Meet the All-Observer indoor track teams, the top prep athletes in the Charlotte area
Two N.C. state champions headline the 2025 All-Observer boys’ and girls’ indoor track all-star teams.
The teams, selected by The Charlotte Observer’s high school sports staff, recognize the top athletes in its coverage-area, consisting of NCHSAA and NCISAA schools in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union counties.
▪ Independence’s Maya Love is the girls’ runner of the year. She was named MVP of the 4A state championship earlier this year after winning the 55- and 300-meter individual championships and leading the Patriots’ 800-meter team to a third title. Love will run at South Carolina next season.
▪ Marvin Ridge’s Kyle Barney is boys’ runner of the year. Barney ran a 2 minute, 27.16 seconds in the 1,000-meters at the Virginia Showcase, setting a new state record. It was the eighth-fastest time nationally this year. Barney also won the 1,000 at the state championships. He’ll run for the Charlotte 49ers next season.
▪ Providence Day’s Kris Jones is the girls’ coach of the year. He led the Chargers to their sixth straight NCISAA state championship. The Chargers beat rival Country Day by one point.
▪ Charlotte Christian’s Ralph Jones and Mallard Creek’s Antoine Sanders share the boys’ coach of the year award.
Jones led the Charlotte Christian to its first NCISAA indoor state title in school history. The Knights were led by senior Evan Boykin, who won state titles in the 55 and 300-meter dashes, along with junior Jamal Rule, who won the 500- and also ran on two relay championship-winning teams.
Sanders led Mallard Creek its first NCHSAA 4A state title. The Mavericks, who beat the field by 15 points, won four state championships, including two relays (4x200 and 4x400,) plus a 55-meter title from Christian Dixon and 55-meter hurdle title from Nyan Brown.
All-Observer boys’ track
FIRST TEAM
55-meter dash: Christian Dixon, Mallard Creek: The Mavericks’ senior ran a personal- and Observer-area best 6.28 to win the 4A state championship.
300-meter dash: Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian: The Knights’ senior, a University of Kentucky commit, ran a personal- and Observer-best 33.43 at the Virginia Showcase. He was also NCISAA state champion.
500-meter dash: Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian: The Knights’ junior won the NCISAA state title in personal-best 1:04.07, which was the ninth-fastest time run in the nation this indoor season.
1,000-meter run: Kyle Barney, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ senior, a Charlotte 49ers’ commit, ran the best time in state history — a 2:27.16 at the Virginia Showcase. Barney also won the 4A state championship.
1,600-meter run: Bryce Cooke, Parkwood: The Wolfpack sophomore ran a personal- and Observer-area best 4:16.27 to earn 3A state runner-up honors.
3,200-meter run: David Rivlin, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ senior, a Charlotte 49ers’ commit, ran a personal and Observer-best 9:16.48 at the Virginia Showcase. He finished eighth at the 4A state championships.
55-meter hurdles: Nyan Brown, Mallard Creek: The Mavericks’ junior ran a personal- and Observer-area best 7.28 in the 4A state preliminaries, then won the 4A state title in 7.36.
4 X 200-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Amari Barrow, Brenden Robbins, Bryce Gatlin, Aronne Cosentino): The Cavaliers’ quartet ran the states’ fastest time (1:28.48) at the Liberty Flames High School Invitational. They were also 4A state runner-up.
4 X 400-meter relay: Mallard Creek (N. Brown, Khalil Price, Justin Watts, Mason Kelley): The 4A state champions ran the state’s second fastest time of 3:22.79 this indoor season.
4 X 800-meter relay: Marvin Ridge (Michael Keller, D. Rivlin, Michael Rivlin, Ishan More): The Mavericks’ relay earned the 4A state title in the state’s fastest time (7:56.89) this indoor season.
High jump: Tommy Pringle, II, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ sophomore had the state’s best — and a personal-best — high jump of 7-0 at the Liberty Flames’ High School Invitational. He was also the 4A state champion. His 7-foot jump ranked third nationally.
Long jump: Andrew Davis, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ senior, a University of Oklahoma commit, had the state’s best jump (24-1) this indoor season at the Stay In Your Lane Invitational. He was also 4A state runner-up.
Triple jump: London Myles, Hopewell: The Titans’ senior had the state’s best jump this indoor season, a personal-best 49-4, to win the 4A state championship.
Pole vault: Thomas LeNoble, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ junior vaulted an Observer-area and personal-best 13-6 to finish eighth at the 4A state championships.
Shot put: Manny Lewis, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ junior was 4A state runner-up and had an Observer-area and personal-best 54-2 at the Christmas is Near Invitational this indoor season.
SECOND TEAM
55-meter dash: Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, Sr./Bryce Lofton, Independence, Sr.
300-meter dash: B. Robbins, Cuthbertson, Sr.
500-meter dash: Kobey Riley, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.
1,000-meter run: Hunter Bates, Weddington, Jr.
1,600-meter run: Carson Williams, Corvian Charter, Sr.
3,200-meter run: Christopher Burns, Myers Park, So.
55-meter hurdles: Eric Heal, Mooresville, Sr.
4 X 200-meter relay: Independence (Bryce Lofton, Zayden Crommarty, Sadat Grant, Takeo Massey).
4 X 400-meter relay: Cuthbertson (A. Barrow, B. Gatlin, Elliott Lightfoot, B. Robbins).
4 X 800-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Kenniel Hall, Kyllen Weathers, Tynarie McKinney, Kevin Noble, Jr.).
High jump: Matthew Sluder, Charlotte Country Day, Sr.
Long jump: L. Myles, Hopewell, Sr.
Triple jump: Aiden Ray, Providence Day, Sr.
Pole vault: Ryder Sgheiza, Cuthbertson, So.
Shot put: Hunter Zettl, North Lincoln, Jr.
All-Observer girls’ track
FIRST TEAM
55-meter dash: Maya Love, Independence: The Patriots’ senior, a University of South Carolina commit, won the 4A state championship and also ran an Observer-area and personal-best 6.90 at the Liberty Flames’ High School Invitational.
300-meter dash: M. Love, Independence: The Patriots’ senior also won the 4A state title and ran an Observer-area best 38.19 at the Virginia Showcase.
500-meter dash: Sky Bleu Tyson, Palisades: The Pumas’ senior, a James Madison University commit, was 4A state runner-up in an Observer-area and personal-best time of 1:16.39.
1,000-meter run: Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian: The Warriors’ senior, a Furman University commit, ran a personal and Observer-area best 2:52.36 at the Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational. She also won the NCISAA Division I state title.
1,600-meter run: Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman: The Wildcats’ junior ran a personal and Observer-area best 4:52.01 at the Mondo Elite High School Invitational. She finished fourth-place at the 4A state championships.
3,200-meter run: Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ freshman ran a personal and Observer-area best 10:48.32 to finish fourth-place at the 4A state championships.
55-meter hurdles: Jayda Lewis, Corvian Charter: The Cardinals’ senior, a North Carolina A&T commit, was 1A/2A state champion in a personal and Observer-area best 7.99.
4 X 200-meter relay: Independence (M. Love, Hannah Dadie, Grace Rogers, Taniya Dickerson): The Patriots’ quartet and 4A state champions ran an Observer-area best 1:40.06 at the Virginia Showcase.
4 X 400-meter relay: Palisades (S. Bleu Tyson, Marlee Moore, Kira Whitmore, Gwendelyn Gaffney): The Pumas’ relay was 4A state champions in an Observer-area best 3:59.44.
4 X 800-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Julia D’Errico, Cece Taft, Ava Walters, Josie Schihl): The Cavaliers’ relay was the 4A state runner-up in an area-best 9:29.69.
High jump: Asia Artis, Garinger, Jr.: The Wildcats’ junior had state’s best jump this indoor season and a personal-best 5-7 to win the 4A state title.
Long jump: Sophia Hoang, Cuthbertson, Jr.: The Cavaliers’ junior went a personal-best 17-10 to win the Southern Carolinas’ conference title, also finished ninth at the 4A state championships.
Triple jump: Ashlynn Wimberly, Mallard Creek, Sr.: The Mavericks’ senior, an Appalachian State commit, went a personal-best 39-5 at the Liberty University High School Christmas Invitational, also was the 4A state champion.
Pole vault: Morgan Edwards, Cuthbertson, Sr.: The Cavaliers’ senior threw a personal and Observer-area best 11-6 to win the Charlotte City championship. She also finished third at the 4A state championships.
Shot put: Natalie Brown, Weddington, Sr.: The Warriors’ junior, a University of Mississippi commit, threw a personal-best 46-11 to win the Charlotte City championship. She also won the 4A state title.
SECOND TEAM
55-meter dash: Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, Sr.
300-meter dash: Mahogany Spikes, Ashbrook, Jr.
500-meter dash: M. Spikes, Ashbrook, Jr.
1,000-meter run: Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln, Jr.
1,600-meter run: Annie Miller, Metrolina Christian, Sr.
3,200-meter run: Elizabeth Weltz, South Mecklenburg, Jr.
55-meter hurdles: Jaliyah Hunter, Mallard Creek, So.
4 X 200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Bella-Marie Black, Laila Ramadan, Sana’ia Lazenby, Shiasia Mitchell).
4 X 400-meter relay: Marvin Ridge (Brynn Buckowsky, Amanda Vilord, Isabella Gentille, Brooke Rediger).
4 X 800-meter relay: Marvin Ridge (I. Gentille, Julia Mayer, Savannah Gentille, TatumTsumas).
High jump: Madison Rae Noble, Charlotte Christian, Sr.
Long jump: Ava Jones, Cuthbertson, So.
Triple jump: Alexa McMillian, Weddington, Sr.
Pole vault: Alexandra Ingoglia, Ardrey Kell, Jr.
Shot put: Alexandria Jefferson, Rocky River, Sr.
This story was originally published March 31, 2025 at 6:30 AM.
