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We've made it to the final week of the outdoor track & field season and the whole state is preparing to converge upon Greensboro, home of the NC A&T Aggies, for this year's rendition of the North Carolina State Championships. Take this time to read up on some of the top performers in the state leading up to this week's championship races & events.
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Sprint Events - What to Watch
Cassidee Fraser, North Lenoir - Fraser has established herself as one of the nation's top sprinters this spring, entering state week having won eight of her nine 100m dash races this season. The sophomore sits at NC #1 and US #5 after running 11.18 at the Lenoir County Championship, and now returns to the state meet looking to improve upon last year's runner-up finish.
Ataja Stephane-Vazquez, Southeast Guilford - Stephane-Vazquez enters Greensboro as one of the most dangerous athletes in the country, ranked inside the national top 10 in both the 200m and 400m dashes. The junior owns personal bests of 23.13 and 51.70 and most recently swept both events at the 6A Central Regional, continuing a dominant postseason run.
Selah Edwards, Southeast Raleigh - The Harvard commit has kept her focus solely on the 100m hurdles this spring and it has paid off in a major way, remaining undefeated across four races this season. Edwards ran a lifetime best of 13.77 in the prelims of the 7A East Regional before returning to win the final, and after finishing 5th at state a year ago, she appears primed for a podium performance.
Mylan Clay, Corvian Community School - Clay has put together one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in the state, winning the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and long jump at the 2A West Regional. The freshman is ranked NC #3 in the 300m hurdles after running 42.96 and enters the state meet undefeated in both the 300m hurdles and triple jump, giving him multiple chances to leave with hardware.
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Field Events - What to Watch
D'Anna Cotton, Cummings, Hugh M. - There may not be a more versatile athlete in North Carolina this season than Cotton, who enters the state meet ranked #1 in the long jump, triple jump, and 100m hurdles. The senior is undefeated in four different events this spring, totaling 28 wins across the long jump, triple jump, 100m hurdles, and 300m hurdles, while looking to add to the three state titles she captured last year.
Isabella Kartsonis, Cuthbertson - Kartsonis has completely controlled the pole vault scene since arriving in high school, remaining unbeaten in the event all year. The freshman cleared 13-4 at the Southern Carolina Conference Championships earlier this season, is currently ranked US #12, and enters state week as the clear favorite to capture her first outdoor title.
Promise Lovelace, Statesville - Lovelace has separated herself as North Carolina's premier thrower in 2026, leading the state in both the shot put and discus while ranking inside the top 15 nationally in each event. The senior owns best throws of 48-6 and 161-10, has collected 19 combined wins this season, and is now chasing the first state titles of her career.
Asia Artis, Garinger - Artis has been flawless in the high jump this season, winning all seven of her competitions and clearing 5-9 earlier this spring at the Ardrey Kell Knights Need 4 Speed Meet. Ranked NC #1 and US #33, the senior enters the postseason as one of the favorites to bring home a state championship.
Distance Events - What to Watch
Kaitlyn Estep, Cardinal Gibbons - She's been featured just about everywhere this year - weekly write-ups, team spotlight, future stars run-downs, and most crucially, she enters state week with a pair of NC #1's in the 800m and 1,600m. The sophomore owns the nation's second-fastest time in the 1,600m, having run 4:34 en route to a win at the ASICS Carolina Distance Carnival, and she now looks to add to the two state titles she won in 2025, in 800m and cross country.
Cali Townsend, Watauga - The sophomore owns the state-leading time in the 3,200m, having run 10:08 last month, but will enter state with a target on her back after falling short at the 6A West Regional and finishing second. She still managed to score a victory in the 1,600m and finish 2nd in the 800m, suggesting fatigue had set in by the 8-lap race. It's safe to assume Townsend will be hunting multiple state titles this week.
Rachel Riley, Mount Tabor - Riley has been spectacular in the mid-distance races this season, running 2:08 over 800m and most recently running 4:47 in the 1,600m. Currently NC #2 in the 800m, the junior only competed in the 800m at the 6A West Regional, winning comfortably against some of the state's best, putting her in the best position possible to leave Greensboro a state champion.
Elle Dawson, Ragsdale - Ranked inside the top 10 in all three distance races, Dawson has had a stellar season on the oval in 2026. The sophomore scored big wins last Saturday at the 6A Central Regional, advancing to state in the 1,600m and 3,200m, while having run each of her personal best times (4:44 and 10:12) at the ASICS Carolina Distance Carnival, and now she will embark on Greensboro searching for her first state championship.