NOTE: in the database and in the calendar, this is the 2012 Indoor Track season. 

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1A/2A/3A Girls Preview

2012 Indoor Season 1A/2A/3A Boys Preview

Returning 1A/2A/3A Boys by Event

(All winter meets, including polar bears)

Returning 1A/2A/3A Boys by Event

(Indoor competitions only)

Distance

In a year where the 3A cross country teams were every bit as strong as the 4A squads, there will be plenty of talented distance runners competing in the winter.  Many of these runners have improved dramatically since last year, as evidenced by their times during cross country season; that's usually a sure indication of improvement in track season, as well.  For example, the winning time for the 3200 at the 1A/2A/3A state meet last winter was 9:53, whereas 12 runners from this classification ran faster than that during the fall (although some will not be competing during indoor season).  It will be interesting to see which runners and teams are able to make smooth transitions and continue their training progression without setting their times back.  Athletes to watch, in no particular order:

Paul Lilley (Rocky Mount):

2nd in the 1000 last winter, PR of 1:56 for 800, improved by over a minute in cross country

Jonathan Bivens (Weddington):

3rd in the 1600 last winter, also a strong 3200 runner

Stephen Phillips (Cardinal Gibbons):

3rd in the 3200 last winter, 3A state champ in cross country, 9:46.50 for 3200 this fall

Steve Mulherin (Science & Math):

1A state champ in cross country, 9:28.50 for 3200 this fall

Tommy Schotzinger (Cardinal Gibbons):

9:45.90 for 3200 this fall, PR of 4:25 for 1600 in the spring

Dylan Johnson (Hayesville):

First winter season this year, ran 9:49 for 3200 this fall

Levi Rolles (Science & Math):

Ran 9:45 and 15:49 this fall, PR of 4:33 in the 1600.

Sprints/Hurdles

In the past several seasons, the speed events in this classification have been as good as, and sometimes better than, the 4A competition.  In fact, last spring it was the 2A classification that sported the best overall group of sprinters/hurdlers in the state (considering both girls and boys).  This year looks like a continuation of that trend, with several big-name athletes with national-caliber resumes competing together for indoor titles.  Athletes to watch, in no particular order:

Daishon Barger (West Rowan):

State champ in the 55 hurdles, 8.02 for 60 hurdles is US #8 returning mark

Jerrod Lipscomb (A.L. Brown):

3rd in the 55 hurdles last winter, also a strong 110/300 hurdler in the spring

Larry Gibson (Berry Academy):

3rd in the 500 last winter, 2A state champ in the 400 last spring

Camron Hudson (Berry Academy):

2nd in the 200 and 3rd in the 55 last winter, PR's of 10.69 and 21.33 in spring, also a 23' long jumper

Tevin Hester (Granville Central):

2nd in the 55 last winter, best indoor time of 6.46 is US #16 returning mark

Isaiah Moore (Cummings):

3A state champ in the 110 hurdles last spring as a freshman (ran for Williams then)

Field Events

Once again, this classification looks better on paper than 4A, which just means that track talent in our state has been distributed over a range of schools the past few years, instead of being concentrated in more-populated areas.  There are strong athletes returning in every field event for the 1A/2A/3A state meet, which should make for an exciting winter season.  The one event that seems a bit down in both classifications is the triple jump, but perhaps that's because we have become accustomed to such brilliant performances in that event throughout North Carolina's history.  Athletes to watch, in no particular order:

Spencer Walden (Union Pines):

State champ in the high jump, has marks in 4 different field events

William Brown (Salisbury):

2nd in the high jump last winter with 6' 4" PR

Josh Marco (Northwest Cabarrus):

3rd in the pole vault last winter, 13' 0" PR from spring season

Matt Colvin (Southern Guilford):

2nd in the triple jump last winter, long jump PR of 22' 3"

Logan Pressley (North Buncombe):

Top 1A/2A/3A returner in the shot put with mark of 46' 9"

Frank Quarles (Douglas Byrd):

DId not compete most of the winter last year, 22' 10" at NBIN is top returning mark

Heath Kidd (East Henderson):

12' 6" early in indoor season last year, did not compete the rest of the season