Meet the All-Observer indoor track teams: The best prep athletes in the region
A year ago, Jay M. Robinson’s Cameron Tucker was named The Charlotte Observer’s male athlete of the 2024-25 school year.
In ‘25-26, he made the media company’s all-star football team and now he’s being named the All-Observer boys’ indoor track athlete of the year.
Marvin Ridge junior Caitlin Kasten is The Observer’s girls’ indoor track athlete of the year.
Kasten finished third or better in four different events at the 7A state championships.
She was state runner-up in the 3,200-meter run and the 4 X 400-meter relay in the finals. And she took third-place at the 7A state championships in the 1,600-meter run and 4 X 800-meter relay.
Kasten also ran the Observer area’s best time of 2 minutes, 49.49 seconds in the 1,000-meter run.
Tucker earned boys’ athlete of the year after a record-breaking performance in the 5A state finals, where he was named meet MVP.
Tucker broke the state indoor record by running 32.75 seconds to win the 300-meter dash. He also won the 55-meter dash in a personal-best time of 6.29.
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Tucker also led both the Bulldogs’ 4 X 200 and 4 X400-meter relays to 5A state championships. Robinson won the team title.
Mallard Creek’s Antoine Sanders is the boys’ coach of the year after leading the Mavericks to their second straight state title. Mallard Creek won a tight state championship meet, winning by just nine points.
Cuthbertson’s Dustin Allen is the girls’ coach of the year after leading the Cavaliers to the 7A state title. Allen and Cuthbertson won their eighth straight state title overall.
All-Observer girls’ indoor track team
FIRST TEAM
55-meters — Zhoe Holt, Bradford Prep: The Bears’ freshman ran a personal- and the state-best time this indoor season, 6.83 seconds, to win the 1A/2A state title.
300 meters — Z. Holt, Bradford Prep: Holt doubled as the 1A/2A state champion in a personal-best time of 37.10.
500 meters — Lila Smith, Palisades: The Pumas’ senior ran a personal-best 1:14.81 to finish as 8A state runner-up.
1000-meters — Caitlin Kasten, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ junior ran a personal-best 2:49.49 to finish sixth at the Virginia Showcase.
1600-meters — Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ sophomore ran a personal-best 4:51.22 to win the 7A state title.
3200-meters — C. Kasten, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior ran a personal-best 10.27.14 at the NC Runners’ Dash for Doobies. She was also 7A state runner-up.
55-meter hurdles — Farrah Anderson, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ senior ran a personal-best 7.98 to win the 7A state preliminary race. She also was the 7A state runner-up.
4 X 200-meter relay — Independence (Adriana Zega, Talia Allen-McDowell, Grace Rogers, Hannah Dadie): The Patriots’ relay team ran an Observer-area best 1:38.89 to finish as 7A state runner-up.
4 X 400-meter relay — Marvin Ridge (Brynn Buckowsky, Amanda Vilord, Isabella Gentille, C. Kasten): The Mavericks’ quartet ran an Observer-area best 3.59.44 to finish as 7A state runner-up.
4 X 800-meter relay — Marvin Ridge (C. Kasten, Harper Roe, Isabella Gentille, Summer Wilson): The Mavericks’ relay ran an Observer-area best 9:25.88 to win the Charlotte City Championship.
High Jump — Kaylen Cannon, Jay M. Robinson: The Bulldogs’ freshman threw a personal-best 5-3 at the Northwest Cabarrus December Invitational. She was also 5A state runner-up.
Long Jump — F. Anderson, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ senior had a personal-best 19-4 to win the Weddington Polar Bear. She was also 7A state runner-up.
Triple Jump — Mylan Clay, Corvian Charter: The Cardinals’ freshman jumped a personal-best 39-3 to win the 1A/2A state title. She was also the 1A/2A state championship’s most valuable player.
Pole Vault — Isabella Kartsonis, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ freshman threw a personal-best 12-3.50 to finish as runner-up at the Adidas Indoor Nationals. She was also 7A state champion.
Shot Put — Promise Lovelace, Statesville: The Greyhounds’ senior, a Charlotte 49ers’ commit, threw an indoor personal-best 45-3.50 to finish fourth at the New Balance Nationals. She was also 6A state champion.
SECOND TEAM
55-meters — Shiasia Mitchell, Mallard Creek, Sr.
300-meters — A. Zega, Independence, Jr.
500-meters — Mylan Clay, Corvian Charter, Fr.
1000-meters — Molly Barber, Myers Park, Sr.
1600-meters — C. Kasten, Marvin Ridge, Jr.
3200-meters — Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman, Sr.
55-meter hurdles — Jaliyah Hunter, Mallard Creek, Jr.
4 X 200-meter relay — Mallard Creek (Bella-Marie Black, Laila Ramadan, Sana’ia Lazenby, Aniya Poole).
4 X 400-meter relay — Cuthbertson (Mariah Joiner, Nya Burrell, Allegra Anderson, Julia Crumpler).
4 X 800-meter relay — North Lincoln (Elan Eurey, Cambelle Refner, Kate Evonuk, Ella Myers).
High Jump — A’riyanna Battle, Mallard Creek, Jr.
Long Jump — McKencee Cook, Hickory Ridge, Sr.
Triple Jump — Ava Jones, Cuthbertson, Jr.
Pole Vault — Maya Runkle, Marvin Ridge, Jr.
Shot Put — Iyona Reid, Statesville, Sr.
All-Observer boys’ track team
FIRST TEAM
55-meter dash — Alijah Moore, West Cabarrus: The Wolverines’ senior, a University of South Carolina commit, ran a personal-best 6.25 to win the Liberty Flames’ Invitational, also won the 7A state champion.
300-meter dash — Cameron Tucker, Jay M. Robinson: The Bulldogs’ senior broke the state indoor track record, running a 32.75 to win the 5A state title.
500-meter dash — Liam Kinken, South Mecklenburg: The Sabres’ junior broke a state indoor state record, running a 1:01.17 to win the 8A state championship.
1000-meter run — Hunter Bates, Weddington: The Warriors’ senior ran a personal-best 2:28.12 to win the 7A state title.
1600-meter run — James Freeman, Myers Park: The Mustangs’ junior ran a personal-best 4:12.85 at the Mondo Elite Invitational. He also won the 8A state championship.
3200-meter run — Adam Haggart, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ sophomore ran a personal-best 9:06.17 at the Mondo Elite Invitational. He also finished third at the NCISAA Division I state championships.
55-meter hurdles — Nyan Brown, Mallard Creek: The Mavericks’ senior, an N.C. State commit, ran the state’s fastest time this indoor season, a 7.30 at the Meck Power Six conference championships. Brown was also 8A state runner-up.
4 X 200-meter relay — Marvin Ridge (Aiden Smith, Connor Berry, Haiden Ratike, Desmond Nformi): The Mavericks’ relay ran an Observer-best 1:27.81 to finish sixth at the New Balance Nationals.
4 X 400-meter relay — Porter Ridge (Diogo Bessa, John Santos, Jaylen Hubbard, Cade Creswell): The Pirates’ quartet ran an Observer-area best 3:23.61 to win the 7A state championship.
4 X 800-meter relay — Cuthbertson (Elliott Lightfoot, Adhithya Ashok, Mason Haymore, Blake Dixon): The Cavaliers’ relay ran an Observer-area best 7:57.53 to finish 19th at the New Balance Nationals.
High Jump — Tommy Pringle, II, Cutbertson: The Cavaliers’ jumped an indoor personal-best 7-0 to finish as 7A state runner-up.
Long Jump — Dorian Dailey, Mallard Creek: The Mavericks’ junior jumped an personal-best 23-4.5 to win the 8A state title.
Triple Jump — Julian Williams, Northwest Cabarrus: The Trojans’ junior jumped a personal-best 47-0.75 to finish seventh at the Adidas Indoor Track Nationals. He also won the 5A state championship.
Pole Vault — Will Martimbeau, Providence: The Panthers’ junior made a personal-best 14-0 to win the Christmas is Near Invitational. He also finished fifth at the 8A state championships.
Shot Put — Hunter Zettl, North Lincoln: The Knights’ senior, an N.C. State commit, threw a personal-best 60-1 at the Ardrey Kell MLK Invitational. He was also 5A state runner-up.
SECOND TEAM
55-meter dash — Ace Clements, Weddington, Jr./C. Tucker, Jay M. Robinson, Sr.
300-meter dash — A. Smith, Marvin Ridge, Sr.
500-meter dash — Drew Johnson, Hough, Sr.
1000-meter run — C. Creswell, Porter Ridge, Sr.
1600-meter run — Hunter Bates, Weddington, Sr.
3200-meter run — Bryce Cooke, Parkwood, Jr.
55-meter hurdles — Keegan McClure, Lake Norman, Sr.
4 X 200-meter relay — Cuthbertson (Bryce Gatlin, Nathan Wilson, Kai Pegues, Dax Chapman).
4 X 400-meter relay — Cuthbertson (B. Gatilin, Teegan Swift, Cayden Rosen, D. Chapman).
4 X 800-meter relay — Charlotte Country Day (Benjamin Dorsey, Chandler Jones, States Cooke, Ricky Broome).
High Jump — Houston Tillotson, Cuthbertson, Sr.
Long Jump — Jakari Galvin, Corvian Charter, Jr.
Triple Jump — D. Dailey, Mallard Creek, Jr.
Pole Vault — Ryder Sgheiza, Cuthbertson, Jr./Mason Short, Northwest Cabarrus, Jr.
Shot Put — Chase McCullough, Hickory Ridge, Sr.
