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WINSTON-SALEM - There wasn't a repeat of last year, but it was close.
Providence Day girls and Coastal Christian boys continued team title streaks, while Charlotte Christian boys and Hickory Christian girls entered new territory as each team earned team victories at the sixth NCRunners Independent Schools Indoor Track & Field Championships Thursday at JDL Fast Track.
Providence Day's girls won their sixth straight title (and second straight in Division I), and Coastal Christian's boys won their second straight Division II/III title, while Charlotte Christian's boys (Division I) and Hickory Christian's girls (Division II/III) won the meet for first time in school history.
This was the second year of split divisions at the meet, a testament to the growth of the sport after Cary Academy's Conrad Hall spearheaded efforts in 2020 to help give the private school student-athletes an opportunity to compete in an indoor track and field championship meet. Hall, who was inducted into the North Carolina High School Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame on Feb. 1, guided his boys to a second consecutive runner-up finish in Division I.
In all, 23 meet record were set (nine in Division I, and 14 in Division II/III), six won multiple individual events (four in Division I, and two in Division II/III), and 14 repeated as champions (eight in Division I, and six in Division II/III).
Leading the meet-record charge was Charlotte Christian's Evan Boykin, who has signed to run at Kentucky. He was the only one to break two records (both in Division I), running 6.35 seconds in the 55 meters, and 34.02 in the 300 meters (he is nationally ranked in both events, No. 4 in the 300 meters and 14th in the 55 meters). The records were Boykin's third overall for an individual event after setting the NCISAA Division I outdoor 200-meter record of 21.19 in 2023. The two individual titles also gave him six total individual championships, adding to the four he won in outdoor track (100, 200 and 400 meters in 2024, and 200 meters in 2023), and 13 overall when adding his indoor and outdoor track relay victories (before leading Charlotte Christian to repeat wins in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays on Thursday, he had helped the Knights to the last two 4x100-meter relay titles in the outdoor track and field championships, as well as last year's outdoor 4x200-meter relay victory).
Of the 14 repeat winners, Metrolina Christian's Annie Miller (a Furman signee) was the only one to threepeat. Miller did so in record fashion, winning the 1,000 meters for the third straight year, and running 2:57.54 to break the meet record for the third straight year, as well, shattering the mark of 3:01.11 she set last year. The win was her fifth individual state title (after winning the 800 meters outdoors in 2023 and 2024) and eighth overall, after anchoring the 4x800-meter relay (Ridley Rutherford, Hadley Martin, Lillian Anderson, Miller) for a come-from-behind win for the second straight year, this time in 9:50.77 - 10th fastest in North Carolina this season, regardless of classification.
Also highlighting the meet was North Carolina Gatorade Cross Country Runner of the Year and Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals qualifier, Carolina Day's Carolina Barton (a Princeton signee). She won her second straight 3,200-meter title (10:29.40, NC No. 2 this season), and first Division II/III 1,000-meter title (2:58.92, a meet record and NC No. 10 this season). In the 3,200 meters, Barton also won the overall title after holding off Rabun Gap-Nacoochee's Bailey Brackett, who ran 10:38.70 (No. 6 in the nation) to win the Division I title (athletes from each division competed in the same races, and results were separated to determine team and event winners in each division). The 1,000 meters was a much-anticipated showdown between Barton and Miller. Barton led Miller for the first 825 meters until Miller eased up beside Barton, took the lead at about 850 meters, and sped to the win (Barton claimed the Division II/III 1,000-meter title).
That duel, which pushed both to meet records, also highlighted several other top-25 nationally ranked athletes at the meet, including Boykin (55 and 300 meters), Greensboro Day's Endia Smith (a Tennessee signee ranked No. 4 in the triple jump), Miller (No. 10, 800 meters), Barton (3,200 meters), and three more who had top-25 nationally ranked performances on Thursday: Charlotte Christian's Jamal Rule, 500 meters, US No. 7, 1:04.07 9 (NC No. 2; AT NC No. 15); Charlotte Christian's Nina Dominique (James Madison signee), 55 meters, US No. 20, 6.96 (NC No. 3; AT NC No. 12); and Rabun Gap-Nacoochee's Bailey Brackett, US No. 20, 3,200 meters, 10:38.70.
PROVIDENCE DAY GIRLS CONTINUES DOMINANCE
Providence Day's girls have never lost in the six-year history of the meet, as they added to their nine straight NCISAA outdoor track and field titles they won from 2013-2022.
After a two-point win at the 2023 NCRunners Independent Schools Indoor Track & Field Championships against CISAA conference rival Charlotte Country Day (102-100), the Chargers inched past the Buccaneers again, this time by one point (126-125). The runner-up finish was Charlotte Country Day's fifth runner-up and fourth straight second-place trophy, as the indoor title eluded the Buccaneers once again. The near-victory came on the heels of winning the girls' NCISAA 4A cross country title and the last two NCISAA Division I outdoor track and field titles.
"This was yet another incredible showdown between Country Day and our girls' team," said longtime Providence Day coach, Program Head and North Carolina High School Track & Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame coach Ben Hovis. "A huge congrats to Country Day and Coach Al Pearman for once again fielding an outstanding team. And, also thank you (to them, as well), because their program continues to push our girls to improve and strive to be their very best."
Even though the meet came down to the final event, the 4x400-meter relay, with Providence Day needing to stay within a place of their conference rivals to win (Country Day won and Providence Day finished third in the Division I race), two athletes in particular were helping set that stage with their performances in the hurdles and jumps.
'Coach (Kris) Jones has done a great job with his girls," Hovis said. "He has especially crushed it with his duo of Evelyn Hee and Emmalynn Goddard, who scored 51 points in jumps and hurdles today between the two of them. They scored over a third of the team's points. With that said, it was still a team effort as the girls scored in every event. The girls are very excited for their win, but they know it's time to recover and get focused for the outdoor season."
Hee finished runner-up in the 55-meter hurdles (8.79 seconds), won the long jump (16-feet, 9.5 inches), and was fourth in the triple jump (33-feet, 3 inches) and high jump (4-feet, 8 inches). Goddard was runner-up in the long jump (16-feet, 6.75 inches) and triple jump (35-feet, 8.5 inches) and fifth in the 55-meter hurdles (9.56 seconds) and high jump (4-feet, 6 inches).
But the gritty third-place finish by Providence Day that sealed the sixth straight title for the Chargers.
COASTAL CHRISTIAN BOYS REPEAT
Coastal Christian breezed to their second straight Division II/III title, as the Centurians' dominated the field events to beat runner-up Asheville School, 134-71.
An astounding 79 of Coastal Christian's 134 points came from the high jump, pole vault, long jump, triple jump and shot put.
Interestingly, though, the Centurians started the meet with a win on the track, running to victory in the 4x800-meter relay, as Corban Cazier, Miles Hermann, Micah Short and Cole Williamson ran 8:20.36.
But it was the field events where the Centurians did their damage. Victories came from Cameron Blalock (triple jump, 41-feet, 3 inches), Cole Hudson (pole vault, 13-feet) and Conor Lampman (high jump, 5-feet, 10 inches), and they had huge runner-up points from Blalock (high jump, 5-6) and Ryan Hobbs (shot put, 39-8.5), along with key runner-up finishes in the track events (Cazier, 500 meters, 1:09.86) and Buckley Hubbard (55-meter hurdles, 8.74) and the 4x400-meter relay of Cazier, Hubbard, Herrmann and Short (3:37.97).
"I couldn't be more proud of this boys' team," said Coastal Christian coach Maya Baxter, whose boys teams have dominated recent outdoor track and field championship meets with impressive winning steaks, as well, winning three straight Division II titles, and five of the last six state titles overall, after winning Division 1A/2A in 2018, and Division II titles in 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Now they can add a streak of indoor track and field titles to their dominant outdoor track and field run.
"From the start of the season in November, being here was always the goal," Baxter continued. "Going into the meet, I kept them slightly in the dark on where they stood in order for them to compete the best they can and not assume anything would be given to them. They would have to 100 percent earn it. They would need to trust the training, have the desire to compete, and unify as a team to do so together. And that's exactly what they did,"
Baxter had the team focused on competing well, though, as opposed to how dominant of a team they potentially had at this year's championship meet.
"I truly feel humbled and blessed by this group every time I see them pray before each race, cheer for each other equally in every event, and keep God first in their victories," Baxter said. "To me, that's the greatest gift any coach could ask of their athletes."
CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN BOYS WIN FIRST DIVISION I
Charlotte Christian rode Evan Boykin, Jamal Rule, Nick Dunkley and Joey Wynn, who accounted for 91 of Charlotte Christian's 118 points (71 if not including the 20 points from winning the 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays).
Every point was needed, as the Knights held off Cary Academy (runner-up for the second-straight time, this time with 112 points), to win Charlotte Christian's first indoor track and field title, and first track and field title since winning the NCISAA 3A outdoor championship in 2001.
In a moment of reflection and gratitude, I want to first give glory to God and express my sincere thanks to the athletic department and administration at Charlotte Christian for providing me with the opportunity to lead this incredible program," Charlotte Christian coach Ralph Jones said. "Winning the school's first-ever indoor title holds a special place in my heart, not just because of the achievement itself, but because of the incredible group of young men and coaches who made it possible. This victory is the culmination of four years of hard work, and it's especially meaningful to me as I share it with my first senior class-who were freshmen when I took over the program."
Boykin won the 55 meters (6.35 seconds) and 300 meters (34.02), Rule won the 500 meters (1:04.07), was runner-up in the 300 meters (35.07) and third in the long jump (20-7), and Dunkley was runner-up in the 55 meters (6.56) and fourth in the 300 meters (35.86), and Wynn was third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.28), fifth in the 500 meters (1:09.55) and seventh in the long jump (19-feet, 3 inches), with each playing a role in the 4x200 and 4x400-meter relay victories, as well (1:32.87 and 3:27.83, respectively).
"My coaching staff and I have been strategizing throughout the year, closely monitoring rankings and preparing for the meet," Jones said. "We knew we would face tough competition from Metrolina and Providence Day, but we also recognized the 'magic number' we were chasing: 120. We believed the team that reached 120 points would take home the title. After the high jump, we were surprised to see Cary Academy in the lead, as their strength in the distance races posed a significant challenge. We knew that if they gained a lead heading into the 3200, it would be difficult to catch them, as we didn't have anyone in that race, and they had three strong competitors."
"I gathered the team for a quick meeting to emphasize how close the meet was and how every point mattered. From that moment on, the athletes elevated their performances to exceed my expectations. Every one of the 16 athletes we brought scored and recorded personal bests in some capacity. It was a true team effort, and I am proud of the resilience and heart they showed to secure this historic victory for Charlotte Christian."
But Charlotte Christian needed more than just the quartet of Boykin, Rule, Dunkley and Wynn to secure the victory. Eight others scored crucial points: Clete Saylor (55 meters, 7th, triple jump, sixth), Peter Caswell (55-meter hurdles, 6th; high jump, 5th), Aaron Boykin (shot put, 2nd), Matthew Leathers (shot put, 7th), Josiah Amasa (triple jump, 3rd) and Mitchell Kotula (triple jump, 8th), and providing key relay legs were Jack Krause (4x200 and 4x400-meter relay) and Holden Green (key 4x200-meter relay).
HICKORY CHRISTIAN WINS SCHOOL'S FIRST TRACK & FIELD TITLE
Although Hickory Christian won just two events, the Knights were able to beat defending champion, Coastal Christian, 108-100 for the girls' Division II/III title, the first girls' track and field title, indoors or outdoors, adding to the state championship trophy case after the girls' NCISAA 1A cross country three-peat more than 10 years ago (2012, 2013, 2014).
"First, I want to congratulate Coastal Christian's girls' team on a fantastic competition today. Despite the absence of their star athlete (Hannah Grace), they pushed us to the absolute limit," Hickory Christian coach Jon Hata said. "This was a historic day for the Hickory Christian Academy track and field program, winning our school's first-ever track state team title. I couldn't be more proud of the way our athletes sacrificed their individual goals for the sake of overall team success today. While we may be few in number, we are blessed with some exceptional athletes who have put in years of hard work to accomplish this goal. I also want to recognize and thank our dedicated coaching staff, who have helped grow and develop our program over the past few years."
The two event victories came from Caroline Sprinkle (long jump, 15-feet, 7.25 inches), and the quartet of Alayna Stewart, Emma Sparks, Kallie Morgan and Natalie Nicholls in the 4x400-meter relay (4:25.81).
But it was the high-place finishes in other events that secured the win by the eight girls Hickory Christian entered in the meet.
Sprinkle gained 14 more points after a runner-up finish in the high jump (5-feet) and third in the triple jump (32-10.75); Stewart added 16 points with two runner-up finishes (pole vault, 10 feet; long jump, 14-8.5); Nicholls scored 14 with a runner-up (500, 1:28.32) and third-place finish (300 meters, 45.27); Sparks secured four points with a fifth-place (300 meters, 47.79); Morgan added four points (55-meter hurdles, 10.67), and Sparks, Morgan and Nicholls teamed with Adley Drum for fourth in the 4x200-meter relay (2:04.5).
Adding to the quality finishes was Hata's daughter, Cate, the NCISAA 2A cross country champion, who was runner-up in the 1,600 meters (5:26.44) and third in the 3,200 meters (11:49.69). Belle Taylor also added six points in the 55 meters and 55-meter hurdles, with sixth-place finishes in each (8.34 and 10.67, respectively).
MORE HIGHLIGHTS
MULTI-EVENT WINNERS
BOYS
* Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, Division I 55 meters (6.35) and 300 meters (34.02)
* Kavi Gibson, Cary Academy, Division I 1,000 (2:36.80), 1,600 (4:22.11) and 3,200 (9:32.60)
* Aiden Ray, Providence Day, Division I 55-meter hurdles (7.62), long jump (22-5.5), triple jump (45-3)
GIRLS
* Madison Rae Noble, Charlotte Christian, Division I high jump (5-6), triple jump (35-11.75)
* India Wilson, Greensboro Day, Division II/III 300 meters (44.02), 55-meter hurdles (8.63)
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, Division II/III 1,000 meters (2:58.82), 3,200 meters (10:34.02)
REPEAT WINNERS
BOYS
* Jaden Satterfield, Greensboro Day, Division II/III 55 meters (2024, 2025)
* Kavi Gibson, Cary Academy, Division I 1,600 meters (2024, 2025)
* James Callahan, Cary Christian, Division II/III 1,600 meters (2024, 2025)
* Aiden Ray, Providence Day, Division I 55-meter hurdles (2024, 2025)
* Matthew Burch, Metrolina Christian, Division I shot put (2024,2025)
* Cole Hudson, Coastal Christian, Division II/III pole vault (2024, 2025)
* Charlotte Christian, Division I 4x200-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay (2024, 2025)
* Coastal Christian, Division II/III 4x800-meter relay (2024, 2025)
GIRLS
* Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, Division I 55 meters (2024, 2025)
* Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, Division I 1,000 meters (2023, 2024, 2025)
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, Division II/III 3,200 meters (2024, 2025)
* Endia Smith, Greensboro Day, Division II/III triple jump (2024, 2025)
* Charlotte Country Day, Division I 4x400-meter relay (2024, 2025)
* Metrolina Christian, Division I 4x800-meter relay (2024, 2025)
MEET RECORDS
BOYS
DIVISION I
* Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, 55 meters, 6.35 (old record, 6.41, by Donovan Calhoun, Wesleyan Christian, 2023)
* Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, 300 meters, 34.02 (old record, 35.28, by Brunner Williams, Providence Day, 2023)
* Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, 500 meters, 1:04.07 (old record, 1:06.76, Aaron Caveney, Durham Academy, 2023)
* Aiden Ray, Providence Day, 55-meter hurdles, 7.62 (old record, 7.75, Ray, 2024)
* Charlotte Christian, 4x400-meter relay, 3:27.83 (old record, 3:31.92, Charlotte Christian, 2024)
* Matthew Sluder, Charlotte Country Day, high jump, 6-4 (old record, 6-3, Walker Norris, North Raleigh Christian, 2023)
DIVISION II/III
* Jaden Satterfield, Greensboro Day, 55 meters, 6.52 (old record, 6.66, by Satterfield, 2024)
* Connor Hudson, Cary Christian, 300 meters, 1:07.75 (old record, 1:08.28, by Aiden Garrett, Coastal Christian, 2024)
* Connor Frizzell, University Christian, 1,000 meters, 2:38.35 (old record, 2:43.75, by Milo Horton, Grace Christian Raleigh, 2024)
* Reynolds Young, Asheville Christian, 3,200 meters, 9:27.61 (old record, 10:11.41, by Charlie Slawinski, St. David's, 2024)
* Asheville School, 4x200-meter relay, 1:34.37 (old record, 1:39.72, Trinity Academy of Raleigh, 2024)
* Asheville School, 4x400-meter relay, 3:36.36 (old record, 3:44.27, Coastal Christian, 2024)
* Coastal Christian, 4x800-meter relay, 8:20.36 (old record, 8:41.60, Coastal Christian, 2024)
* Conor Lampman, Coastal Christian, high jump, 5-10 (old record, 5-8, Davis Lynch, Forsyth Country Day, 2024)
* Caleb Dramis, Wake Christian, long jump, 20-2.75 (old record, 20-1.5, Owen Fowler, Forsyth Country Day, 2024)
GIRLS
DIVISION I
* Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, 1,000 meters, 2:57.54 (old record, 3:01.11, by Miller, 2024)
* Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day, 1,600 meters, 4:59.42 (old record, 5:00.87, by Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, 2023)
* Madison Rae Noble, Charlotte Christian, high jump, 5-6 (old record, 5-0, Callie McCarron, Cary Academy, 2024)
DIVISION II/III
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, 1,000 meters, 2:58.92 (old record, 3:12.42, by Demi Nicholas, Cary Christian, 2024)
* India Wilson, Greensboro Day, 55-meter hurdles, 8.63 (old record, 8.66, Journey Morrison, Asheville School, 2024)
* Hickory Christian, 4x400-meter relay, 4:25.81 (old record, 4:28.19, Forsyth Country Day, 2024)
* Skylar Romero, Carolina Day, high jump, 5-0 (old record, 4-8, by Sky Stoffels, Trinity Academy of Raleigh, 2024)
* Endia Smith, Greensboro Day, triple jump, 39-8.5 (old record, 38-10.5, Smith, 2024)
TOP-25 NATIONALLY RANKED PEFORMANCES (this season)
BOYS
* Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, US No. 7, 500 meters, 1:04.07
GIRLS
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, US No. 6, 3,200 meters, 10:34.02
* Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, US No. 20, 55 meters, 6.96
* Bailey Brackett, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee, US No. 20, 3,200 meters, 10:38.70
TOP-10 STATE RANKING (this season)
BOYS
* Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, NC No. 2, 500 meters, 1:04.07
* Aiden Ray, Providence Day, NC No. 6, long jump, 22-5.5
* Jamal Rule, Joey Wynn, Jack Krause, Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, 4x400 relay, NC No. 9, 3:27.83
GIRLS
* Madison Rae Noble, Charlotte Christian, tied for NC No. 1, high jump, 5-6
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, NC No. 2, 3,200 meters, 10:34.02
* Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, NC No. 3, 55 meters, 6.96
* Ali Laros, Durham Academy, NC No. 4, pole vault, 11-feet
* Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day, NC No. 9, 1,600 meters, 4:59.42
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, NC No. 10, 1000 meters, 2:58.92
* Ridley Rutherford, Hadley Martin, Lillian Anderson, Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, NC No. 10, 4x800-meter relay, 9:50.77
ALL-TIME TOP-50 STATE RANK
BOYS
* Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, AT NC No. 15 in NC, 500 meters, 1:04.07
* Jamal Rule, Joey Wynn, Jack Krause, Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, 4x400 relay, AT NC No. 36, 3:27.83
GIRLS
* Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, AT NC No. 12, 55 meters, 6.96
* Madison Rae Noble, Charlotte Christian, tied for AT NC No. 21, high jump, 5-6
* Caitlin Kasten, Covenant Day, AT NC No. 31, 1,600 meters, 4:59.42
* Caroline Barton, Carolina Day, AT NC No. 38, 1000 meters, 2:58.92