Morgan Smalls Carries Panther Creek To 4A Title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

All-American Morgan Smalls did it all for the Panther Creek girls track and field team Saturday at the 4A/1A North Carolina High School State Track and Field Championships. 

At N.C. A&T State University, Smalls won the triple jump with 40-9, a top 15 mark in the country. She defended her high jump title (5-10), finished second in the long jump (18-8) and was the runner-up in the 400 meters (55.45) to score 36 points for her team. Panther Creek repeated as 4A state champions with 56.5 points. Providence was runner-up with 47.

Smalls was awarded the 4A Girls Most Outstanding Track and Field Athlete for her efforts.

Other highlights included Natalie Tyner of Laney winning the 3,200 in 10:37.34.

In the 100 hurdles, Cardinal Gibbons freshman Taylor McKinnon clocked a state-leading time of 13.88.

Jonah Ross, a junior at Garner, impressed in the sprints, winning the 100 (11.83) and 200 (23.96).

In the boys 4A action, Garner senior Randolph Ross clocked 46.80 in the 400 meters, moving to US#10 in the event. In the 800, Kyle Goodman of East Mecklenburg ran 1:51.97.

In the field, Rock River senior Christopher Alexander won the triple jump with US#2 50-5.

The Cary boys won the team title with 46 points.

1A

It was a tight team race for both the boys and girls in 1A, as the Murphy girls 4x400 relay team of Faith Ann Revis, Lauren Pendley, Grace Nelson and Brianna Moore captured second place (4:10.57) to secure the team title with 49.5 points, East Carteret finished second with 47.5 points.

The Holmes boys scored 40 points, scoring half of those points in the relays, with wins in the the 4x100 (42.14) and 4x200 (1:28.7) to hold off Tarboro 36 points.

3A/2A Friday, May 17

The Weddington boys did most of their damage on the track Friday. Led by senior Emerson Douds, Weddington tallied 102 points to win the 3A state title.

Douds won the 100 (10.77), 200 (21.78), placed third in the 400 (47.9) and was part of the winning 4x400 relay (3:17.92). Teammate and fellow senior Kyle Durham won the 800 in a US#8 time of 1:51.72. Durham also finished second in the 1,600 (4:22.4) and was part of the winning 4x400.

Senior Alexis Patterson led the Parkland girls to a 3A team crown as she won the 100 (11.95), finished second in the 200 (23.73) and won the 100 hurdles (13.91). She was also part of the winning 4x200 relay (1:38.29). Parkland won with 78 points and Cuthbertson was runner-up (71 points).

Hillside junior Alysia Johnson running US#3 53.18 in the 400 meters. Johnson also won the 200 (23.73).

In 2A, the Hugh Cummings girls scored 90 points to win the state crown. Junior Allysia Farrar paced the team, winning the 100 (11.92) and 200 (24.85), finished third in the 400 (57.67) and ran anchor on the runner-up 4x400 relay (4:01.19).

Junior Jake Soorus led North Lincoln to a 2A state title as he won the discus (175-11) and shot put (56-6.50). In the middle distance events, North Lincoln went 4-5-6 in the 800 and won the 1,600 and 3,200 titles. 

Team Champions

Class 4A - Cary boys 46 points, Panther Creek girls 56.5 points RESULTS

Class 3A - Weddington boys 102 points; Parkland girls 78 points RESULTS

Class 2A - North Lincoln boys 76.5 points; Hugh Cummings girls 90 RESULTS

Class 1A - Holmes boys 40 points; Murphy girls 49.5 points RESULTS