Experience favors Marvin Ridge

HIGH SCHOOL INDOOR TRACK

By Brett Honeycutt
Correspondent

Posted: Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011

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Boys To Watch

Larry Gibson, Berry, Sr.: Third in the 500 meters (1:07.74) at the N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet last winter.

Cameron Hudson, Berry, Sr.: Runner-up in the 300 meters (35.50 seconds) and third in the 55 meters (6.53) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet. Also placed sixth in the long jump (20-feet, 8.5 inches).

Jonathan Bivens, Weddington, Sr.: Third in the 1,600 meters (4:35.08) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet and will likely be one of the top 3,200 meter runners after impressive cross country season (runner-up in 3A state meet).

Daishon Barger, West Rowan, Sr.: Reigning N.C. 1A/2A/3A 55-meter hurdle champion.

Jerrod Lipscomb, Kannapolis Brown, Sr.: Third in the 55-meter hurdles (7.81) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet.

William Brown, Salisbury, Sr.: Runner-up in the high jump (6-foot-4 inches) at the N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet last winter.

John Gaither, Lake Norman, Sr.: Runner-up in the triple jump (45-10.5) at the N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet last winter.

Josh Marco, Northwest Cabarrus, Sr.: Third in the pole vault (12-6) at least winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A state meet.

Brandon Little, Weddington, Sr.: Scored in two events at last year's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships, placing fourth in the 300 meters (35.84) and seventh in the 55 meters (6.67).

Marthony Hobgood, West Charlotte, Jr.: Should score in two events after finishing in the top-nine at last year's N.C. 4A championships in the triple jump (fifth, 43-2) and long jump (20-10.75, ninth).

Taris Jackson, Berry, Sr.: Placed in two events at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships, finishing fifth in the 55 meters (6.60 seconds) and sixth in the 300 (36.67).

Erin Jenkins, Vance, Jr.: One of state's best hurdlers, was fifth in the 55-meter hurdles (7.83) at the N.C. 4A championships last winter.

Jordan Javadi, Providence, Sr.: One of area's best hurdlers for several years now. Was sixth in the 55-meter hurdles (7.89) at last winter's N.C. 4A championships.

Reid Harris, Watauga, Sr.: Fifth in the pole vault (13 feet) at last winter's N.C. 4A championships.

Girls To Watch

Jazmen Genske, Lenoir Hibriten, Sr.: Runner-up in the 55 meters (7.29) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A Championships.

Trikeria Johnson, North Mecklenburg, Sr.: Observer area's fastest returnee in the 500 meters (1:20.59, sixth, 4A) from last winter's state championships, regardless of classification.

Tanazia Owens, Harding, Jr.: Runner-up in the 500 (1:21.55) and fourth in the 300 (41.78) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships.

Janieyah Collins, Monroe, Sr.: One of state's best hurdlers, regardless of classification. Finished third in the 55-meter hurdles (8.72) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships. Was also eighth in the 300 (42.34).

Darby Middlebrook, Watauga, Jr.: One of the south region's best distance cross country runners the past two fall seasons was runner-up in the 3,200 meters (11:21.52) and fifth in the 1,600 meters (5:22.62) at last winter's N.C. 4A championships. Middlebrook also teamed with Hannah Barbour (Jr.), Hailey Middlebrook (Sr.) and Julia Roberts (Sr.) to finish third in the 3,200-meter relay (9:44.60) at the state meet.

Kaitlyn Kramer, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: Like Darby Middlebrook, one of the south's best distance runners the past few cross country seasons. Was fourth in the 3,200 meters (11:30.03) and seventh in the 1,600 meters (5:25.02) at last winter's N.C. 4A championships.

Mallary Price, Weddington, Jr.: Third in the 3,200 meters (11:48.05) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships.

Raven Covington, Waxhaw Cuthbertson, Jr.: Runner-up in the long jump (16-11.25) at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships.

Teaunna Cuthbertson, North Rowan, Sr.: One of state's best long jumpers, regardless of classification.

Taylor Dove, Anna Lipocky, Brittany Fritz, Taylor Berry, Marvin Ridge: As juniors last season won the 1,600-meter relay in 4:17.13 at last winter's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships.

Ailish Dwyer, Jr., Brittany Fritz, Sr., Caitlyn Colo, Sr., Alden Kessenich, So., Marvin Ridge: All four return from a 3,200-meter relay team that finished runner-up (10:16.64) at last year's N.C. 1A/2A/3A championships.

Naya Tapper, West Mecklenburg, Sr.: One of the state's most versatile athletes. Finished third in the shot put (33-7.5) and was ninth in the 55 meters (7.51) at last winter's N.C. 4A championships.

Emily Carpenter, Sr., Anna Gelbach, Sr., Hannah Hendreson, Jr., and Julia Hoover, Sr., Myers Park: Finished fourth at last winter's N.C. 4A championships in the 3,200-meter relay (10:00.81) behind Watauga, which also returns everyone on its relay.

With nearly everyone returning from last winter's runner-up finish at the N.C. 1A/2A/3A girls' track championships, Marvin Ridge is a heavy favorite to win the school's first indoor track title this season.

The N.C. indoor track and field championships are Feb. 11 at North Carolina's Eddie Smith Indoor Arena.

The senior-dominated team fell just two points shy of tying for the title, but last year's champion, Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons, graduated meet MVP Sarah Rapp, who accounted for 30 of her team's 36 points.

"I kind of look at how many points we can score and we can score 30 points," said Marvin Ridge coach Cameron Starr. "After that, I tell the kids then it becomes how many you can add on. I say every season is different. If we can be in the hunt, I'll just see if all the pieces can come together at the end of the season."

Marvin Ridge, which returns every scorer except one - Tynaya Walker, who graduated and scored two points in the 55 meters, is one of the favorites.

The big points came in two relays, the 1,600-meter relay of Taylor Dove, Anna Lipocky, Brittany Fritz, Taylor Berry - all juniors last season - won to score 10 points, and the 3,200-meter relay of Fritz, and fellow senior Caitlyn Colo, junior Ailish Dwyer, and sophomore Alden Kessenich, teamed to finish second for eight points.

Berry and Colo each scored in individual events, with Berry placing fifth in the 500 to earn four points and Colo taking eighth in the 1,000 meters for one point.

But Marvin Ridge doesn't just return scorers in the running events. Senior Sarah Fell and junior Hannah Frederick placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the pole vault to combine for nine points at last winter's championships, which were held outdoors for the first time because the Eddie Smith Field House was under a phase of construction.

All valuable points if the Mavericks are to challenge for a state title again this coming February.

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