The 2022-23 All-Observer boys and girls indoor track teams

Jay Edwards, Langston Wertz Jr.
·7 min read
Porter Ridge’s Jacob Laney (left) and Albemarle’s Akayla Garrett (right) are The Charlotte Observer’s boys and girls indoor track athletes of the year

Porter Ridge High’s Jacob Laney and Albemarle’s Akala Garrett, a pair of seniors, headline the 2022-23 Charlotte Observer boys and girls all-star track teams.

Laney repeated as 4A state champion in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs this season. He’ll run at North Carolina next season.

Garrett won three 1A/2A state titles in the 55-meter hurdles plus the 300- and 500-meter dashes. The University of Texas recruit was named MVP of the 1A/2A state finals. Garrett also won a world championship in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Athletic U20 Championships when she was 17.

▪ East Burke’s Kenneth Byrd is the field athlete of the year after finishing runner-up in the shot put at the 1A/2A state finals. The girls field athlete of the year is Stuart Cramer’s Alexis Willis, who won 3A state titles in the long jump and triple jump.

▪ Cuthbertson’s Dustin Allen is boys and girls coach of the year. His boys team won their second straight state 4A title. His girls also repeated as state champions.

▪ The Observer changed its coverage area beginning with spring sports coverage. After the winter sports All-Observer teams are named, only athletes in the new coverage zone will be considered for inclusion for future teams. The revised coverage area includes schools in counties that touch Mecklenburg: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln and Union.

All-Observer boys indoor track team

FIRST TEAM

55-meter dash: Christian Dixon, Mallard Creek, So.: The 4A state runner-up ran a personal-best 6.28.

300-meter dash: Killian Fahy, Cuthbertson, Sr.: The University of North Carolina commit won the Weddington Polar Bear event in an-area best 34.13; also was fourth at the 4A state championships.

500-meter dash: Josiah Wrice, Butler, Jr.: The Bulldogs’ junior ran a personal- and area-best 1:04.91 to finish fifth in the Virginia Showcase.

1000-meter run: R.J. Gajan, Marvin Ridge, Sr.: The Mavericks’ senior won the 4A state title in a personal-best 2:29.91.

1600-meter run: Jacob Laney, Porter Ridge, Sr.: The University of North Carolina commit repeated as the 1,600-meter state champion with the state’s best time this season — a personal-best 4:11.21, to win the 4A state title.

3200-meter run: J. Laney, Porter Ridge, Sr.: The Pirates’ star won his second straight 4A state title, and won the Mondo Elite Invitational in area-best time of 9:09.37.

55-meter hurdles: Xavier Branker, Ardrey Kell, Sr.: The Knights’ senior was the 4A state champion, also ran area- and personal-best 7.45 to win the Mondo Elite Invitational.

4 X 200-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Richard Johnson, Keenan Jackson, Killian Fahy, Reece Morgan): The Cavaliers’ quartet ran the area’s best time (1:29.11) to win the Liberty Flames’ High School Invitational.

4 X 400-meter relay: Cuthbertson (K. Fahy, R. Morgan, K. Jackson, Amari Burrow): The Virginia Showcase champions (3:20.98) also won the 4A state indoor title.

4 X 800-meter relay: Charlotte Catholic (Ian Pierce, A.J. Painter, Nick Potter, Logan Hill): The Cougars’ relay team was 4A state runner-up in 8:03.40.

High Jump: Kenneth Byrd, East Burke, Jr.: The Cavaliers’ junior jumped 6-foot-6 to win both the 1A/2A state title and the Bunker Hill Polar this indoor season.

Long Jump: Josh Sokeye, Marvin Ridge, Sr.: The Mavericks’ senior jumped an area-best 21-7 to finish as runner-up in the COROS Invitational; also finished fifth at the 4A state indoor championships.

Triple Jump: Christian Seibert, Cuthbertson, Sr.: The Cavaliers’ senior was the 4A state runner-up in a personal-best 44-6.75.

Pole Vault: Kenneth Byrd, East Burke, Jr.: The Cavaliers’ junior won the Mondo Elite Invitational with 16-6, also 1A/2A indoor state runner-up.

Shot Put: Kolton Weaver, Weddington, Jr.: The Warriors’ junior finished in the Mondo Elite Invitational with an area-best 53-8.5, also was fifth at the 4A state indoor championships.

SECOND TEAM

55-meter dash: Calen McKinney, Porter Ridge, Sr.

300-meter dash: J. Wrice, Butler, Jr.

500-meter dash: K. Fahy, Cuthbertson, Sr.

1000-meter run: Caden Townshend, Weddington, Sr.

1600-meter run: Landon Roemer, Providence Day, Sr.

3200-meter run: C. Townshend, Weddington, Sr.

55-meter hurdles: Daunte Marshall, A.L. Brown, Sr.

4 X 200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Benjamin Black, C. Dixon, Jayden Lee, Darren Morrison).

4 X 400-meter relay: Providence Day (Kasey Brooks, Sam Michaelson, Zack Makemson, Brunner Williams).

4 X 800-meter relay: Providence Day (Z. Makemson, S. Michaelson, L. Roemer, Austin Skeete).

High Jump: Jonathan Parks, A.L. Brown, Jr./Reid Herring, Providence, Sr.

Long Jump: Avery Fraley, East Burke, Jr.

Triple Jump: Ezra Martin, Union Academy, Sr.

Pole Vault: Ryan Davis, Weddington, Sr./Eli Clark, Weddington, Jr.

Shot Put: Christopher Stewart, Weddington, Jr.

All-Observer Girls Indoor Track

FIRST TEAM

55-meter dash: Nina Dominique, Charlotte Christian, So.: The Knights’ sophomore was the N.C. Independent Schools’ runner-up in a personal-best 6.97.

300-meter dash: Akala Garrett, Albemarle, Sr.: The University of Texas commit was the 1A/2A state champion, while also running an area-best 38.60 to win the Liberty Christmas High School Invitational in 38.60.

500-meter dash: A. Garrett, Albemarle, Sr.: The 1A/2A state champion also ran an area-best 1:13.51 to finish sixth in the Virginia Showcase.

1000-meter run: Charlotte Bell, Cuthbertson, Jr.: The Cavaliers’ junior ran an area-best 2:49.32 win the Liberty Flames High School Invitational, also finished third-place at the 3A state indoor championships.

1600-meter run: C. Bell, Cuthbertson, Jr.: The 4A state indoor champion in a personal-best 4:45.19.

3200-meter run: Mary Bonner Dalton, Myers Park, Jr.: The Mustangs’ junior ran a personal-best and the state’s best time indoors (10:20.72) to finish as runner-up at the Virginia Showcase; also won the 4A state, indoor title.

55-meter hurdles: A. Garrett, Albemarle, Sr.: The Bulldogs’ senior won another 1A/2A state title, while running the state’s fastest time this season (7.70) to win the Virginia Showcase.

4 X 200-meter relay: Olympic (T’Sheylah Moore, Janya Barnes, Journee Gordon, I’Ja Walter): The Trojans’ quartet ran an area-best time of 1:44.65 to finish as Mondo Elite runner-up, also finished fourth at the 4A state indoor championships.

4 X 400-meter relay: Olympic (Carmen Penasoto, J. Gordon, I. Walter, T. Moore): The Trojans’ relay won the 4A state championship and ran an area-best 3:59.85 to win the Mondo Elite Invitational.

4 X 800-meter relay: Cuthbertson (Lillian Nasta, Josie Schihl, Addison Miller, Justine Preisano): The Cavaliers’ relay won the Virginia Showcase in an area-best 8:57.98, were also 4A state runner-up.

High Jump: Aria Wegh, Marvin Ridge, Jr.: The Mavericks’ junior was the 4A state runner-up and won the Weddington Invitational with 5-4 jumps.

Long Jump: Jahaila Wright, Olympic, Jr.: The Trojans’ junior was the 4A state champion with a personal-best and the state’s best jump this season (18-6.75).

Triple Jump: Alexis Willis, Stuart Cramer, Sr.: The Storm senior won the 3A state indoor title with a personal-best 39-7.

Pole Vault: Eleni Fiore, Weddington, Jr.: The Warriors’ junior jumped a personal-best 11-0 to win the Weddington Polar Bear, while also finishing sixth-place at the 4A state indoor championships.

Shot Put: Tyler Glover, Ardrey Kell, Jr.: The Knights’ junior was the 4A state indoor champion, while throwing an area-best 46-6 to win the COROS Holiday Classic.

SECOND TEAM

55-meter dash: Aria Wegh, Marvin Ridge, Jr.

300-meter dash: A. Wegh, Marvin Ridge, Jr.

500-meter dash: T. Moore, Olympic, Sr.

1000-meter run: Stella Kermes, Cuthbertson, Jr.

1600-meter run: S. Kermes, Cuthbertson, Jr.

3200-meter run: Alyssa Preisano, Cuthbertson, Sr.

55-meter hurdles: A. Wegh, Marvin Ridge, Jr.

4 X 200-meter relay: Mallard Creek (Jayda Lewis, Tiara McFadden, Shiasia Mitchell, Laila Ramadan).

4 X 400-meter relay: Charlotte Country Day (Jada Erwin, Lela McMichael, Lindsey Kerrins, Abby Kerrins).

4 X 800-meter relay: Charlotte Country Day (Emma Lewis, Lindsey Kerrins, Kasey Cone, Abby Kerrins).

High Jump: Macy Miller, South Rowan, Jr.

Long Jump: A. Willis, Stuart Cramer, Sr.

Triple Jump: Isabelle Liu, Cuthbertson, Jr.

Pole Vault: Meredyth Barr, Myers Park, Sr./Lily Houston, Northwest Cabarrus, Jr.

Shot Put: Macy Dulaney, Mallard Creek, Jr.