All-Observer Girls Track: Harding’s Garrett, Providence Day’s Lawrence take top honors

Harding High star Akala Garrett and Providence Day coach Carol Lawrence headline the 2022 All-Observer girls high school track team.

These are the top girls performers in the newspaper’s coverage area.

Garrett, a junior, is the girls track athlete of the year. She won N.C. 4A state championships in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. A University of Texas commit, Garrett not only posted the state’s best times in both hurdling events this outdoor season, but had the nation’s top times in the 300-meter hurdles (40.62) and 400-meter hurdles (57.65) this spring.

In addition to her state titles, Garrett won SoMeck 4A conference titles in the 200- and 400-meter dashes as well as the 100-meter hurdles. At the N.C. 4A Western Regionals, Garrett won the 200-meter, the 100- and 300-meter hurdles.

Providence Day’s Carol Lawrence is the Charlotte Observer girls’ track coach of the year after leading the Chargers’ girls to their ninth straight NCISAA Division I state title, beating the field by 29.5 points at Ravenscroft High last month.

Providence Day won four events, including the 100 and 300-meter hurdles, the long jump and the 4 X 100-meter relay to earn the victory.

All-Charlotte Observer Girls’ Track Team

FIRST TEAM

100-meter dash: Nina Dominique, Hickory Ridge, Fr.: The Ragin’ Bulls’ freshman ran a personal-best 11.73 to win the 4A Midwest Regional; also finished fifth at the 4A state championships.

200-meter dash: Kaylyn Brown, Mallard Creek, Jr./N. Dominique, Hickory Ridge, Fr.: Brown ran personal-best 23.94 to finish as 4A state runner-up; Dominique ran the same time, a personal-best, at the Bring the Heat Invitational at West Mecklenburg April 23.

400-meter dash: K. Brown, Mallard Creek, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior was the 4A state runner-up in 53.30.

800-meter run: Lauren Tolbert, Highland Tech, Sr.: The Duke University recruit ran the states’ best time this outdoor season (2:09.37) to win the 1A state championship.

1600-meter run: Maddie Huecker, Lake Norman, Sr.: The University of North Carolina commit was the 4A state runner-up in 4:50.86.

3200-meter dash: Mary Bonner Dalton, Myers Park, So.: The Mustangs’ star ran the state’s best time this outdoor season (10:30.20) to win the All-American Classic at Spring Valley High (SC), April 9; finished eighth at the 4A state championships.

100-meter hurdles: Akala Garrett, Harding, Jr.: The University of Texas commit had the state’s best time (13.33) to win the SoMeck 4A conference title, also won the 4A state championship.

300-meter hurdles: A. Garrett, Harding, Jr.: The Rams’ junior had the nation’s best time this outdoor season, running 40.62 at Hough March 30. Also won the 4A state title in the event.

High Jump: Cheyla Scott, Butler, Jr.: The Bulldogs’ junior had the nation’s best high jump (6-2) to win the 4A West Regional; also won the 4A state title.

Long Jump: Chaunesse Barringer, Northwest Cabarrus, Sr.: The Charlotte 49ers’ commit had the state’s best jump (19-10.25), a personal-best to win the 3A state championship.

Triple Jump: Alexis Willis, Stuart Cramer, Jr.: The Storm junior was the 3A state champion with a 39-0.5.

Pole Vault: Kendall Ford, Weddington, Sr.: The University of Tennessee was the 4A state runner-up; also vaulted a personal-best 12-4 at a Weddington home meet April 13.

Discus: McKynzie Mauney, Gaston Day, Sr: The University of North Carolina commit threw a personal- and state-best toss of 151-10 to win the NCISAA Division III state championship at Mount Olive University.

Shot Put: M. Mauney, Gaston Day: The Spartans’ standout also won the NCISAA Division III state title with a personal-best 45-9. That was the state’s best throw this outdoor season.

4 X 100-meter relay: Hickory Ridge (N. Dominique, Abigail Thomas, Aniya Woodruff, Jaila Woodruff): The Ragin’ Bulls’ quartet won the 4A state title; also ran the state’s best time this outdoor season (46.43) to win the 4A Midwest Regional.

4 X 200-meter relay: Hickory Ridge (N. Dominique, A. Thomas, A. Woodruff, J. Woodruff): The same Ragin’ Bulls’ relay team won the 4A state title and ran the state’s best time this outdoor season (1:37.03) to win the 4A Midwest Regional.

4 X 400-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Rebecca Cornett, Meredith Palmer, Caroline Palmer, Presley Worf): The Cavaliers’ quarter was 4A state runner-up in 3:56.23.

4 X 800-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Lily Fierick, Lillian Nasta, Gabi Lassiter, Alyssa Preisano): The Cavaliers’ relay ran the state’s best time this outdoor season (9:04.67) to win the 4A state championship.

SECOND TEAM

100-meter dash: Lauren Fleming, Marvin Ridge, Sr.

200-meter dash: Sanu Jallow, West Mecklenburg, Sr.

400-meter dash: Jaylin Pate, East Mecklenburg, Sr.

800-meter run: M. Huecker, Lake Norman, Sr.

1600-meter run: Stella Kermes, Cuthbertson, So.

3200-meter dash: Charlotte Bell, Cuthbertson, So.

100-meter hurdles: Falon Spearman, Providence Day, Sr.

300-meter hurdles: F. Spearman, Providence Day, Sr.

High Jump: Jazmine Williamson, Olympic, Sr.

Long Jump: C. Scott, Butler, Jr.

Triple Jump: Jasmine Greene, Olympic, Sr.

Pole Vault: Claire Miller, Providence Day, Sr.

Discus: Camryn Massey, Gaston Day, So.

Shot Put: Tyler Glover, Ardrey Kell, So.

4 X 100-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Rei-Ann Dean, Rowen Verner, Brianna Benloss, Sydney Spellman).

4 X 200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Janiah Pulliam, Arianna Brown, Nyree Andrews, K. Brown).

4 X 400-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Janiah Pulliam, Arianna Brown, Nyree Andrews, K. Brown).

4 X 800-meter relay: Olympic (T’Sheylah Moore, Sky Bleu Tyson, Kristen Gaines, Natalia Martin).