Despite significant rain, including one very heavy stretch, the 4A state meet produced some incredible, national-caliber performances! The rain started during the second round of field events and the sprint preliminaries, and it began heavy by moving across the bleachers from south to north, advancing with a loud clattering on the bleachers that sent spectators (and some sonn-to-be competitors!) running for shelter. Field events were heavily interrupted by the rain, which soon became lighter and steady for a while, but the running events pressed on. Eventually the rain was light enough to resume, and it finally stopped altogether around the time of the 300 hurdle finals.
Story of the Meet (other than the weather):
Variety is the Spice of Life!
In looking back over the results, it seems like there was a different winner for almost every event. There were only six double winners in the meet overall, and they fall into the exact same pattern for boys and girls: throwers Sequoia Watkins and Courtland Clavette, hurdlers Keni Harrison and Stanley Broaden, and the West Mecklenburg and Knightdale relay teams. That means no dominant sprinter winning the 100 & 200, no dominant distance runner doubling in any combination, and no dominant jumper winning the long and triple. Each event was a battle, and there were many mild upsets as competitors that were expected to finish 3rd, 4th, or 5th elevated their game to bring home the gold medal!
Girls
Team Champion: Wakefield
Team Runner-Up: T. C. Roberson
(Editor's Note: we missed TCR's trophy presentation, so they are represented here by Brooke Gordon)
MVP: Keni Harrison, Clayton
13.69 for 100 hurdles, 41.41 for 300 hurdles (US #1 this year, State Meet Record)
Story of the Girls' Meet: The Youth Movement!
Look closely at the girls' results, and you will see that nearly every event has a junior or a sophomore at the top, and many events had several underclassmen leading the field. Only Keni Harrison, Sequoia Watkins, Dannielle Davis, and Sarah Graham won events as seniors. This even extends to the relays, where only Cary's 4x800 was senior-dominated; Wakefield has 3 girls back from their 4x4, and West Meck has all 4 girls back from the state champion 4x2 and 4x1 relays! You know what that means: next year's state championship should be amazing!
Other Top Performances:
Cary 9:06.17 for 4x800 (All-time NC #1, State Meet Record, US #4 this year)
Green Hope 9:15.48 for 4x800 (NC #4 all-time)
Watauga 9:21.27 for 4x800 (NC #5 all-time)
Sydney White (East Forsyth) 12' 7" in pole vault (State Meet Record)
 Sydney White Interview |
Anna McBride 10:46.08 for 3200 (NC #10 all-time, State Meet Record)
Sequoia Watkins doubles with 42' 5.25" in shot and 141' 6" in discus.
West Mecklenburg doubles with 48.11 for 4x100 and 1:40.29 for 4x200 (NC #15 all-time)
Ariah Graham 55.01 for 400 (NC #11 all-time)
Shelby Howell 2:13.05 for 800 (NC #12 all-time)
Samantha George (Millbrook) earns back-to-back 1600 titles with 4:58.75.
Boys
Team Champion: Knightdale
Team Runner-Up: Hopewell
MVP: Courtland Clavette, A. C. Reynolds
55' 0.25" in shot put, 184' 3" in discus (State Meet Record, NC #7 all-time)
Other Top Performances:
Stanley Broaden (Ashley) doubles with 14.38 for 110 hurdles and 37.41 for 300 hurdles (NC #15 all-time, US #19 this year)
Knightdale doubles with 1:26.05 for 4x200 (NC #8 all-time, US #11 this year) and 3:15.41 for 4x400 (NC #4 all-time, US #12 this year)
Mitch Mallory (Wakefield) earns back-to-back 3200 titles with 9:13.00, also 2nd in 1600.
Anthony Bynum wins 200 in 21.33, 2nd in 100.
Blake Williams (Northern Durham) claims back-to-back 1600 titles with 4:19.20, then on to run unattached at UNC for 1:53.07 800!
NCHSAA 4A State Track Championships
On-Site Coverage
Photos: NCHSAA 4A State Track Championships by CoachSides
Videos
100 Hurdles (Heat 1)
100 Hurdles (Heat 2)
110 Hurdles (Heat 1)
110 Hurdles (Heat 2)
Girls 100 Dash (Heat 1)
Girls 100 Dash (Heat 2)
Boys 100 Dash (Heat 1)
Boys 100 Dash (Heat 2)
Girls 400 Dash (Heat 1)
Girls 400 Dash (Heat 2)
Boys 400 Dash (Heat 1)
Boys 400 Dash (Heat 2)
Girls 300 Hurdles (Heat 1)
Girls 300 Hurdles (Heat 2)
Boys 300 Hurdles (Heat 1)
Girls 200 Dash (Heat 1)
Girls 200 Dash (Heat 2)
Boys 200 Dash (Heat 1)
Boys 200 Dash (Heat 2)
100 Hurdles (Final)
110 Hurdles (Final)
Girls 100 Dash (Finals)
Boys 100 Dash (Finals)
Girls 4x200 (Heat 1)
Girls 4x200 (Heat 2)
Boys 4x200 (Heat 1)
Boys 4x200 (Heat 2)
Girls 3200 Run
Girls 4x100 (Heat 1)
Girls 4x100 (Heat 2)
Boys 4x100 (Heat 1)
Boys 4x100 (Heat 2)
Boys 4x400 (Heat 2)
Boys 200 Dash (Final)
Girls 200 Dash (Finals)
Boys 300 Hurdles (Final)
Boys 400 Dash (Finals)
Girls 400 Dash (Finals)
Boys 800 Run
Girls 800 Run
Boy 3200 (Final Lap) 
Girls 300 Hurdles (Final)
Boys Shot Put flight 1
Girls Discus flight 1
Boys High Jump
Boys Shot Put flight 2
Girls Shot Put Final
Girls Discus Flight 2
Girls Discus Final
Boys 100 Final Head-On
Boys 110H Final Head-On
Girls 100 Final Head-On
Girls 100H Final Head-OnMeet Results
Girls Highlights
- 100 Meter Hurdles - Keni Harrison (Clayton) 13.69; Mollie Williams (Clayton) 14.15; Dannielle Davis (Southeast Raleigh) 14.21; Sarah Graham (Wake Forest-Rolesville) 14.34; Tyler Brockington (Dudley) 14.78; Cheyenne Hutchinson (Hopewell) 14.78; Hunter Roberts (Southwest Guilford) 14.86; Keni Harrison (Clayton) 13.94; Mollie Williams (Clayton) 14.15; Dannielle Davis (Southeast Raleigh) 14.18; Cheyenne Hutchinson (Hopewell) 14.59 SB; Sarah Graham (Wake Forest-Rolesville) 14.66; Tyler Brockington (Dudley) 14.73;
- 100 Meter Dash - Gabrielle Gray (High Point Central) 11.94 SB; Alexis Murphy (Apex) 12.04; Markia Franklin (Southern Durham) 12.13; Olicia Sharp (Wakefield) 12.24; Gabrielle Gray (High Point Central) 12.05; Alexis Murphy (Apex) 12.14;
- 1600 Meter Run - Samantha George (Millbrook) 4:58.75 SB; Margaret Leak (Mount Tabor) 4:59.41 SB; Brooke Gordon (T.C. Roberson) 5:00.07 SB; Darby Middlebrook (Watauga) 5:00.10 SB; Kaitlyn Kramer (Ardrey Kell HS) 5:01.65 SB; Esther Fisher (J.H. Rose) 5:01.99 SB; Madelin Talbert (South Mecklenburg) 5:02.26 SB; Deanna Foshee (Cary) 5:04.46 SB; Jenna Christensen (Cary) 5:08.95; Erica Amatori (Green Hope) 5:09.84; Lauren Pollard (West Johnston) 5:11.11 SB; Alyssa Torres (Northwest Guilford) 5:13.21 SB; Tori Churchill (Grimsley) 5:13.36 SB; Maggie Harahan (Page) 5:13.37 SB;
- 200 Meter Dash - Alexis Murphy (Apex) 24.57 SB; Gabrielle Gray (High Point Central) 24.70 SB; Olicia Sharp (Wakefield) 24.81; Olicia Sharp (Wakefield) 24.86;
- 300 Meter Hurdles - Keni Harrison (Clayton) 41.41 SB; Tyler Brockington (Dudley) 43.67 SB; Mollie Williams (Clayton) 43.70 SB; Michaela Birek (Wakefield) 43.90 SB; Sarah Graham (Wake Forest-Rolesville) 45.07; Megan Stanley (Riverside) 46.15; Keni Harrison (Clayton) 42.78; Ariel Gates (Scotland) 44.63 SB; Mollie Williams (Clayton) 43.75; Michaela Birek (Wakefield) 44.81; Sarah Graham (Wake Forest-Rolesville) 44.84; Tyler Brockington (Dudley) 44.96; Alvonna Blakney (West Mecklenburg) 45.29 SB; Megan Stanley (Riverside) 46.34; Megan Mcdonald (T.C. Roberson) 45.66 SB;
- 3200 Meter Run - Anna Mcbride (Davie County) 10:46.08 SB; Darby Middlebrook (Watauga) 10:49.57 SB; Julie Swaim (Ronald W. Reagan) 10:52.11 SB; Sydney Foreman (Ardrey Kell HS) 10:56.75 SB; Brooke Gordon (T.C. Roberson) 11:04.62; Alison Smith (East Chapel Hill) 11:08.60; Samantha George (Millbrook) 11:09.80; Kristen Henson (Ronald W. Reagan) 11:10.45; Kaitlyn Kramer (Ardrey Kell HS) 11:17.85;
- 400 Meter Dash - Ariah Graham (Wakefield) 55.01 SB; T'Shelia Mungo (Independence) 55.30 SB; Tiana Patillo (Wakefield) 56.71; Aalayah Faulcon (Southern Durham) 56.79; Alyssa Omile (Enloe) 57.86 SB; T'Shelia Mungo (Independence) 55.42; Ariah Graham (Wakefield) 55.70; Jaleah Wilder (Southeast Raleigh) 55.94 SB; Aalayah Faulcon (Southern Durham) 56.64; Tiana Patillo (Wakefield) 56.49 SB; Cori Floyde (Ardrey Kell HS) 57.57 SB; Alyssa Omile (Enloe) 57.94; Melody Davis (Butler) 57.94;
- 4x200 Meter Relay - West Mecklenburg 1:40.29; Butler 1:41.36; Apex 1:41.89;
- 4x400 Meter Relay - Wakefield 3:53.69;
- 4x800 Meter Relay - Cary 9:06.17; Green Hope 9:15.48; Watauga 9:21.27; Ardrey Kell HS 9:24.41; Broughton 9:25.40; Myers Park 9:33.56; T.C. Roberson 9:37.78;
- 800 Meter Run - Shelby Howell (New Hanover) 2:13.05 SB; Jennie Cunningham (Pinecrest) 2:14.04 SB; Deanna Foshee (Cary) 2:15.79 SB; Mattie Blue (Broughton) 2:15.86 SB; Lena Elliott (Parkland ) 2:15.88 SB; Julia Hoover (Myers Park) 2:15.99 SB; Sheridan Jordan (Cary) 2:16.46 SB; Julia Roberts (Watauga) 2:17.37 SB; Danielle Jameison (R.J. Reynolds) 2:18.61 SB; Gina Daniel (Providence High School) 2:19.33 SB;
- Discus - Sequoia Watkins (T.C. Roberson) 141-6; Breanna Warren (Western Guilford) 125-4 SB; Jasmine Suydam (Mallard Creek HS) 125-3; Aleisha Archie (West Charlotte) 122-9;
- High Jump - Sarah Graham (Wake Forest-Rolesville) 5-8; Janet Watson (Panther Creek) 5-6 SB; Cassidie Cierra Burdick (Butler) 5-6;
- Long Jump - Dannielle Davis (Southeast Raleigh) 18-11.25 SB; Shemiah Brooks (Southwest Guilford) 18-7.5 SB; Ariah Graham (Wakefield) 18-3.5; Darlene Girardeau (South View) 18-3.5; Michaela Birek (Wakefield) 18-1.5 SB; Dejah Hayes (Western Guilford) 18-1 SB; Cheyenne Hutchinson (Hopewell) 18-0.5 SB; Alexis Hall (Page) 18-0 SB; Tatyana Bryant (South View) 17-8 SB; Shakekerrya Morrison (East Wake) 17-7.5 SB;
- Pole Vault - Sydney White (East Forsyth) 12-7; Audrey Diener (Apex) 11-0; Kristin Lee (Wakefield) 11-0; Rachel Neagle (East Forsyth) 11-0; Sydney Cook (Watauga) 11-0; Debra Domermuth (Watauga) 10-6; Caitlin Metz (Butler) 10-6;
- Shot Put - Sequoia Watkins (T.C. Roberson) 42-5.25 SB; Nicole Chavis (Lumberton Senior) 39-8.75; Aleisha Archie (West Charlotte) 39-1.75 SB; Aylssa Dunn (Enloe) 39-0.75 SB; Brianna Tate (Grimsley) 38-1.5; Breanna Warren (Western Guilford) 37-5;
- Triple Jump - Shemiah Brooks (Southwest Guilford) 39-2 SB; Achsah Brice (Dudley) 37-9.25; Alexis Hall (Page) 37-8 SB; Dejah Hayes (Western Guilford) 37-5.5 SB; Cori Floyde (Ardrey Kell HS) 37-3.25; Tatyana Bryant (South View) 36-8 SB; Crystan Mclymore (Millbrook) 36-6 SB; Shirlee Evans (Pine Forest) 36-5.5 SB; Alexis Davis (Butler) 36-0.5 SB;
Boys Highlights
- 100 Meter Dash - Keith Marshall (Millbrook) 10.68; Keith Marshall (Millbrook) 10.60; Anthony Bynum (Hopewell) 10.73; Mar-keo Jones (Knightdale) 10.79 SB;
- 110 Meter Hurdles - Stanley Broaden (Ashley) 14.38; Joshua Dunston (Knightdale) 14.50 SB; Tyriq Jackson (Hopewell) 14.56; Tyriq Jackson (Hopewell) 14.40; Abraham Faison (Southern Alamance) 14.41;
- 1600 Meter Run - Blake Williams (Northern Durham) 4:19.20 SB; Mitch Mallory (Wakefield) 4:21.47; Craig Engels (Ronald W. Reagan) 4:22.81; Mark Blackmon (West Charlotte) 4:23.92 SB; Luis Vargas (Harnett Central) 4:24.45 SB;
- 200 Meter Dash - Anthony Bynum (Hopewell) 21.33 SB; Mar-keo Jones (Knightdale) 21.66; Chris Boyd (Ben L. Smith) 21.83; Micheal Neal (Vance) 21.86; Da'Quan Smalls (Knightdale) 21.88; Anthony Bynum (Hopewell) 21.52; Mar-keo Jones (Knightdale) 21.66 SB;
- 300 Meter Hurdles - Stanley Broaden (Ashley) 37.41 SB; Marquis Bailey (Ben L. Smith) 38.40 SB; Erin Jenkins (Vance) 38.70 SB; Timothy Hardy (Knightdale) 39.09 SB; David Riddleberger (Wakefield) 39.23 SB; Stanley Broaden (Ashley) 38.62; Erin Jenkins (Vance) 39.11; Abraham Faison (Southern Alamance) 38.76 SB; Timothy Hardy (Knightdale) 39.50;
- 3200 Meter Run - Mitch Mallory (Wakefield) 9:13.00 SB; Sam Roberson (Broughton) 9:23.89 SB; Chris Garrett (West Johnston) 9:24.84; Jacob Sears (Panther Creek) 9:34.50; Jordan Marsh (Ronald W. Reagan) 9:36.07;
- 400 Meter Dash - Burkheart Ellis Jr (Knightdale) 48.05 SB; Aaron Covington (Wakefield) 48.12 SB; Xavier Jones (Ragsdale) 48.40 SB; Kway Taylor-greene (Cary) 49.35; Burkheart Ellis Jr (Knightdale) 48.70; Kway Taylor-greene (Cary) 49.04 SB; Aaron Covington (Wakefield) 48.72; Xavier Jones (Ragsdale) 49.50;
- 4x100 Meter Relay - Millbrook 42.01;
- 4x200 Meter Relay - Knightdale 1:26.05; Riverside 1:27.21; Jack Britt 1:28.10; Millbrook 1:28.37; West Mecklenburg 1:28.53; Cary 1:28.56; Ben L. Smith 1:29.58; Mount Tabor 1:29.83;
- 4x400 Meter Relay - Knightdale 3:15.41; Jack Britt 3:17.27; Fuquay-Varina 3:17.80; Wakefield 3:20.78; Northwest Guilford 3:22.68;
- 4x800 Meter Relay - Ardrey Kell HS 7:49.80; Cary 7:54.35; Millbrook 7:56.54; Apex 8:01.05; Myers Park 8:01.22; Vance 8:02.09; Jack Britt 8:02.32; Broughton 8:07.42;
- 800 Meter Run - Carl Walton (Northwest Guilford) 1:54.60 SB; Brandon Dunford (Hopewell) 1:54.68 SB; Jeremy Williams (High Point Central) 1:55.25 SB; Clay Jones (Fuquay-Varina) 1:55.62 SB; Alvin Martin (Broughton) 1:56.50; Craig Engels (Ronald W. Reagan) 1:56.65; Richard Miller (Millbrook) 1:57.08 SB; Lucas Repass (Clayton) 1:57.26 SB; Adriel Wynn (South View) 1:57.35 SB;
- Discus - Courtland Clavette (A.C. Reynolds) 184-3 SB; Clark Cunningham (East Chapel Hill) 157-5 SB; Jordan Pineda (Watauga) 154-9; Shaun Underwood (Fuquay-Varina) 152-6; Richard Bell (Davie County) 151-4 SB; John Galarde (Hoggard High School) 150-11;
- High Jump - Daryl Saunders (Garner) 6-8; Jonathan Addison (Enloe) 6-6; Webster Montague (East Wake) 6-6;
- Long Jump - Josh Mcclam (Holly Springs) 24-2 SB; Khourtney Whitted (Riverside) 23-4.25 SB; Deonnonti Mclean (Hoke County) 23-2.25 SB; Joshua Dunston (Knightdale) 23-1.25; Reuben Malone (Harnett Central) 22-10.5 SB; Isiah Johnson (Mooresville) 22-7 SB;
- Pole Vault - John Mangum (Green Hope) 15-0 SB; Austin Vegas (East Forsyth) 14-6; Aaron Massey (East Forsyth) 14-0 SB; Brandon Darrow (North Davidson) 14-0 SB; Casey Collins (Myers Park) 14-0;
- Shot Put - Courtland Clavette (A.C. Reynolds) 55-0.25; Nicolas Sansotta (Butler) 53-9.75; Shaun Underwood (Fuquay-Varina) 53-9.5; Eric Upchurch (Harnett Central) 53-8.25 SB;
- Triple Jump - Deonnonti Mclean (Hoke County) 47-4 SB; Reuben Malone (Harnett Central) 46-11.5; Desmond Stearns (Southwest Guilford) 45-10 SB; Gabe Strahern (East Chapel Hill) 45-9 SB; Carl Marant (Sanderson) 45-6.5; Austin Duke (Independence) 45-5.5 SB; Tyreek Sparks (High Point Central) 45-3.5; John Gaither (Lake Norman) 45-2;
Despite significant rain, including one very heavy stretch, the 4A state meet produced some incredible, national-caliber performances! The rain started during the second round of field events and the sprint preliminaries, and it began heavy by moving across the bleachers from south to north, advancing with a loud clattering on the bleachers that sent spectators (and some sonn-to-be competitors!) running for shelter. Field events were heavily interrupted by the rain, which soon became lighter and steady for a while, but the running events pressed on. Eventually the rain was light enough to resume, and it finally stopped altogether around the time of the 300 hurdle finals.
Story of the Meet (other than the weather):