The Dash for Doobie 3200s always provides and exciting bridge on the distance side between the end of cross country and start of the indoor track season as athletes look to bring their cross country fitness to a 3200m before taking some time off between seasons. This is the 18th edition of the event that brings together many of North Carolina's top distance runners with some out of state stars traveling in to compete. Athletes competing for their high school can set a qualifying mark for the NCHSAA Indoor State Championships in February as the indoor track season is officially underway in North Carolina.
If registered ensure you have paid your entry fee before tomorrow that can be found here. Spectator admission will be online and is $5 per person.
The girls race will be the race of the night as Ohio State Champion Sophia Szolosi (Athens) will battle with North Carolina State Champions Madeline Dorsch (Pinecrest) and Kaitlyn Estep (Cardinal GIbbons). Szolosi holds a 5K seasons best of 16:43 and won her OHSAA Division 2 State Championship in 17:02. She holds a 3200m PR of 10:24 and 1600m PR of 4:49 and should be due for a new PR after having a big cross country season. Dorsch ran 17:09 at the NCHSAA State Championships for the fastest time of the weekend and second fastest mark ever at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex. The sophomore has had an incredible cross country season with a personal best of 16:55. She hasn't run a 3200m yet, but holds a 1600m PR of 4:56 from her freshman track season. She told us at the state meet she wants to go after 10:00 at Dash for Doobie, so you can expect a fast race up front! Estep has shown to be stronger on the track with PRs of 4:44 for 1600m, 2:08 for 800m and 10:33 for 3200m. She won the 7A cross country state championship in 17:16 and holds a seasons best of 17:04. Would expect this to be a three girl race up front as they look to run a fast 3200m before looking to qualify for a national cross country meet the following two weeks!
Emma Balaban (Weddington) was only 8 seconds behind Estep at the 7A State Championships and is one that could battle with the top group. She's run 17:25 and holds a 5:01 1600m PR, but took a big step forward this cross country season and will be in great position to hold on to a fast pace and have a breakthrough performance on the track.
The rest of the field is incredibly deep that will likely challenge to 10:20 mark if the race gets out fast enough. Sofi Alexander (Asheville) holds a PR of 10:21 and Cali Townsend (Watauga) holds a PR of 10:24 with Colby McCollum (Cuthbertson) and Caitlin Kasten (Marvin Ridge) having PRs of 10:31 and 10:34 respectively.
Girls Elite Heat
The boys field features many guys that have run under 9:10 for 3200m led by Owen Reece (Topsail) who ran 9:01 last spring at the Carolina Distance Carnival taking 6th overall. Adam Haggart (Charlotte Country Day) and Bryce Cooke (Parkwood) ran 9:06 in the spring, with Brandon Williams (Holly Springs) and Eric Gillis (Jesse Carson) running 9:08. While these five have the best 3200m PRs, the field we've seen many guys in the field run as well if not better over the cross country season and likely has over 10 guys who could leave at the Dash for Doobie Champ.
Myles Jermyn (Orange) has run 9:14 for 2 Miles and ran the second fastest time of the day at the NCHSAA State Championship where he took 2nd to Michael Ferguson (North Buncombe) running 15:24. James Elliott (Cardinal Gibbons) took 2nd in 7A and Evan Rounds (Panther Creek) 2nd in 8A who both should be amongst the favorites to win on Saturday night. Forsyth Country Day's George Lawson and John Templeton will be looking to take the win on their home track after strong cross country seasons as well. They took 3rd and 4th at the NCISAA 4A State Championship and have run 15:06 and 15:08 this season at McAlpine which is the best credentials of anyone in the field cross country wise.
We also get track star Cole Boone (Pulaski, VA) who has run 1:47.94 and 4:06.94 for 800m and 1600m. Boone is the national record holder indoors for the 1000m where he ran 2:20.14 last March as a junior. He was 3rd running 15:38 at the VHSL Class 3 not far behind a 9:03 3200m runner in Eric Duncan (Lord Botetourt, VA) and will fair much better on the track than he does on a cross country course. If he can hold onto the pace at the front he's going to be hard to beat over the last 400m as he looks to test himself ahead of a big senior track season.
Boys Elite Heat
The Dash for Doobie 3200s always provides and exciting bridge on the distance side between the end of cross country and start of the indoor track season as athletes look to bring their cross country fitness to a 3200m before taking some time off between seasons. This is the 18th edition of the event that brings together many of North Carolina's top distance runners with some out of state stars traveling in to compete. Athletes competing for their high school can set a qualifying mark for the NCHSAA Indoor State Championships in February as the indoor track season is officially underway in North Carolina.
If registered ensure you have paid your entry fee before tomorrow that can be found here. Spectator admission will be online and is $5 per person.
The girls race will be the race of the night as Ohio State Champion Sophia Szolosi (Athens) will battle with North Carolina State Champions Madeline Dorsch (Pinecrest) and Kaitlyn Estep (Cardinal GIbbons). Szolosi holds a 5K seasons best of 16:43 and won her OHSAA Division 2 State Championship in 17:02. She holds a 3200m PR of 10:24 and 1600m PR of 4:49 and should be due for a new PR after having a big cross country season. Dorsch ran 17:09 at the NCHSAA State Championships for the fastest time of the weekend and second fastest mark ever at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex. The sophomore has had an incredible cross country season with a personal best of 16:55. She hasn't run a 3200m yet, but holds a 1600m PR of 4:56 from her freshman track season. She told us at the state meet she wants to go after 10:00 at Dash for Doobie, so you can expect a fast race up front! Estep has shown to be stronger on the track with PRs of 4:44 for 1600m, 2:08 for 800m and 10:33 for 3200m. She won the 7A cross country state championship in 17:16 and holds a seasons best of 17:04. Would expect this to be a three girl race up front as they look to run a fast 3200m before looking to qualify for a national cross country meet the following two weeks!
Emma Balaban (Weddington) was only 8 seconds behind Estep at the 7A State Championships and is one that could battle with the top group. She's run 17:25 and holds a 5:01 1600m PR, but took a big step forward this cross country season and will be in great position to hold on to a fast pace and have a breakthrough performance on the track.
