HIGH-SCHOOL

NCHSAA state track meet: Highland's Tolbert, Mountain Island Charter boys lead Gaston gold rush

Staff reports

GREENSBORO — Highland Tech's Lauren Tolbert ended her high school track career in style Saturday at North Carolina A&T State University's Irwin Belk Track.

The Duke signee added three gold medals to her collection, claiming NCHSAA 1A titles in the 100-, 200- and 800-meter races. Tolbert's time of 2:09.37 set a new 1A state meet record, breaking a mark previously held by Community School of Davidson's Malia Ellington in 2015.

Tolbert was named the event's most outstanding performer. Her only blemish in an otherwise perfect afternoon was the 400, which she did not finish.

Tolbert's career concludes with six outdoor track and field titles. She also won two indoor track titles and the 2021 1A girls cross country championship.

Catch them, if you can:Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln athletes to watch at NCHSAA, NCISAA state track meets

Punching their ticket:Here's who qualified for NCHSAA track and field state championship after region meet

County champs:Cherryville boys, South Point girls dazzle at Gaston County track and field championships

Mountain Island Charter also continued its run of dominance, repeating as 1A boys champion. The Raptors racked up 99 points, 47 ahead of second-place Union Academy.

Senior Trevin Moyer swept the 100, 200 and 400 events. Moyer set a new 1A state meet record in the 400, his time of 46.97 seconds eclipsing the mark previously set by Cherryville's Trentavis on Friday.

Mountain Island Charter's team of Trae Nickelson, Jonavon Fisher, Reginald Taylor and Benjamin Patton flexed its collective muscle as well, winning the 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Jaylin Milton-Hall finished as runner-up in the 100 and 200, and third in the 400. Benjamin Patton was fourth in the 100-meter dash, while Connor Logue placed second in the pole vault with a mark of 13 feet, six inches. Mountain Island Charter's 4x400 relay team finished third in the state.

State champions

Class 3A

Austin Brotemarkle, Forestview: The Forestview standout earned the 3,200title, completing the race with a time of 9:30.90. Stuart Cramer’s Nicholas and Zachary Willer finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

North Lincoln boys 4x100 relay team: The Knights crossed the line with a time of 42.95 to claim state gold. East Lincoln finished third.

Alexis Willis, Stuart Cramer: After claiming second in the long jump (18-6), she won the triple jump event with a leap of just beyond 39 feet.

Zachary Willer, Stuart Cramer: The Storm distance athlete capped a stellar senior year with a 3A title in the 1,600. He crossed the line with a time of 4:19.86, less than a second in front of South Central’s Cooper Kleckner. Twin brother Nicholas finished third in the race.

Class 1A

Cherryville 4x400 relay team: The tandem of Mason Grindstaff, Cooper Sloan, Jack Mulvey and Jackson Owens crossed the line in 3:30.35, two seconds better than runner-up Union Academy.

Mountain Island Charter girls relay teams: The team of Cadence Smith, Madison Forsythe, Natalie Patton and Hope Barwick claimed gold in the 4x200 relay, crossing the line in 1:46.72. The Raptors claimed second in the 4x800 and third in 4x400.

NCISAA

Maddison Freeman, Gaston Christian: Won a Division II state title in the shot put with a throw of 33-6.5. She placed second in the discus throw event.

Gaston Christian girls relay teams: The Gaston Christian 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams claimed Division II state titles, completing the races in 52.16 seconds and 1:49.23, respectively.

Trinity Hall, Gaston Christian: Claimed gold in the discus with a throw of 107-04 in Division II. She also placed third in the shot put.

McKynzie Mauney, Gaston Day: In her final high school track meet, the Chapel Hill bound athlete claimed Division III state titles in the discus (151-10) and shot put (45-09). Teammate Camryn Massey finished second in both events.

Noteworthy

  • Ashbrook 4x200 relay: Finished fourth at 3A meet with a time of 1:30.26.
  • Arielle Baker, Mountain Island Charter: Placed second  (34-1.25) in Class 1A in the girls shot put event.
  • Kyha Brooks, Cherryville: Brooks finished second in the 1A high jump event with a mark of 5-2.
  • Carly Correll, North Lincoln: Her throw of 107-07 was good for fourth in Class 3A.
  • Marilyn Crisp, Gaston Christian: Finished second in the high and triple jump events at the NCISAA Division II state meet.
  • Lori Glavan, North Lincoln: Finished fourth in the girls Class 3A 1,600 in  5:24.63.
  • Jacob Hogan, Gaston Christian: Was second in the 110 and 300 hurdles in the NCISAA Division II state meet.
  • Katherine Hopkins, Lincolnton: Finished second with a time of 5:29.92 in the Class 2A 1,600, 10 seconds behind Natalie Almond of West Stanly.
  • Kaniyah Hopper, Shelby: Her throw of 109-10 allowed her to finish fourth in the Class 2A shot put event.
  • Lincoln Charter 4x800 relay: Finished second with a time of 8:13.92 in Class 2A.
  • Connor Nanney, Gaston Christian: Placed third in NCISAA Division II in the 1,600.
  • North Lincoln girls 4x800 relay: Claimed third with a time of 10:08.34 in Class 3A.
  • Kelbi Pierce, North Lincoln: Wound up third in the Class 3A 3,200 in 11:29.92 .
  • Liam Sutton, North Lincoln: Finished second in Class 3A in the 110 and 300  hurdles.