The Charlotte Observer’s 2024 boys’ high school track preview
Here is The Observer’s 2024 preview for boys’ track teams in the area:
Teams to Watch
Gaston Day: The Spartans made a strong run last year, finishing as the NCISAA Division III state runner-up to Burlington Christian. This year, Gaston Day will look to take the top spot with senior Wyatt Smith (400-meter dash state runner-up, 800-meter relay state champion last season), classmate Chase Owens (long jump state champion, third in the high jump last year) and sophomore Deshawn Coulter (fourth in the 100-meter dash, sixth in 200-meter dash, 800-meter relay state champion last year) all playing key roles.
Mallard Creek: The reigning 4A outdoor state runner-up features some big time speed among its athletes. Junior Christian Dixon will lead the way after finishing as 4A state champion in the 400- and 800-meter relays teams and 4A runner-up in the 200-meter dash. He was third in the 100-meter state final. Mavericks’ senior Benjamin Black, Rutgers’ football commit, is also back. He was a part of both state championship relay teams and is also a state contender in the sprints. Mallard Creek senior Tyson Williams, coming off third-place in 55-meter dash and a fifth-place 300-meter run at indoor state championship, will also play a key role.
Providence Day: The Chargers will be running to win their 10th state title in the past 11 years. Leading the way are senior Zach Makemson (University of Tennessee commit, 800-meter, NCISAA Division I state runner-up) and junior Aiden Ray (state runner-up in triple jump, 110 and 300-meter hurdles last season).
Weddington: The defending 4A outdoor state champions have a wealth of experience back to make another championship run.
Sophomore Hunter Bates has emerged as a contender in the 800 and 1,600 meters after winning the 1000-meter 4A state indoor title earlier this month. Senior Ian Mas is also a 1,600 and 3,200 meter threat after a sixth-place finish at the 4A indoor state championships in the 1,600.
The 4A state indoor pole vault champ, Eli Clark, gives Weddington points in an event that most don’t score in. Clark is also the reigning 4A outdoor track runner-up in the pole vault. Coach Rick Spencer also has two state contenders in the throws with seniors Kolton Weaver and Christopher Stewart. Stewart outdoor runner-up in the shot put last season. Stewart was fifth in the discus.
Athletes to Watch
Kyle Barney, Marvin Ridge: The Mavericks’ junior was fourth at the 4A state indoor meet in the 1,000-meter run, after finishing 10th in the 1,600-meter run at the 4A state outdoor championship last spring.
Tim Brown, Hough: The Huskies’ senior won the 4A state indoor title in the 500-meter run earlier this month. Last year, he helped the Huskies’ 1,600-meter relay team to a 4A state outdoor championships, while finishing sixth in the 800.
Xavier Dixon, Nation Ford: The Falcons’ senior sprinter looks to contend again in 200-meter dash (third at 5A states last year) and 400-meter dash (fourth at states last season).
Raghav Gopalakrishnan, Ardrey Kell: The Knights’ senior, a University of Pennsylvania commit, was 4A state runner-up in both cross country (last fall) and the 3,200-meter indoor state championships earlier this month. This outdoor season, Gopalakrishnan will look to finish his high school with that elusive state title most likely in the 1,600 or 3,200.
Anthony Hawkins, Hickory Grove: The Lions’ star was NCISAA Division II state champion in the discus, shot put and the 1,600-meter relay eventlast year.
Eric Heal, Mooresville: The Blue Devils’ junior looks to be a contender in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles (seventh at 4A state in 300-meter hurdles last year) after a breakout sophomore season.
Logan Hill, Charlotte Catholic: The University of South Carolina commit looks to build on a strong fall, where he finished seventh at the 4A state cross country championships. Hill was a 4A state champion in 3,200-meter relay, while finishing seventh at the same meet in 800 last outdoor season.
Blake Nicholson, Christ the King: The Crusaders’ junior won the 1A state cross country title last fall, and is the defending 1A state champion in the 3,200-meter run outdoors.
Isaiah Palmer, Rock Hill: The Bearcats’ senior, a Clemson commit, broke his own school-record in the pole vault (15-6), and is the reigning S.C. 5A state runner-up in the same event.
Josh Porter, Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers’ senior, a Lehigh University commit, is one of state’s top shot putters after finishing fourth at the Division I state championships last season.
Jaylen Roseboro, East Lincoln: The Mustangs’ senior was the 3A state runner-up in the 400-meter run in a personal-best 49.19. Roseboro also has momentum from a fourth-place finish at the 3A state indoor meet in the 300-meter dash earlier this month.
Daniel Schinemann, Metrolina Christian: The Warriors’ senior is a six-time Metrolina Athletic conference (MAC) performer and was all-state last season. He will try to help Metrolina Christian to its 10th straight MAC confernece title.
Colden Welsh, Covenant Day: The Lions’ senior, committed to Colorado Christian, finished fourth at the state cross country meet, while taking seventh in the 1,600-meter run and fifth in the 3,200-meter run at the NCISAA Division I, outdoor state championships last spring.
Thomas Wlazlowski, Cuthbertson: The Cavaliers’ senior will look to carry his momentum from a standout cross-country season (third at 4A states, 4A Midwest Regional and Southern Carolinas’ conference champion) outdoors where he looks to prove he can be a 1,600 and 3,200-meter state contender.
Jayden Wentz, Olympic: The Trojans’ senior had a personal-best 46-8 to win the 4A state indoor title in the triple jump earlier this month, and will to look win another state championships outdoors.
Notes
▪ Rock Hill senior Malik Clark, who ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, has run as fast as 27.3 miles per hour on grass. Clark finished fifth at the 5A outdoor state championships and seventh in the 200-meter last year. The 6-foot-1 wide receiver has football scholarship offers from Maryland, Michigan, South Carolina and more, according to Rock Hill track coach Douglas MacAlpine.
▪ Northwestern senior twin brothers Jayden and Jaylen Burris give the Trojans legitimate 4A state contenders in both the long jump and triple jump, with classmate, Andon Jones, also a state contender (third-place at states last year) in the 400-meter dash.
