Union, Mecklenburg County stars dominate All Charlotte-Observer indoor track team
Two of North Carolina’s best are the 2019-20 Charlotte Observer indoor track sprinters of the year.
Hickory Ridge’s Cameron Rose, the boys sprinter of the year, ran the No. 1 time nationally in the 200- and 300-meter dashes. A Virginia Tech recruit, Rose ran the 200 in 20.94 seconds to win the Clemson Invitational Jan. 25. He turned a 300-meter time of 32.84 at the Virginia Showcase a week before that.
Harding’s Akala Garrett, the girls sprinter of the year, won the N.C. 4A indoor state title in the 55-meter hurdles. She was third in the 500-meters and ran on a 1,600-meter relay team that finished as a state runner-up.
▪ Weddington’s Jake Toomey is the boys’ distance runner of the year. Toomey won 3A state titles in the 1,000 and 1,600-meters. An N.C. state recurit, Toomey had the No. 1 time in the state in the 800- (1:55.03) and 1600-meter runs (4:15.63).
▪ Charlotte Country Day senior Sophie Spada is the girls distance runner of the year. Spada had the state’s top times in the 1,000- and 1,600-meter runs.
▪ Weddington’s Rick Spencer is the boys’ coach of the year after leading the Warriors’ indoor track team to its third straight N.C. 3A state indoor championship. Weddington was 42 points ahead of the closest competition at the 3A championship meet.
▪ Cuthbertson’s Dustin Allen is the girls coach of the year after leading the Cavaliers to their fourth straight N.C. 3A state indoor championship. Cuthbertson won the 3A state indoor title by 59.5 points over their closest competition.
Boys First Team
55-meter dash: Keshaun Black, Mooresville, Sr.: 4A state runner-up in a personal-best 6.32 seconds.
300-meter dash: Cameron Rose, Hickory Ridge, Sr.: Virginia Tech commit ran the No. 1 time in the nation (32.84) this indoor season to win the event at the Virginia Showcase at Liberty University.
500-meter dash: Trevin Moyer, North Mecklenburg, So.: Vikings’ sophomore ran the No. 2 time in the state (1:05.01) at the Virginia Showcase.
1,000-meter run: Jason Thomson, North Lincoln, Sr.: University of North Carolina commit ran an Observer-area best 2:29.91 at the Virginia Showcase.
1,600-meter run: Jake Toomey, Weddington, Sr.: N.C. State commit ran an area-best 4:15.63 to win the Mondo Elite Invitational; also won a 3A state championship in the 1600-meter run.
3,200-meter run: Avery Cannon, Watauga, Sr.: The Charlotte 49ers’ commit ran an Observer-area best 9:14.15 at the New Balance Dash for the Doobie 3,200.
55-meter hurdles: Sidney Littlejohn, Ashbrook, Sr.: The Green Wave senior ran an Observer-area best 7.65 to finish fourth at the 3A state championships.
4x200-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Aidan McNally, Ari Richards, Jacob Koerner, Zach Ross): 3A state champion relay team ran the No. 2 time in the state, 1:30.53.
4x400-meter relay: Weddington (Krystopher Durham, Matthew McKelvey, Peter de Jong, Jake Toomey): Warriors’ relay ran an Observer-area best 3:27.32 to win the Mondo Elite Invitational.
4x800-meter relay: Weddington (Wesley Larson, Thomas Fridrich, Krystopher Durham, Jake Toomey): 3A state runner-up quartet also raced to an Observer-best 8:00.94 to win the Mondo Elite Invitational.
High Jump: Isaiah Ryle, Mooresville, Jr.: Blue Devils’ junior had an Observer-area best jump of 6-3 to win the NC Runners Holiday Invitational.
Long Jump: Keshaun Black, Mooresville, Sr.: 4A state champion had the No. 2 long jump in the state at 23 feet, 2 inches.
Triple Jump: Tashaun Parker, Providence, Sr.: Won the Visit Winston-Salem High School Kickoff with an Observer-area best jump of 45-11.
Pole Vault: Spencer Evans, Lake Norman, Sr.: 4A state champion set a state-record with a 16-7 jump, also jumped 17-0.75 at NYRR Millrose Games, the No. 1 jump in the state and the No. 3 jump in the country.
Shot Put: Alec Mock, Weddington, Sr.: 3A state champion threw an Observer-area best 55-10.75.
Boys Second Team
55-meter dash: Cameron Rose, Hickory Ridge, Sr.
300-meter dash: Trevin Moyer, North Mecklenburg, So.
500-meter dash: Jarrell Guy, Mallard Creek, So.
1,000-meter run: Maddon Muhammad, Myers Park, Jr.
1,600-meter run: Jason Thomson, North Lincoln, Sr.
3,200-meter run: Christian Landis, Providence Day, Jr.
55-meter hurdles: Blaise Atkinson, North Mecklenburg, So./Darren Rice, Providence, Jr.
4x200-meter relay: Vance (Joseph Morris, Jaime Halton, Justice Robinson, Jordan Payne).
4x400-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Aidan McNally, Ryan Kobziak, Jacob Koerner, Zach Ross).
4x800-meter relay: Providence Day (Jason Krell, Colter Nichols, Adam Habas, Christian Landis).
High Jump: Quinn Cokley, Marvin Ridge, Sr.; Brandon McAdams, Cuthbertson, Sr.; Christian Phelps, Cuthbertson, Sr.; Justin Sluiter, Cuthbertson, Jr.; Carson Wolter, SouthLake Christian, Sr.
Long Jump: Rashad Lynch, R.S. Central, Jr.
Triple Jump: Armond Hopkins, Butler, Jr.
Pole Vault: Marcus Hesske, Parkwood, Sr.
Shot Put: Jake Soorus, North Lincoln, Sr.
Girls First Team
55-meter dash: Kaylyn Brown, Mallard Creek, Fr./Kayla Smith, Lincolnton, Sr.: Brown ran a 7.03 to win the Visit Winston-Salem High School Kickoff; Smith ran the same time to win the 1A/2A state title.
300-meter dash: Akala Garrett, Harding, Fr.: Harding freshman ran a 40.38 to win the Liberty Christmas Invitational.
500-meter dash: Sanu Jallow, Berry, So.: 4A state champion ran a 1:15.
1,000-meter run: Sophie Spada, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.: University of Alabama signee ran the state’s best 1,000 this indoor season (2:56.85) to win the Omega Sports’ High School Invitational.
1,600-meter run: Sophie Spada, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.: Spada ran a time of 4:59.92 at Mondo Elite Invitational.
3,200-meter run: Jonna Strange, North Iredell, Sr.: Furman University signee won the 3A state title, also ran an Observer-area best 10:35.64 at the New Balance Dash.
55-meter hurdles: Akala Garrett, Harding, Fr.: 4A state champion ran an 8.03 to win the state title and to win the HOT Turkey Invitational Nov. 26.
4x200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Kaylyn Brown, Sydney Spellman, Saniyah Smith, Anyha Goode): The Mavericks’ quartet ran the area best-time (1:43.07), finishing as 4A state runner-up.
4x400-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Kaylyn Brown, Arianna Brown, Saniyah Smith, Liyah Jones): 4A state champions ran an Observer-area best 3:59.58.
4x800-meter relay: Charlotte Country Day (Harper Shaw, Linde Fonville, Sarah Graham, Sophie Spada): Buccaneers’ quartet ran Observer-best 9:28.40 to win the JDL Independent Invitational.
High Jump: Amber Jackson, Ardrey Kell, Jr./Cheyla Scott, Butler, Fr.: Jackson and Scott both jumped an Observer-area best 5-8 this indoor season.
Long Jump: Eliza Cardwell, Providence Day, Jr.: Chargers’ standout jumped 17-10.5 to win the JDL Independent Invitational.
Triple Jump: Amber Jackson, Ardrey Kell, Jr.: Knights’ junior jumped an Observer-best 37-10.5 at the Mondo Elite Invitational.
Pole Vault: Emma Stone, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: 3A state runner-up vaulted an Observer-area best 12-3.25 to win the South Carolina Invitational.
Shot Put: Cara Salsberry, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: 3A state champion had the Observer area’s best throw of 39-11.25 at the Liberty Premier Invitational.
Girls Second Team
55-meter dash: Milan Fields, Hough, Jr.
300-meter dash: Abigail Thomas, Hickory Ridge, So.
500-meter dash: Akala Garrett, Harding, Fr.
1,000-meter run: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech, So.
1,600-meter run: Angie Allen, North Lincoln, Jr.
3,200-meter run: Angie Allen, North Lincoln, Jr.
55-meter hurdles: Falon Spearman, Providence Day, So.
4x200-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Victoria Teasley, Mackenzie Townsend, Addison Benz, Jade McLain).
4x400-meter relay: Harding (Akala Garrett, Niaobi White, Tanyia Womack, Queen Burnett).
4x800-meter relay: Marvin Ridge (Kayla Basinger, Riley Basinger, Lindsey Czaniecki, Caroline Blanton).
High Jump: Lauren Taylor, East Lincoln, Sr.
Long Jump: Imunique Archie, North Mecklenburg, Sr.
Triple Jump: Eliza Cardwell, Providence Day, Jr.
Pole Vault: Isabel Crandall, Marvin Ridge, Sr.
Shot Put: Katie Horne, Anson County, So.
