jack Anstrom has broken out this season and emerged as the next great distance runner in North Carolina. He is NC No. 5 overall in the 3,200m this season. His best of 9:02.61 is a North Carolina sophomore record.
Superstar multi's athlete Kenneth Byrd has locked in his events for the state meet as well. He will be running in the 110mH, and 300mH, and will also be in the high jump and pole vault competitions.
Byrd was defeated in both hurdle events at regionals by Ayden Thompson (110mH) and Trevae Woodyard (300mH). With Byrd having a long day ahead of him, will his legs hold up? He has the experience in the decathlon that makes us think he will succeed and then some.
T.W. Andrews may compete for state title on their relays alone. They are the top seed in the 4x100m, 4x200m, and 4x400m, after securing wins at NCHSAA 2A West in all three.
The opening event, the 4x800m could make for an all-time race, as Owen, NCSSM, Lincoln Charter, and Seaforth all have incredibly talented squads.
