Indoor track can bring many things for a distance runner, from a breakout season to redemption after frustration.
This preview is based on returning times from last winter & spring, as well as improvements made during the fall cross country season. Only indoor times are included in the returning rankings below (no polar bear marks).
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Girls Distance Preview
Of course, you can't think about girls' distance running in this state without focusing on Wesley Frazier (Ravenscroft). Although the NCISAA does not fully sanction an indoor season, she has always competed in a few national-caliber meets during the winter, and she has done well. Known for her long-distance prowess early in her career, she showed over the last two years that she is a force in the mile; wouldn't it be interesting to see a 1000 or 800 from her this winter? Last year, Frazier won the Brooks PR two-mile, and then finished fifth at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, and she ranks 2nd in the country among returning runners (10th in the 1600). The last time I spoke to Darby Middlebrook (Watauga), she was coming off a serious injury at the 4A West Regional and told me that she would be taking the winter season off from competitive running. That means the top public-school returner in the 1600 and 3200 won't be in the field for the indoor state meet. Nonetheless, the 4A classification is loaded with talent in the girls' distance races. Megan Sullivan (Broughton) earned the 4A state championship this fall, and that improvement makes her a prime candidate for sub-3 and sub-5 races this winter, even in the midst of basketball season (and don't forget, she ran 10:46 for 3200 in the spring). Jennie Cunningham (Pinecrest) finally broke through the 3-minute barrier last winter, and though she had a rough summer and early fall she is well on track to recover her place atop the 1000 rankings; she ranks 16th in the country among returning runners in that event. The interesting thing regarding Jennie will be seeing if her development in the 1600 was set back by her training disruptions. Maura McDonnell (Green Hope) is always a contender in the 1000, and she could make the step to the 1600 this winter as a prelude to her college running career. Mattie Blue, teammate to Sullivan, is another top contender in the 1000 and 1600, and here's hoping that she is fully healthy after a difficult cross country season. Anna McBride (Davie) is a likely candidate to bring home the 4A 3200 title if she goes all-in this winter, but wouldn't it be ironic if the Watauga girl that wins the two-mile turns out to be Madison Harman? Expect Blake Dodge (West Carteret) to continue as the top girl in the 1A/2A/3A mid-distance races, although either Carmen Hilliard (South Brunswick) or Katie Cease (West Carteret) could bring home a title. Allie Castro (North Lincoln) and Mary Grace Doggett (Cardinal Gibbons) enter the season as leading contenders in the 1A/2A/3A 3200. Which newcomers have the potential to shake things up? Sophie Ebihara (Cardinal Gibbons) and Anna Vess (AC Reynolds) had the best fall seasons, while Blair Ramsey (Grimsley) ran 5:22 last winter as an 8th-grader. If you're looking for sleeper candidates that might be a bit off the radar, consider these: Chandler Borton (RJ Reynolds) is the only girl besides Middlebrook to appear on all three returning lists below, and this is the only season where she runs full-time; Kayla Montgomery (Mount Tabor) finished the fall season with a huge PR and could be in line to threaten the 11-minute mark this winter; and Ryen Frazier is always a bit of a mystery coming out of the fall season, when she doesn't race, but if she has been training hard she could be sub-5 this winter.
Top 10 Returning Girls: 1000m
| 1. | 2:57.41 | Jennie Cunningham | NC Pinecrest | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 2. | 3:00.43 | Maura McDonnell | NC Green Hope | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 3. | 3:00.77 | Mattie Blue | NC Broughton | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 4. | 3:05.99 | Kaylie Loyd | NC Southeast Raleigh | 2014 | 01/07/2012 | North Carolina HS Opener |
| 5. | 3:06.22 | Darby Middlebrook | NC Watauga | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 6. | 3:07.35 | Chandler Borton | NC R.J. Reynolds | 2013 | 01/07/2012 | North Carolina HS Opener |
| 7. | 3:08.04 | Brooke Gordon | NC T.C. Roberson | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 8. | 3:08.46 | Emily Vance | NC Overhills | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 9. | 3:08.69 | Mason Kepley | NC High Point Central | 2015 | 02/04/2012 | JDL Fast Track Last Chance HS Invitational |
| 10. | 3:08.89 | Katie Cease | NC West Carteret | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
Top 10 Returning Girls: 1600m
| 1. | 4:52.18 | Wesley Frazier | NC Ravenscroft School | 2013 | 02/04/2012 | New Balance Grand Prix |
| 2. | 5:01.72 | Darby Middlebrook | NC Watauga | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 3. | 5:04.44 | Ryen Frazier | NC Ravenscroft School | 2015 | 01/07/2012 | North Carolina HS Opener |
| 4. | 5:05.56 | Megan Sullivan | NC Broughton | 2014 | 03/09/2012 | New Balance Indoor Nationals |
| 5. | 5:06.32 | Jennie Cunningham | NC Pinecrest | 2013 | 01/07/2012 | North Carolina HS Opener |
| 6. | 5:07.82 | Mattie Blue | NC Broughton | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 7. | 5:09.54 | Blake Dodge | NC West Carteret | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 8. | 5:09.57 | Carmen Hilliard | NC South Brunswick | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 9. | 5:09.91 | Brooke Gordon | NC T.C. Roberson | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 10. | 5:15.98 | Chandler Borton | NC R.J. Reynolds | 2013 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
Top 10 Returning Girls: 3200m
| 1. | 10:21.07 | Wesley Frazier | NC Ravenscroft School | 2013 | 02/26/2012 | Brooks PR Invitational |
| 2. | 10:59.73 | Darby Middlebrook | NC Watauga | 2013 | 12/17/2011 | Liberty Elite Invitational |
| 3. | 11:04.51 | Anna Mcbride | NC Davie County | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 4. | 11:20.56 | Madison Harman | NC Watauga | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 5. | 11:23.18 | Allie Castro | NC North Lincoln | 2014 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 6. | 11:24.18 | Chandler Borton | NC R.J. Reynolds | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 7. | 11:24.51 | Rebekah Greengrass | NC Panther Creek | 2015 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 8. | 11:25.87 | Mary Grace Doggett | NC Cardinal Gibbons | 2014 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 9. | 11:30.52 | Carmen Hilliard | NC South Brunswick | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 10. | 11:31.63 | Kayla Montgomery | NC Mount Tabor | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
Boys Distance Preview
Bakri Abushouk (Cary) was the best runner in the state all fall, and he has already run faster for 3200 than anyone did last winter season. He certainly has the speed to mix it up in the 1000, as well, but could choose to focus his efforts on the 1600. It will be interesting to see if either Colin Godwin (Cary Academy) or Ben Huffman (Providence Day) decides to compete in any national-caliber indoor meets, as did Thomas Graham last year. Both of those independent-school athletes earned national attention this fall; Godwin has the stronger track background, but Huffman clocked 9:08 in November, and that had to open the eyes of some meet directors around the state. Philip Hall (Terry Sanford) continued his progression as a runner with a strong cross country season, and that means he belongs in the top echelon on the track. Sam Miner (East Chapel Hill) tops the returning 3200 list, but didn't have the fall season I know he had hoped for; will that provide motivation for a big return on the track? Wyatt Maxey (Providence) had a very good fall season, and that could put him in the driver's seat for the 1000 (although he has the range to be a top-flight mile or two-mile guy, as well), and John Crossley (West Carteret) will certainly be a contender in that event after a strong spring and fall. Then come the teams with multiple strong runners, Broughton and Mount Tabor. For the Caps, the trio of William Roberson, Asher Smith-Rose, and Allen Lawrence all ran strong 3200's last winter, while John Dalton Rohr hit 4:22 in the spring. The Spartans' top returner from 2012 was Andrew Krivsky, but the rise of Ian Milder and Dalton Nickel this fall will create both competition and versatility among the teammates. Two young men from the Charlotte area bring some mystery to the start of the season: Alec Lane (Marvin Ridge) ran one of the best 1000's in the state last fall but had a tough fall season, while Christian White (Ardrey Kell) transferred to Charlotte Latin, putting his participation this winter in question. Dark-horse candidates include Bryan Brackney (Watauga) in the 1000, Tanis Baldwin (East Henderson) in the 3200, and two guys whose giant leaps forward this fall could mean equally impressive improvements on the track: Ryan Brady (East Chapel Hill) and Patrick Sheehan (Lake Norman). Freshmen don't generally make a big impact in boys' track (distance or otherwise), but Broughton's Jeremy Brown ran extremely well on the cross country course, and rumor has it that he comes with a solid track pedigree.
Top 10 Returning 4A Boys: 1000m
| 1. | 2:35.78 | Wyatt Maxey | NC Providence | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 2. | 2:37.29 | Alec Lane | NC Marvin Ridge | 2013 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 3. | 2:38.08 | Christian White | NC Ardrey Kell | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 4. | 2:38.10 | Bakri Abushouk | NC Cary | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 5. | 2:38.59 | Bryan Brackney | NC Watauga | 2013 | 02/04/2012 | JDL Fast Track Last Chance HS Invitational |
| 6. | 2:39.55 | Steve Stowe | NC North Forsyth | 2014 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 7. | 2:40.96 | Robert Williams | NC Southeast Raleigh | 2014 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 8. | 2:41.70 | Corey Aikens | NC Knightdale | 2014 | 01/07/2012 | North Carolina HS Opener |
| 9. | 2:41.75 | Walter Bugler | NC Northside (2A) | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 1A/2A/3A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 10. | 2:42.12 | Ariel Shores | NC Southeast Guilford | 2014 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
Top 10 Returning 4A Boys: 1600m
| 1. | 4:22.23 | Bakri Abushouk | NC Cary | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 2. | 4:27.68 | Philip Hall | NC Terry Sanford | 2015 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 3. | 4:28.04 | Sam Miner | NC East Chapel Hill | 2013 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 4. | 4:29.84 | Ariel Shores | NC Southeast Guilford | 2014 | 12/09/2011 | Liberty High School Christmas Invitational |
| 5. | 4:32.70 | Andrew Krivsky | NC Mount Tabor | 2013 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
| 6. | 4:34.35 | Wyatt Maxey | NC Providence | 2014 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 7. | 4:34.45 | Mihret Coulter | NC Holly Springs | 2014 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
| 8. | 4:35.37 | Becket Killam | NC Pinecrest | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 9. | 4:35.48 | Josh Anderson | NC Watauga | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 10. | 4:36.26 | Ben Fiedler | NC Asheville School | 2013 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
Top 10 Returning 4A Boys: 3200m
| 1. | 9:36.25 | Sam Miner | NC East Chapel Hill | 2013 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 2. | 9:38.29 | William Roberson | NC Broughton | 2014 | 03/09/2012 | New Balance Indoor Nationals |
| 3. | 9:44.49 | Wyatt Maxey | NC Providence | 2014 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 4. | 9:46.05 | Asher Smith-Rose | NC Broughton | 2014 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
| 5. | 9:48.37 | Allen Lawrence | NC Broughton | 2013 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
| 6. | 9:49.37 | Nick Tyrey | NC Cardinal Gibbons | 2013 | 01/27/2012 | JDL Fast Track High School Invitational |
| 7. | 9:51.51 | Cody Wellons | NC Unattached (NC) | 2014 | 02/25/2012 | NCRunners Elite Last Chance |
| 8. | 9:54.43 | Nikolaus Kreiling | NC Jordan | 2014 | 01/20/2012 | Durham Striders Eastern HS Challenge |
| 9. | 9:56.21 | Parker Lee | NC Fuquay-Varina | 2015 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |
| 10. | 9:57.07 | Dalton Nickel | NC Mount Tabor | 2013 | 02/11/2012 | 4A NCHSAA Indoor State Championship |