Cardinal Gibbons Girls, Mallard Creek Boys Champions Of Class 4A

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Cardinal Gibbons girls and Mallard Creek boys both completed indoor-outdoor sweeps of the team titles at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Class 4A Track and Field Championships, held Friday and Saturday at the Marcus T. Johnson Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T. 

In girls 4A action, Cardinal Gibbons won its first outdoor title scoring 54 points to edge out Mallard Creek (51 points). Freshman Kaitlyn Estep won the 800 (2:11.12), while teammate Hannah Shaffer claimed the 3,200 (10:42.77). Both were apart of the winning 4x800 relay (9:06.53). 

In the hurdles, Heritage’s Jordan Henderson won the 100 hurdles (US#17 13.51)  and finished second in the 300 hurdles (42.99).

In the sprints, Independence’s Maya Love won the 100 (11.51) and 200 (24.04) and ran on the winning 4x100 relay (46.56). 

Weddington’s Natalie Brown, ranked 11th the country, won the shot put with a throw of 47-3.75. 

The Mallard Creek boys scored 71 points to easily win the 4A crown as they won three of the four relays, claiming the 4x100 (40.99), 4x200 (1:25.14) and 4x400 (3:14.47) titles. 

Garner senior Dominic Harper won the 200 (21.18) and 400 (47.45) as he was named the the Most Outstanding Performer Award. 

Class 3A

The Dudley boys and girls repeated as the 3A state champions, sweeping the titles for the second straight year.

One of the nation's best hurdlers, Le'Ezra Brown, led Dudley's effort to win the team title. He ran 13.25 seconds over the 110-meter hurdles to break his own meet record and won the 300 hurdles in a US#11 time of 36.49. Brown also won the 100-meter dash in 10.42 and anchored the winning 4x100 relay.  He was named Most Outstanding Performer for the second year in a row.

The Dudley boys put up 88 points to win their second straight state title and third in the last four seasons. 

The Panther girls claimed their third consecutive championship, putting up 81 points. The team was led by Jalee Brown,  who won the 100 (11.53) and 200 (US#22 23.32), both with meet records. Brown also ran on the winning 4x200 (1:36.64). 

In the field, Maddison Davis of Atkins won the shot put (42-6.25) and discus (150-3).

Class 2A 

The Cummings girls ran to the program’s third straight state title and scored a dominant 91 points. The team was paced by standout junior D’Anna Cotton, who won the 300 hurdles (43.39), placed second in the 100 hurdles (14.24), won the high jump (5-4) and triple jump (40-3). She’s No. 16 in the country in the triple jump. 

In the sprints, Whiteville’s Serenity Harvey claimed the 100 (11.70), 200 (24.51) and 400 (58.82). 

The Seaforth boys made history by winning the program’s first state title with 68 points edging out Brevard (65 points). Seaforth’s Jack Anstrom led the way for the team as he defended his titles in the 1,600 (4:19.27) and 3,200 (9:36.80). Teammate Will Cuicchi won the 800 for the second straight year (1:55.32) and was second in the 1,600 (4:24.31). Cuicchi was also part of the winning 4x400 (3:21.34) that set a new meet record. 

Ja'Neil Harris of T.W. Andrews won the Most Outstanding Performer for his efforts, as he claimed the 100 (10.49), 200 (21.52) and 400 (47.80). 

Class 1A

The Swain County girls claimed the program’s fifth straight state title putting up 97 points. Swain County was led by Arizona Blankenship, who won the 1,600 (5:02.69) and 3,200 (10:53.79) for the third consecutive year. She was also part of the second place 4x800. 

Rachel Key of Wilson Prep took home the Outstanding Performer honors claiming the high jump (5-8) and long jump titles (17-11) and placed fifth in the 100 hurdles. 

In the 100 hurdles, Corvian Community went 1-2-3 with Jayda Lewis winning in 13.90. 

The Corvian Community boys scored 62 points to win the 1A title. Senior Carson Williams won the 800 (1:57.88) and 1,600 (4:12.97) and ran on the winning 4x800 (8:13.83).  

Carver's Derrick Reid Jr., won the 300 hurdles (37.92) and long jump (22-0.25), and ran on the winning 4x400 (3:24.40). 

In the field, Swain County’s Nse Uffort, No. 10 nationally in the shot put, won the event with a throw of 62-5 and claimed the discus (165-9), to earn the Most Outstanding Performer award.

Note: At the NCISAA D2 championships, Dana Wilson of Greensboro Day continued her fantastic season by sweeping the sprints with an 11.05 PR in the 100 meters and 22.83 200 meters in the prelims before winning the final in 23.76.

Team Champions

4A: Mallard Creek boys 71 points, Cardinal Gibbons girls 54 points - RESULTS

3A: Dudley boys 88 points, Dudley girls 81 points - RESULTS

2A: Seaforth boys 68 points, Cummings girls 91 points - RESULTS

1A: Corvian Community boys 62 points, Swain County girls 97 points - RESULTS