Meet Info Per NCPrepTrack
1987 was the first year that the 3-A schools did not compete in the state meet along with the 4-A.
This was a memorable meet featuring several outstanding athletes and several state meet records (all classification) were set that would last for well over a decade.
A powerful Durham Hillside boys team, coached by NC coaching legend Russell Blunt, amassed 82 points to win by 47 points.
Hillside destroyed the 4x400 record of 3:16.8 with a blistering 3:13.92. Fayetteville Westover set the old record in 1982. (Note: As of early 2003 Hillside's record still stands.)
Hillside's Elbert Ellis broke the 300m Hurdle record with a 36.84. The old record was 37.18 by Chris Atkins (New Bern) in 1984. (As of early 2003 this record still stands.) Ellis was 6th best in the nation for 1987.
Darren Moore (Greenville Rose) set a new state meet record of 7-1 in the high jump. The previous record was 6-10.5 by Lenwood Harris (West Craven) in 1982. (Moore's record would last for 15 years.) His 7-1 tied him for 6th in the nation for 1987.
Hillside's 1:26.28 was 8th best nationally for '87.
Greensboro Grimsley's girls spoiled crosstown rival Dudley's bid for a fourth straight title by piling up 71 points and setting two astounding relay records. Dudley was second with 52.
Grimsley's Marlene Poole won the 100, 200 and anchored the record breaking 4x200 and 4x400 relays. Their 1:39.41 crushed the old record of 1:40.24 (Dudley, 1984) and their 3:50.44 broke the old record of 3:51.94 (Dudley, 1986). The 1:39.41 ranked them third in the nation in 1987.
Grimsley, coached by Russ Woodward went 1-2 in the 200, 1-3 in the 100, and got a first in the 3200, 3rd in the 1600, 6th in the 300 hurdles, and won the 4x200 and 4x400.
100m Hurdle champion Melissa Morrison (AL Brown) later won a bronze medal in the 100m Hurdles at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. More on Morrison.
100/200 winner Randy Jones (W-S Glenn) was later a three-time Olympian in the bobsled, winning a silver medal at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. More on Jones
