Meet the 2025 All-Observer boys’ track team, the region’s top athletes
.JPG "Charlotte Christian sophomore track athlete Evan Boykin")
Charlotte Christian senior Evan Boykin is The Charlotte Observer’s boys’ track runner of the year after finishing his high school track career with a record-breaking performance at the NCISAA Division I state championships.
Boykin ran a 4A state meet record 10:47 seconds to win the 100-meter dash, won the 200 state title and ran on two relay state champions — 4x100-meter relay (40.78) and 4x400-meter relay (3:18.01).
Boykin will continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Kentucky.
Charlotte Christian’s Ralph Jones and Mallard Creek’s Samuel Willoughby share The All-Observer boys’ track coach of the year.
Jones led the Knights to the NCISAA Division I state championship, beating the field by 35 points. Christian’s sprinters won three individual state championships (100, 200, 400-meter dash) and three relays (4x100, 4x200, 4x400-meter relays).
Willoughby’s team won its second straight NCHSAA 4A outdoor state championship. The Mavericks beat the field by 31 points.
Mallard Creek won three state relay titles (4x100, 4x200, 4x400-meter relays) and one individual event (300-meter hurdles).
All-Observer first team
100-meter dash: Evan Boykin, Charlotte Christian, Sr. and Bryce Lofton, Independence, Sr.: Boykin ran a personal-best 10.47 to win the NCISAA Division I state championship; Lofton, also a senior, ran the same time (10.47) to win the 4A West Regional title. Lofton was the NCHSAA 4A state champion.
200-meter dash: Cameron Tucker, Jay M. Robinson, Jr.: The Bulldogs’ junior ran a personal-best 20.92 to win the 3A state championship.
400-meter dash: Jamal Rule, Charlotte Christian, Jr. and C. Tucker, Jay M. Robinson, Jr.: Rule, a junior, was the NCISAA Division I state champion in a personal-best 47.22. Tucker also ran a personal-record 47.22 to win the 3A state title.
800-meter run: Kyle Barney, Marvin Ridge, Sr.: The Mavericks’ senior, a Charlotte 49ers’ commit, ran a personal-best 1:50.91 to finish as runner-up at the All-American Track Classic at Spring Valley.
1600-meter run: Cade Creswell, Porter Ridge, Jr.: The Pirates’ junior ran a personal-best 4:08.19 at the Carolina Distance Festival.
3200-meter dash: Bryce Cooke, Parkwood, So.: The Wolfpack sophomore ran a personal-best 9:06.33 to finish third at the All-American Track Classic. He was also 3A Midwest Regional runner-up.
110-meter hurdles: Nyan Brown, Mallard Creek, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior was the 4A state runner-up in a personal-best 14.09.
300-meter hurdles: N. Brown, Mallard Creek, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior ran a personal-best 37.06 to win the 4A West Regional title, also the 4A state champion.
High jump: Tommy Pringle, II, Cuthbertson, So.: The Cavaliers’ sophomore had the state’s second best jump at 7 1/2 (tied for 10th best in the nation) to win the Union County title. He was also 4A state champion.
Long jump: Aiden Ray, Providence Day, Sr. and Keziah Williams, Julius Chambers, Sr.: Ray, a Northeastern University signee, jumped a personal-best 23-7 to win the CISAA conference title. He was also the NCISAA Division I state champion. Williams jumped 23-7 to win the 4A West Regional.
Triple jump: London Myles, Hopewell, Sr.: The Titans’ senior had the state’s second best jump, 48-7, to win the Dick Williams’ Invitational. Myles finished third at the 4A state championships.
Pole vault: Ryder Sgheiza, Cuthbertson, So.: The Cavaliers’ star won the 4A Midwest Regional in a personal-best vault of 14-6. He also finished fifth at the 4A state championships.
Discus: Chase McCullough, Hickory Ridge, Jr.: The Ragin’ Bulls’ junior had the state’s second best throw, 184-6, this season He was also 4A state runner-up.
Shot put: Manny Lewis, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior threw a personal-best 57-10.5 to win the Union County title. He also finished fourth at the 4A state championships.
4x100-meter relay: Charlotte Christian (Nick Dunkley, E. Boykin, Jack Krause, Clete Saylor): The Knights’ relay ran the state’s best time (40.78) to win the NCISAA Division I state title, also set a national record to win the same event at the Penn Relays.
4x200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Mason Kelly, Justin Watts, Khalil Price, Nassor Ashenafi): The 4A state championship relay ran the state’s best time (1:24.58) to win the Queen City Athletic Association conference title.
4x400-meter relay: Mallard Creek (M. Kelly, Jeremiah Person, J. Watts, K. Price): The Mavericks’ quartet ran the state’s best time (3:11.57) at the Pepsi Florida Relays. The group also won the 4A state title.
4x800-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Tynarie McKinney, Kyllen Weathers, Kevin Noble, Jr., Kenniel Hall: The Mavericks ran an Observer-area best 7:48.45 to finish fourth at the Pepsi Florida Relays. The quartet also finished third at the 4A state championships.
All-Observer second team
100-meter dash: Justin Stevenson, Palisades, Jr.
200-meter dash: Sadat Grant, Independence, Sr.
400-meter dash: K. Price, Mallard Creek, Jr.
800-meter run: C. Creswell, Porter Ridge, Jr.
1600-meter run: James Freeman, Myers Park, So.
3200-meter dash: Adam Haggart, Charlotte Country Day, Fr.
110-meter hurdles: Major Leak, Lake Norman Charter, Sr.
300-meter hurdles: M. Leak, Lake Norman Charter, Sr.
High jump: Ke’Shaun Kellam, A.L. Brown, Sr.
Long jump: Ryker Atkinson, Lake Norman Charter, Jr.
Triple jump: A. Ray, Providence Day, Sr.
Pole vault: Thomas Lenoble, Cuthbertson, Jr./Will Martimbeau, Providence, So.
Discus: Hunter Zettl, North Lincoln, Jr.
Shot put: Anthony Hawkins, Hickory Grove, Sr.
4x100-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Curtis Clark, M. Kelly, Samaritan Page, N. Ashenafi).
4x200-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Robert Lausen, Bryce Gatlin, Amari Barrow, Brenden Robbins).
4x400-meter relay: Charlotte Christian (J. Rule, E. Boykin, Andrew Caswell, Joey Wynn).
4x800-meter relay: Marvin Ridge (K. Barney, Ishan More, David Rivlin, Michael Keller).
