(Posted December 29, 2012)
Former Raleigh Broughton HS High Jumper Jesse Williams once considered competing for New Zealand. (NZherald.co.nz)

(Posted December 24, 2012)
South View track program mourns the loss of Michael Moore. Moore won state title in the 110 hurdles as a senior in 2010.
Story (12/24) - FayObserver.com

(Posted December 20, 2012)
Asheville Reynolds star to continue at Brown (12/19) - Citizen-Times.com

Former E Chapel Hill runner earns All-South award - ChapelHillNews.com (scroll down)

Update on Chapel Hill/Carrboro Pacers Youth Running Club - ChapelHillNews.com

(Posted December 19, 2012)
Former Watauga HS Cross Country and Track Coach Leigh Wallace passed away December 17th at Johnson City Medical Center in Tennessee after a brief battle with pneumonia. She was 43. During her 10 years (1994-2003) working with Watauga's Cross Country and Track teams, Coach Wallace was instrumental in building their program to be one of the best, and most respected in the state.
Story - WataugaDemocrat.com   Story - HCpress.com   Story - Winston-Salem Journal
Watauga Coach David Honea writes about Coach Wallace on his blog.
Story - GoASU.com
Obituary | Guest Book - Hampton Funeral Service (Boone)
Follow-up story:
School Board considers naming field for Leigh Wallace - WataugaDemocrat.com

(Posted December 8, 2012)
Five weeks ago I reported the sad demise of the website DyeStat.com (see Nov. 2nd news item). John Dye started DyeStat in 1996, just months before I started NCPrepTrack, and his site helped to motivate me and to serve as a model. The DyeStat folks did a great job of covering high school track and cross country, despite several ownership changes (e.g., ESPN). The latest attempt to re-create the site was DyeTrack.com

RunnerSpace.com has announced that it has partnered up with John Dye and is the new owner of DyeStat.

The Announcement - RunnerSpace.com   More.

The new site's temporary home is at www.runnerspace.com/DyeStat

(Posted December 7, 2012)
The USA Track & Field Foundation has presented an Elite Athlete Development Grant to Manteo Mitchell.
Story - USATF.org

(Posted December 2, 2012)
Former Matthews Butler HS star Spencer Adams, now a Clemson senior, sped to a nations-leading time in the 60-meter Hurdles Saturday at the Orange & Purple Meet at Clemson. The time was a new facility record and just .02 off Adams' best of 7.60. Former Clayton HS sprinter Keni Harrison also ran a nations-leading time in the Women's 60m Hurdles (8.19).
Story - MileSplit.com

(Posted November 30, 2012)
An update on former Chapel Hill HS runners Sarah Jane Kerwin and Ahna Weeks, and East Chapel Hill graduate Alison Smith. Kerwin now runs for Oberlin College, Weeks for Carleton College, and Smith for Williams College.
  Friendly rivals meet again at nationals - ChapelHillNews.com

Don't miss today's NCPrepTrack interview with new UNC Coach Harlis Meaders.

(Posted November 28, 2012)
Milesplit.com has a feature on former Gastonia Forestview HS and current Clemson sprinter Stormy Kendrick.
  Kendrick feature - Milesplit.

(Posted November 23, 2012)
Today's Charlotte Observer has a feature on former Shelby Crest star Manteo Mitchell.
 Story | Photos - CharlotteObserver.com

- - - -

Coach Shelton Harrison has coached various athletes in NC. Among the most notable are Kamorean Hayes back in 2007, (NC #1 Shotput, NC#2 Discus), Aslynn Halvorson (NC #1 Discus, NC #2 Shotput), Jaya Emerson (NC #13 Discus) Paris Brown, Jasmine Suydam, Alisha Bradshaw, Sonya Bell and a few others that are all ranked on the all time NC list. Coach Harrison has opened the PAC in Charlotte, is training a host of NC athletes and can be contacted at 704-756-7181. Following is an inspirational commercial about discipline.

Intro: Coach Shelton Harrison and Coach Evert Palmer show how through discipline and hard work you will obtain your goals. Due to their efforts, Palmer and Harrison started the Professional Athletic Center in Charlotte, NC. Many athletes in the area have a place to train and be successful on the professional, collegiate, high school, and youth levels. Athletes from Prime Track Club and Higher Power Athletic Club are featured in this commerical.   Video.
More info at www.pacwins.com

(Posted November 17, 2012)
Here are handy links for today's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Louisville, KY. (12:00 Noon - Women's Race; 1:15 pm Men's Race).

Coverage Overview | Watch Live - NCAA.com | 11:00 am Pre-Race Show - FloTrack.org | Qualifiers | Results - DeltaTiming.com | Stats | More Coverage - TrackAndFieldNews.com

(Posted November 16, 2012)
Manteo Mitchell (Shelby Crest '05) ran leadoff (46.1 split) on the U.S. 4x400 that sped to a 2:58.87 in the qualifying at the London Olympics to advance to the final.
Interview: Mitchell recalls London - OffTheRecordSports.com

(Posted November 5, 2012)
Track & Field News has named their 2012 High School Girls All-America No. 1s.  Raleigh Wakefield's 4x200 was selected as #1 in the country in that event. Wakefield ran 1:35.98 (#1 NC All-Time) last April 6 at the Arcadia Inv. in California.
Complete List

(Posted November 2, 2012)
Back in the Spring of 1997 when I launched NCPrepTrack.com at the urging of Charlotte Observer sportswriter Brett Honeycutt, I was pleased to learn of a fellow in Baltimore who had also recently started a new site -- DyeStat.com, which was attempting to cover high school track and field at a national level.

John Dye's efforts helped to motivate me, and to serve as a model, and I recall my excitement at meeting John for the first time at the first Great American meet (1999, at McAlpine).

Having closely followed DyeStat for many years, it is with sadness that I read tonight on the current site (dyetrack.com) the following:

THE END OF DYESTAT
ESPN closed its ESPNHS division, including DyeStat, on September 14. We tried hard in recent weeks to obtain new funding, but these efforts came to dead ends. Therefore, we deeply regret to announce that DyeStat is ending after 15 years, the last four with ESPN. We have negotiated for the return of DyeStat assets, including the domain name and prior content. We will reopen dyestat.com soon as an archive site to preserve access to the history of high school track since 1997. Derek Dye's magnificent TFX database will also be accessible for data mining. As I say in my farewell message to Dyestatters, thanks for the memories.  John Dye

John Dye: Thanks for the Memories (11/2) - dyetrack.com
SteveU: Farewell to DyeStat (11/2) - dyetrack.com
A DyeStat thanks from Mike Newman (11/2) - dyetrack.com
Nepo: A Photog's Farewell (11/2) - dyetrack.com
DyeStat Wikipedia page

(Posted October 31, 2012)
At last weekend's ACC Championships in Blacksburg, VA, NC State freshman Samantha George (Raleigh Millbrook HS) placed 13th (20:46.8). George was the first freshman finisher, earning ACC Women's Cross Country Freshman of the Year in addition to earning All-ACC honors.

Story - GoPack.com   Story - TechnicianOnline.com   Women's Results

(Posted October 26, 2012)
Update on former Raleigh Millbrook HS and Tarboro HS sprint stars Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley:
Area H.S. players Marshall and Gurley find football stardom at Georgia - N&O

Marshall was 2011 NCHSAA 4-A 100m champion (10.68 -1.1) and anchored Millbrook's winning 4x100 (42.01). He won the 100 (10.64 -2.8) at the USATF World Youth Trials at Myrtle Beach. He ran 10.44w +2.9 at the 2011 USATF National Jr. Olympics.

Gurley was 2011 NCHSAA 2-A 110H champion (14.13 - 0.4), 5th in the 100m (10.71 +1.2) and anchored Tarboro's 3rd place 4x100 (42.92). In 2010 he anchored Tarboro's record-setting (2-A) 4x100 (42.50). Gurley won the 110H (36" hurdles) at the USATF World Youth Trials and was 6th in his Semi at the Worlds.

(Posted October 23, 2012)
Former Southern Pines Pinecrest HS/Colorado runner Andy Wacker makes pro debut.
Story - ColoradoDaily.com

Written by a parent of a freshman cross country runner in New York:
Observations from a Rookie XC Dad - NY.Milesplit.com

(Posted October 19, 2012)
The newest and latest news from the JDL Fast Track indoor track facility in Winston-Salem:
Update - NCrunners.com   JDL Fast Track Schedule
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The Duke University cross country and track & field programs have announced the addition of Tom Cuffe to the coaching staff for the 2012-13 seasons. Cuffe will serve as an assistant women's cross country coach under the direction of head coach Kevin Jermyn, as well as an assistant for the men's and women's track & field teams.
Story - GoDuke.com   Follow-up story - silive.com

(Posted October 17, 2012)
Many of you may remember Forrest Lyerly, who ran 2nd (15:11.9) in the Boys Race Of Champions at the 2010 Great American Invitational at Wake Med Park. He was later 4th in the 2010 State 4-A Cross Country Championships, and ran a 15:27 at McAlpine. Here's the latest on Forrest:
Former Reagan High track star pleads guilty to attempted armed robbery (10/17) - JournalNow.com

(Posted October 15, 2012)
Not related to North Carolina... but long-time cross country enthusiast and writer (and founder of The Harrier magazine) Marc Bloom has an excellent article recently published in the NY Times on the famous Van Cortland Park cross country course in the Bronx.
Intro - us.MileSplit.com   A Century of Testing Runners' Speed and Spirit (10/12) - NY Times

(Posted October 14, 2012)
Former Eastern Alamance HS and UNC runner Jake Hurysz finished 4th and led the University of Colorado men to the team title at the NCAA Pre-National Invitational Saturday in Louisville, KY.
Story - CUBuffs.com   Complete Results

At the same meet Appalachian State's Amanda Hamilton (a graduate of Apex HS) ran a personal best in leading the ASU women.
Story - GoASU.com

(Posted October 11, 2012)
Kinesis Dynamic Athletics Is having it's Halloween Vault, it is open to any and all pole vaulter any ability level. To register Call Spencer Frame (919)-619-4629. or go to Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinesis-Dynamic-Athletics/117639158298096 and post on our page.
Saturday NOV 3th Kinesis Dynamic Athletics, Ken's Korny Corn Maze, and Harvested Farms Nightmares combine to have a great Halloween weekend event that will be fun for the whole family. Dress up in your costume and head out to test your skills in the pole vault, challange your self to conquer the mazes and if you dare, see if you can navigate the scary haunted maze at night...
Vaulters must be Current 2012 USATF members (Must bring proof of current membership). Early Registration (Ends Friday Oct 26): Athlete entry $30.00 (Covers Corn Maze entry). Haunted maze You choose either corn maze regular or haunted no extra fee. Registration Day of is $ 40.00 To register: Call, E-mail, or go on Facebook Only extra for both maze's. Spectators/Coaches entry (Covers 1 Corn Maze). Age 6 and Up $10.00. Age 3-5 $ 5.00. Under age 3 Free with Paid Adult. Haunted Maze Kinesis special. NEW You can choose to do one maze or the other, regular during day or haunted at night. There will be an extra fee only if you do both $10.00.

(Posted October 5, 2012)
Former Apex HS runner Amanda Hamilton is experiencing a good senior cross country season at Appalachian State. In high school Hamilton contributed legs on Apex's 4th-place 4x800 at the 2008 NCHSAA State 4-A Indoor and 7th-place 4x8 at the '08 Outdoor 4-A Meet. She was 11th in the 3200 (12:24.54) at the '08 State Indoor.
Story - GoASU.com

(Posted October 1, 2012)
Former Eastern Alamance HS runner Jake Hurysz, now competing for Colorado as a a junior transfer from UNC, ran his first-ever race for the 7th-ranked Buffs and recorded the 4th-fastest time in course history. Hurysz won by 27 seconds with a time of 24:34, becoming the 3rd fastest CU performer ever over the course behind course record holder Jorge Torres (24:07) and Adam Goucher (24:12).

Story/Video: Hurysz Wins CU Debut At Rocky Mountain Shootout (9/29) - CUBuffs.com
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Former Cary Academy runner Thomas Graham placed 14th (24:42) Saturday at the Stanford Invitational. #9-ranked Stanford ran all of its freshmen (including Graham) unattached.

Story | Results - GoStanford.com
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Former Northern Durham HS runner Blake Williams, now running for 6th-ranked Texas, was 85th (25:07) Saturday at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic. Williams is a sophomore transfer from UNC, and was the 6th Longhorn across the line. The meet was run on the same course to be used for the NCAA Championships Nov. 17.

Preview | Story - TexasSports.com
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NC State freshman Samantha George (Raleigh Millbrook HS) placed 29th (17:15) Friday at the Notre Dame Invitational. Redshirt senior Patrick Campbell (Mooresville HS) was 43rd (24:28).

At the same meet, UNC's Ryan Walling (Green Hope HS) was 53rd (24:32), Isaac Presson (Asheville HS) 60th (24:36), and Scott Morgan (Calvary Baptist) 89th (24:53). In JV races Braedon Koerwitz (Concord Robinson HS) ran a PR (25:25) and Aundrea Holmes (Cary Christian) hit a PR (19:04).

Story/Results - GoPack.com | Preview, Story - GoHeels.com | Weekend College Cross Country Wrap (10/1) - tracksuperfan.com
Alumni Report: Weekend of 9/29 - NCrunners.com
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Duke University has announced plans to build a new stadium for its track and field program on its campus in Durham. The new facility will be beside Koskinen Stadium, which currently hosts the school’s soccer and lacrosse teams. The current track - in famed Wallace Wade Stadium will be removed once the new track stadium has been completed.

The existing track will be removed as part of a large renovation and transformation of the 80+ year old historic horseshoe shaped stadium to a modern facility for football with improved seating, closer to the field. Wallace Wade has hosted the NCAA Championships, the 1974 US vs Soviet Union dual meet, the Martin Luther King Jr International Freedom Games and numerous other large international track meets over the years. The Rose Bowl game was moved there one year during World War II.

The timetable for the various projects is dependent on the success of a major fund-raising campaign. Blue Devil officials hope to break ground with the first phase of construction - building the new track stadium - as early as this coming spring. The first construction in Wallace Wade (lowering the field) could begin as early as December of 2013, following the last home game for that season.

Complete story and video - GoDuke.com

(Posted September 28, 2012)
UNC student paper profiles Isaac Presson - Citizen-Times.com
Original story - DailyTarHeel.com
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Worst Cross Country Start Ever? - RunnerSpace.com
This one was at a cross country meet in Alaska.

(Posted September 24, 2012)
Advice to prep runners checking out colleges - RunningTimes.com
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Inadequate distance to the first curve?   Pileup in Illinois   More on what happened - Illinois Prep Harrier

(Posted September 19, 2012)
The date that these rankings were done is unclear, but Broughton and Cary's boys, and Cardinal Gibbons and Green Hope's girls teams appear on these rankings of the Top 50 teams nationally:  USA Super-50 National Team Rankings - XCnation.com
- - - -
A college cross country meet with an unusual twist.  Photos of the course.

(Posted September 16, 2012)
Former Northern Durham HS runner Blake Williams is shown on an 18-mile training run with his new team, the University of Texas Longhorns, in this video. (FloTrack.org)

Williams ran at UNC prior to transferring to Texas. At Northern Durham he was 20th at the Foot Locker Nationals as a junior and 15th as a senior. He ran a 4:07.57 Mile (4:06.13 1600m) which is #4 NC All-Time and 9:04.36 for 3200m. Williams was 2010 NCHSAA 4-A Cross Country Champion, 2010 4-A Indoor 1600 Champion, and 2010 and 2011 4-A 1600 Champion.

(Posted September 12, 2012)
Former Morganton Freedom HS/Appalachian State athlete Robert Johnson (47-8.25, 2nd - NCHSAA State 4-A TJ 1991) has been named Head Track and Field Coach at The University of Oregon.

Johnson graduated from Appalachian State in 1996, and was a two-time triple jump All-American (1995, '96), NCAA high jump qualifier (1996) and school high jump record holder (7-1 3/4). He was '96 Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Johnson later competed in the Triple Jump in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Trials, and coached at Appalachian State and UCLA before going to Oregon.

He was named 2011 National Women's Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Robert Johnson promoted to Head Coach - OregonLive.com
Johnson calls his elevation to head coach 'an amazing opportunity' - OregonLive.com
Robert Johnson replaces Vin Lananna - DailyEmerald.com
Story - TrackAndFieldNews.com
Robert Johnson takes over the UO track and field program - RegisterGuard.com
- - - -

Former Orange County HS Head Track & Field Coach Kim Cash [scroll down], now Assistant XC/Track Coach at Guilford College, along with a Guilford runner helped to save a man drowning at Kure Beach Saturday.
Story - News-Record.com
- - - - -

A long-time starter and meet official at Charlotte-area track meets and also at the NCHSAA State Meets (and also the Foot Locker Regional, Wendy's Invitational, etc), Roy Bradley died Sunday at 74 of complications due to Alzheimer's.

While attending Myers Park HS, Bradley was the 1956 NCHSAA 100-yard Dash champion, tying the state record, and helping Myers Park to it's first team title. For the 22 years that the NCHSAA State Cross Country Championship was held at McAlpine, Roy started every race. He also started all Wendy's and Kinney/Foot Locker Championships at McAlpine, the Queen City Relays, the Dick Williams Invitational, and numerous Conference, Regional and State Track Meets until his illness forced him to give up starting.

During my coaching years, if Roy ever called a false start on one of my sprinters, or DQ'd my relay team for an exchange violation, I never questioned the call. I knew that Roy had made the proper call.

Events at the Queen City Relays are named for meet officials who volunteered at the annual meet for years. The Girls 100m is named the Bradley 100. I enjoyed officiating at many track and cross country meets with Roy and his late wife, Jane. They were a lot of fun to work with. (I recall them having their young kids, Lee and Jill at meets, pulling up starting blocks, loading the wagon and rolling them to the next start where they would be needed.) Dedicated and quality volunteers like Roy and Jane helped to make high school track and field and cross country better in North Carolina.

Obituary | Guest book - CharlotteObserver.com    Obit/Photo/Guest book - HankinsWhittington.com

(Posted September 11, 2012)
Field event fans will surely find this video interesting:
Innsbruck's Golden Roof Challenge | Summary | Results
More on The Golden Roof.

(Posted September 7, 2012)
Appalachian State freshman Mitch McLeod (who ran for Chapel Hill HS) and ASU senior Amanda Hamilton (Apex HS) have been named Southern Conference Runners of the Week.   Story - GoBlueRidge.net   Story/Photos - SoConSports.com   Photo   Photo - GoASU.com
- - - -

Julia Lucas (former Charlotte Myers Park HS/NC State Univ.) runner gives her top five books for this fall, in her own words:
Five Stories with Julia Lucas.
- - - -

E Rowan runner wins 2012 Tour-de-Elvis 5K - snaponline.com

(Posted September 6, 2012)
Catching up with the latest on former White Oak HS sprinter P.J. Anding -- now at Mount Olive. Source: http://www.jdnews.com

(Posted September 5, 2012)
A good interview with Coach Joe Newton, who has been coaching cross country at York HS (Elmhurst, Illinois) since 1959. Newton's boys teams at York have won 27 Illinois state cross country championships and one track state title while 4 of his runners won IHSA individual cross country titles. His cross country teams have also finished 2nd in the Illinois state meet 11 times and in 3rd place four times. Newton, 83, has been awarded the National Cross Country Coach of the Year four times and has written four books, concentrating on training and motivation.
2008 film on Newton and York's program: The Long Green Line.   Film review.   Amazon.com link.   Book.   More.
- - - -

The latest on former Northwest Guilford HS/UNC runner Addie Bracy, who placed 19th in the 10,000 6/22 at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Bracy is now in Boulder, Colorado and is training for the 2012 Chicago Marathon (10/7). Bracy has been a volunteer assistant coach the past 3 years at UNC, and was 4th in last December's Las Vegas Half-Marathon. In high school she was 13th (20:24.20) in the 2003 NCHSAA State 4-A Cross Country, 2nd (5:16.76) in the 1600 at the 2004 State Indoor Meet (all-classification), and 3rd (5:13.09) in the 4-A 1600 outdoors. Bracy was a walk-on at UNC and graduated five years later (2009) with much-improved PRs.

(Posted September 1, 2012)
Appalachian State University freshman Mitch McLeod (who ran for Chapel Hill HS) placed 3rd (25:16.2) in his first ever collegiate race Friday at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone. ASU senior Alex Taylor (Charlotte Providence HS) was 7th (25:32.1).

ASU senior Amanda Hamilton (Apex HS) was 3rd (18:28.5) in the women's race. Junior Allison Cook (Raleigh Sanderson HS) placed 8th (18:48.4), and redshirt sophomore Justine Stocks (North Buncombe HS) finished 9th (18:50.3).

Stories: Men's Cross Country Starts Strong - GoASU.com
Women's Cross Country Finish Second in First Meet - GoASU.com
Story - GoBlueRidge.net   Story - GoHeels.com

(Posted August 27, 2012)
A radio interview today on WUNC.org with longtime Duke Track & Field and Cross Country Coach Al Buehler.

Buehler came to Duke in 1955 to coach cross country. By the time he retired from coaching 45 years later in 2000, he had led Blue Devil track teams to six ACC championships, was elected president of the NCAA Track Coaches Association in 1970, arranged the first large meets ever held in NC -- the 1971 US - Pan Africa Meet, 1973 Martin Luther King Freedom Games, 1974 US vs USSR Meet, 1975 US-Pan Africa-West Germany Meet, and the 1990 NCAA Championships - all in Wallace-Wade Stadium, served as team manager for US track teams at Olympics in Munich (1972), L.A. (1984), and Seoul (1988). Buehler, 81, in his 58th year at Duke, still teaches a class there.

More on Coach Buehler:
Profile - USTFCCCA.org
Photo   More Duke photos
Recently-published book about Buehler. The author, Amy Unell, a former student of Buehler, also produced a documentary film on Buehler that was recently released.

(Posted August 26, 2012)
Former Raleigh Millbrook HS sprinter Keith Marshall and Tarboro HS hurdler Todd Gurley are looking good at tailback at the University of Georgia.

Marshall, Gurley in running for starting Georgia tailback job - (8/26) N&O

Marshall was 2011 NCHSAA 4-A 100m champion (10.68 -1.1) and ran on Millbrook's winning 4x100 (42.01). Gurley competed in the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships (Lille, France) in the 110m High Hurdles - placing 6th place in his Semi. He was 2011 NCHSAA 2-A 110mHH champion (14.13 -0.4), placed 5th in the 100m (10.71 +1.2) and was on Tarboro's 3rd-place 4x100 (42.92).

(Posted August 25, 2012)
Story on new UNC Cross Country Coach Mark VanAlstyne - RunnerSpace.com
Scroll down a wee bit for more news items on the new UNC coach.

(Posted August 21, 2012)
A new story on a former Hickory HS star:  Running the world with Ryan Hill (8/20) - TechnicianOnline.com
Ryan Hill Profile - GoPack.com

And a story on former Sun Valley HS star Harlis Meaders:   The road back to Chapel Hill (8/21) - DailyTarheel.com

(Posted August 20, 2012)
Not directly related to track & field or cross country, ..but having studied biomechanics at Oregon in grad school back in the 70s, I find this one interesting:
Why are female athletes more prone to ACL injuries?

(Posted August 17, 2012)
There are some good training ideas in this new article on Competitor.com:
Five Lessons Learned From Alberto Salazar

(Posted August 15, 2012)
Bill Cason has been hired as the new Head Men’s & Women’s Cross Country Coach at St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, NC. Cason replaces Mike Coggins, who resigned in July.
Story | Profile - SAPC.edu

Danny Cash is now the Head Track & Field/Head Cross Country coach at Guilford College in Greensboro, and his wife Kimberly is Assistant Track & Field/Cross Country Coach. Cash ran cross country and track for Northern Durham HS and UNC-W, and later coached at Orange HS in Hillsborough.

(Posted August 13, 2012)
Mark VanAlstyne named UNC Head Cross Country Coach.
Story - GoHeels.com
Earlier story - RunnerSpace.com
Harlis Meaders completes UNC Track & Field Coaching Staff - Chapelboro.com
More on Coach VanAlstyne | 2006 interview - YouTube
UNC Track & Field/Cross Country Coaching Staff

Olympic Links Olympic Track & Field Timetable - TrackAndFieldNews.com Timetable, Heatsheets & Results - IAAF.org London 2012 Official Website Event-by-Event Previews - TrackAndFieldNews.com By-Event Forum - TrackAndFieldNews.com Olympic T&F History/Stats - TrackAndFieldNews.com Stats by Event NBColympics.com Olympians From North Carolina

Former NC high school athletes at the London Olympics:

Manteo Mitchell (Shelby Crest '05) ran leadoff on the U.S. 4x400 that sped to a 2:58.87 in qualifying for
Friday's Final (9:20 pm London Time; 4:20 Eastern).
Mitchell's split was 46.16.  Qualifying Results - IAAF.org
Mitchell's leg fractured with 200m to go(!) - Citizen-Times.com
"Coach Williamson taught me to FINISH" - Manteo Mitchell
Mitchell runs 4x400 leg on a broken leg - USAToday.com
American runner finishes relay leg on broken leg - SI.com
Olympian effort - ShelbyStar.com
Mitchell Finishes for the Team (8/9) - Catamountsports.com
4x400 Video - NBColympics.com
Manteo Mitchell gets his time in spotlight (8/10) - Citizen-Times
Cleveland County's first Olympic medalist (8/10) - ShelbyStar.com
Mitchell's moment on The Today Show (8/11) - Citizen-T.
4x400 Qualifying Photos | Earlier Story - Citizen-Times
Photo - WNCtrack
4x400 Discussion - TrackAndFieldNews.com
Mitchell profile - CatamountSports.com
Mitchell ready for Olympic run (8/8) - Citizen-Times

Wayne Davis II (SE Raleigh, '09) 6th (13.49 -0.5) in Semi-Final.
110mH Semi-Finals

Broughton grad Jesse Williams falls short in the Olympic High Jump Final
Story (8/8) - N&O | Story - Reuters

(Posted August 7, 2012)
Update from London:   Former SE Raleigh HS star Wayne Davis II, who is a member of the Olympic team from Trinidad, placed 4th in Heat 2 of 6 (13.52 +0.8) and advanced to the Semi-Finals from the 1st Round of the Men's 110m Hurdles.  Wikipedia Profile

Jesse Williams competex in the Final in the Men's High Jump Today at 7:00 pm London Time (2:00 pm Eastern).  Men's HJ Discussion Thread - TrackAndFieldNews.com

Former Shelby Crest HS sprinter Manteo Mitchell may run a leg Thursday morning for the U.S. team in the Men's 4x400 Qualifying. The qualifying heats begin at 11:35 am London Time (6:35 am Eastern). The 4x400 Final will be Friday night at 9:20 pm London Time (4:20 pm Eastern). Story - Citizen-Times.com  Discussion - TrackAndFieldNews.com

Remember Matt Centrowitz racing in Greensboro? - News-Record.com

(Posted August 6, 2012)
Olympic tidbits & nuggets ...

Former SE Raleigh HS star Wayne Davis II competes in the 1st Round of the 110m Hurdles Tuesday morning at 10:17 am London Time (5:17 Eastern Time). The first 3 in each of the 6 Heats plus the next 6 fastest will advance to Wednesday evening's Semi-Finals. The Final will also be Wednesday evening. Heat List | Profile - IAAF.org  Texas A&M Profile   Earlier Story

Jesse Williams will compete in the Men's High Jump Final Tuesday at 7:00 pm London Time (2:00 pm Eastern).
A friend's website for Jesse.
Raleigh high jumper channels his inner Rocky (8/6) - N&O
Raleigh's Jesse Williams ascends to HJ Finals (8/5) - N&O

The BEST Men's 100 Meters photos I've seen(!).

(Posted August 5, 2012)
Jesse Williams advanced today to Tuesday's Men's High Jump Final at the 2012 London Olympics. Williams cleared 2.16/7-1, 2.21/7-3, 2.26/7-5 all on his 1st attempt. He then missed his 1st at 2.29/7-6 but made his 2nd attempt to be one of 14 to go on to the final. Results
Williams' competetitors to watch include Great Britain's Robert Grabarz who passed at 2.16, and cleared 2.21, 2.26, and 2.29 all on his 1st attempt, and Ivan Ukov (Russia) who has a best of 2.40/7-10.5 from '09 and is the 2012 World Leader with a 2.39/7-10.   T&FN High Jump Formchart | 2012 World List | All-Time World List - TrackAndFieldNews.com.
Watch for a new Men's High Jump thread to appear on this event-by-event discussion board Tuesday on TrackAndFieldNews.com.  Previous thread: US advances 3 to final
From earlier today ...
Former Raleigh Broughton HS star Jesse Williams competes today (7:05 pm London Time) in the Qualifying Round of the Men's High Jump. A clearance of 2.32m (7-7.25) or being in the top 12 advances a jumper to Tuesday's Final. Williams has a seasonal best of 2.36 (7-8.75).   Men's HJ Preview, Predictions (8/1) - Track & Field News.

There were several eye-opening performances yesterday ...most of them in London, but a shocker occurred in Houston, TX at the National AAU Junior Olympics -- a 46.89 400 by a Georgia sprinter who just completed the 9th grade. Here's the all-time Freshman 400 list (on TrackandFieldNews.com). The list includes Karjuan Williams, who later ran at New Bern HS.

Prep Signing: W Rowan's Freeze to Pfeiffer for cross country - SalisburyPost.com

(Posted August 4, 2012)
Brent LaRue placed 3rd (49.45) in the third of three Semi-Final races in the 400m Hurdles at the London Olympics. The first 2 in each race, plus the next 2 fastest advanced to the final. The former East Forsyth HS star did not make it to the Final, but still had a personal best performance (49.38) in Friday's 1st Round.  Semi-Final Results - IAAF.org

(Posted August 3, 2012)
Brent LaRue (E Forsyth HS/Wake Forest Univ.) ran a personal best (49.38) and placed 4th in the 3rd of six 1st-Round Heats in the 400m Hurdles today at the London Olympics. Semis are Saturday (8/4) at 7:00 pm (London Time). LaRue will run in Lane 2 in the 3rd of three Semi-Final races. He is competing as a member of the Slovenian Olympic Team.  Olympians From NC

DyeStat.com has an interesting compilation of how good members of the 2012 US Olympic Track & Field team were in high school. Several were record-setting champions (e.g., Allyson Felix). Others weren't (e.g., Vaulters Jeremy Scott and Derek Miles were only 15-2 & 14-6 vaulters in high school, and Jenn Suhr never even vaulted until after college.)   US Men | US Women

Former South View athlete Daniels to coach perennial Maryland track power Potomac High - FayObserver.com

Arkansas votes in favor of allowing home school students to play high school sports - Yahoo Sports

(Posted August 1, 2012)
Former East Forsyth and Wake Forest star Brent LaRue is in London as a member of the Slovenia Olympic Team. He will compete in the first round of the 400-meter Hurdles Friday (Aug. 3) at 6:15 am ET. The Semifinals are Saturday (Aug. 4) with the Final Monday (Aug. 6).

LaRue was 2005 NCHSAA 4-A Champion in the 300m Hurdles (37.14 -- #9 on NC All-Time List). He also ran the 400m Hurdles in 52.57 (#6 NC All-Time). Indoors that year LaRue ran on East's championship 4x400 team (3:28.76).

Profile/photo in today's Greensboro News-Record:   Athletes with local ties to the Summer Olympics

(Posted July 31, 2012)
Eight named to join NCHSAA Hall of Fame - NCHSAA.org

Among the eight is longtime North Rowan coach Robert Steele. Steele's teams have won an incredible 15 NCHSAA state championships.

(Posted July 29, 2012)
Not a track/cross country story but still somewhat interesting:
Choice plan helps Wakefield High football (7/28) - NewsObserver.com

Former SE Raleigh hurdler and Trinidad Olympian Wayne Davis II ready for Olympics:
Story - NBC17.com

Updated 7/30: Another story - NBC17.com

(Posted July 27, 2012)
Former Crest HS sprinter Manteo Mitchell on his role as a 4x400 relay pool member - FloTrack.org

(Posted July 26, 2012)
News items today about two former NC high school athletes:

Former Broughton HS high jumper Jesse Williams:
Broughton standout Jesse Williams knows his time is now - N&O

Former Asheville HS hurdler Sophia Treakle - currently the captain of the Duke University women's track and field team - assisted with the making of filmmaker Amy Unell's recently-released documentary about legendary Coach Al Buehler, who was Track & Field and Cross Country Coach at Duke for 45 years. Treakle is mentioned and quoted in today's story on Buehler on NCAA.com: Duke's Buehler helps create change.

(Posted July 25, 2012)
Updates on former Broughton HS star Jesse Williams:
View from my balcony in London's Olympic Village.
Facebook stuff.   Twitter link.
A friend's website for Jesse

(Posted July 23, 2012)
Olympic sprinter answers questions as big event approaches (7/21) - ShelbyStar.com
More on Manteo Mitchell - USATF.org

(Posted July 18, 2012)
Relay Exchange Zone, Penalty for Illegal Uniform Among 16 Track and Field Rules Changes - NFHS.org

Site spotlights Blues cross country (7/17) - Citizen-Times.com

(Posted July 17, 2012)
Norm Witek, Thomas Cason join Brevard College cross country and track coaching staff (6/21) - bctornados.com

(Posted July 16, 2012)
Story on former Crest HS sprinter Manteo Mitchell and his preparation for the London Olympics. - Citizen-Times.com

(Posted July 13, 2012)
As the upcoming cross country season rapidly approaches (NCHSAA First official practice date is 7/30 -- 17 days from now), several current and former North Carolina distance runners participated Thursday at 7 pm in a midsummer's test of one's fitness.

This was the 18th annual The Bear. It's a 5-mile ordeal that begins in Linville, NC and finishes at the top of Grandfather Mountain -- a total elevation climb of 1,568 feet. Conditions at the finish were 57 (F) degrees with pouring rain. The event is one of several at the annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games.

Story - WataugaDemocrat.com   Story - Grandfather.com
Race Website/Complete Results
Video (2008) - YouTube.com

(Posted July 10, 2012)
Former Hickory HS star Ryan Hill set a new NC State School Record for the 1500 meters Saturday in Heusden, The Netherlands Saturday night.   Story - GoPack.com

(Posted July 9, 2012)
Old-timers and long-time track & field enthusiasts like me certainly recall Duke University coach Al Buehler. Buehler came to Duke in 1955 to coach cross country. By the time he retired from coaching 45 years later in 2000, he had led Blue Devil track teams to six ACC championships, was elected president of the NCAA Track Coaches Association in 1970, arranged the first large meets ever held in NC -- the 1971 US - Pan Africa Meet, 1973 Martin Luther King Freedom Games, 1974 US vs USSR Meet, 1975 US-Pan Africa-West Germany Meet, and the 1990 NCAA Championships - all in Wallace-Wade Stadium, served as team manager for US track teams at Olympics in Munich (1972), L.A. (1984), and Seoul (1988). Buehler, 81, in his 58th year at Duke, still teaches a class there.

Earlier this evening I enjoyed a well-attended (overflow crowd!) presentation/book-signing by Coach Buehler and the author of the new book about him at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham. The author, Amy Unell, a former student of Buehler, also produced a documentary film on Buehler to be released on DVD and Netflix later this month.

High school athletes, coaches, and parents will enjoy this book. It is less than a hundred pages, easy to read, and loaded with Coach Buehler's "Coachables" -- his words of wisdom.

Oh yes ... that hat? Buehler's dermatologist many years ago, knowing that the coach spent many hours outdoors, strongly urged him to start wearing a hat. (The doc didn't want to eventually end up removing parts of the coach's ears and scalp.) Good advice.

Book Info - GoDuke.com
Related story: Buehler Honored with Award at Olympic Trials - GoDuke.com
Video - NCAA.com   Interview - WFAE.org
Retired coach guided cross country on a magical run in the 70s - GoDuke.com
The enduring influence of Al Buehler
New York Times story

There will be another book-signing Tuesday July 10, 6:00 - 8:30pm at the Silverman Pavilion, Foundation for the Carolinas, 220 North Tryon Street in Charlotte, Event Details.

(Posted July 6, 2012)
Harlis Meaders to Lead UNC Mens/Womens Track and Field Programs
(Yep, still #1 in Discus on NC's All-Time List ... 197-10 ..Queen City Relays, 1988)
Story - GoHeels.com

(Posted July 4, 2012)
Page HS and A&T grad Jared Baldwin was named the inaugural MEAC Man of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday.

The award, selected by the MEAC athletic directors, celebrates male senior student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Story - News

(Posted July 2, 2012)
Long-time coaches and fans of high school track and field in this state may remember Bill Carson, who was East Carolina University's Track & Field Coach for 40 years (1967-2007).

I sadly learned earlier this evening that Coach Carson passed away earlier today at the age of 75. Coach Carson's program produced 70 All-Americans over the decades. Among his most renowned ECU greats was Lee McNeill, who won a Gold Medal at the 1987 World Championships in Rome.

Coach Carson recruited me my senior year (1970) and recall him as being a very nice fellow, and an excellent recruiter. One of my official college visits was to ECU. I ended up going to Appalachian, but I recall seeing him at numerous high school and college meets over the years and he'd always come up and say hello. Coach Carson did a lot over his long and successful career at ECU to raise college and high school track and field in North Carolina to a higher level.

Hopefully Coach Carson was able to follow and enjoy the great U.S. Olympic Trials (which concluded last night) ...before crossing his final finish line.

Story - ECUpirates.com   2004 Profile   Profile - ECU Athletics Hall of Fame

(Posted June 25, 2012)
Here's a somewhat amusing piece:  USATF Announces Procedure for Breaking a Tie for the final qualifying slot in a running-event final in which a U.S. National Team or Olympic Team is being selected.

I particularly enjoyed the part about the obverse hub, the reverse hub, George Washington and the eagle, and the 90 degree angle of the index finger.

...Could be an interesting tie-breaker if it ever occurs at the Olympic Marathon Trials. (!)

(Original source)

(Posted June 24, 2012)
Yesterday's New York Times has a story on problems pole vaulters sometimes encounter.

(Posted June 23, 2012)
The Raleigh News & Observer has a photo gallery of North Carolina's two fastest high school girls ever over 1600m and the Mile -- Wesley Frazier, and Julie Shea.
Girls 1600m/Mile All-Time List

(Posted June 20, 2012)
Story on former North Forsyth/NCSU runner Bobby Mack:
Raleigh runner Bobby Mack chasing Olympic dream - midtownRaleighNews.com

(Posted June 19, 2012)
Story on former Charlotte Myers Park HS and NC State runner Julia Lucas - OregonLive.com

Book on legendary Duke Track/Cross Country coach Al Buehler to be released July 3rd:  Info - GoDuke.com

(Posted June 18, 2012)
UNC Asheville track and field head coach Jesse Norman has announced the signing of seven incoming freshmen students to national letters-of-intent for the men's team.
Story - UNCAbulldogs.com
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Story on former Knightdale HS star Ronnie Ash - EasternWakeNews.com
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The Kenyan Summer - RunningTimes.com

(Posted June 8, 2012)
NCAA Division I Championships in Des Moines, IA have completed.
Scroll down to June 6 posting to see updates on how athletes from NC did.
Complete Results - FlashResults.com

(Posted June 8, 2012)
Interview with former Crest HS/Clemson sprinter and Olympian Travis Padgett (6/7) - Milesplit.com

(Posted June 7, 2012)
High Jumper Jesse Williams stays grounded by fixing up homes (6/6) - KPIC.com
More on Williams

(Posted June 6, 2012 ...Updated June 8, 9)
2012 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships: (June 6 - 9)
Live Results - FlashResults.com
Men's Results (posted at the end of each day)
Women's Results
Time Schedule - TrackAndFieldNews.com
Formcharts: Men | Women - TrackAndFieldNews.com
Coverage - DesMoinesRegister.com
Links - rtspt.com

Athletes who competed in high school track in NC who qualified for the NCAA meet:
Ryan Hill, JR N.C. State, 1500 (Hickory HS). NCAA Result.
Sandy Roberts, SR N.C. State, 5000 (Raleigh Broughton HS). NCAA Result.
Wayne Davis II, JR Texas A&M, 110HH (Southeast Raleigh HS). Semi. Final.
Spencer Adams, JR Clemson, 110HH (Matthews Butler HS). Semi. Final.
Eric Winfrey, FR South Carolina, 4x100 (Fayetteville Douglas Byrd HS). NCAA Result.
Dennis Moore, SR Appalachian, 4x100 (Asheville TC Roberson HS). NCAA Result. NCAA Result.
Landon Powell, JR Appalachian, 4x100 (N Davidson HS). NCAA Result.
Justin Thomas, JR Appalachian, 4x100 (Apex HS). NCAA Result.
Jarrell Elliott, SR North Carolina A&T, 400, 4x100 (Winston-Salem Parkland HS). NCAA Result.
Darrell Williams, JR North Carolina A&T, 4x100 (Jacksonville White Oak HS). NCAA Result.
Jarrett Samuels, FR Mississippi State, 4x400 (Charlotte Vance HS, Evelyn Mack Academy). NCAA Result.
Nathaniel Williams, SO N.C. State, Discus (West Carteret HS). NCAA Result.
Andie Cozzarelli, JR N.C. State, 10,000 (Apex HS). NCAA Result.
Keni Harrison, FR Clemson, 100H, 400H (Clayton HS). 100H Result 400H Result.
Stormy Kendrick JR Clemson, 4x100 (Gastonia Forestview HS). NCAA Result.
Vashti Bandi, SO South Carolina, 4x100 (Matthews Butler HS). NCAA Result.
Joann Blakney, SO Charlotte, 4x100 (West Mecklenburg HS). NCAA Result.
Sirrell Butler, SR Charlotte, 4x100 (Greensboro Ben L Smith HS). NCAA Result.
Chrishawn Williams, JR North Carolina, Long Jump (Southeast Raleigh HS). NCAA Result
Tremanisha Taylor FR N.C. State, Shot Put, Discus (Southern Vance HS). SP Result. DT Result.

Several former North Carolina prep stars appear on Track & Field News' All-Time NCAA Championships Performers/Performances lists (as of 6/6/12):   (Men, Women)

Ronnie Ash, Knightdale HS/Bethune-Cookman, =4th 110 HH -- 13.27 2009.
Jesse Williams, Raleigh Broughton HS/So. Cal, =6th High Jump -- 7-7 2006.
Duane Ross, N Gaston HS/Clemson, =7th 110 HH -- 13.32 1995.
Demetria Washington, Fayetteville Terry Sanford/South Carolina, 13th 4x400 Splits -- 50.4 2002.
Pat Springs, Winston-Salem Mount Tabor/UNCC, Farthest LJ Non-Qualifier -- 20-8w 2008.

(Posted May 31, 2012)
Today's Eugene Register-Guard has a story on former Charlotte Myers Park HS and NC State star Julia Lucas. She will run the 3,000 in the Prefontaine Classic Saturday in Eugene.
Story.

(Posted May 30, 2012)
Reed Finley, former teacher and track and cross country coach at Christ School in Arden, NC died Saturday May 26 at the age of 72. Finlay let Christ School to an NCISAA state track and field championship in 1990. He retired from teaching in 2006, and later assisted with coaching runners at Hendersonville HS.
Obituary - BlueRidgeNow.com
Announcement - ChristSchool.org

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Local student-athletes signing with colleges - Wilmington Star-News

(Posted May 27, 2012)
Texas A&M junior Wayne Davis II sped to the fastest high hurdles clocking ever by an Aggie Saturday to advance to the NCAA Championships. The former Southeast Raleigh HS student/athlete ran 13.31w (+4.1) at the NCAA West Regional in Austin, TX.
Story - AggieAthletics.com
NCAA Regional Results: West | East

(Posted May 24, 2012)
Asheville Erwin HS senior Ryan Johnson has signed to run college cross country and track with Western Carolina. Johnson was 26th (17:03) in last fall's NCHSAA 3-A State Meet, 32nd (16:55) as a junior, and 21st (17:12) as a sophomore.
Story/Photo - Citizen-Times.com

Interesting story from our friends south of the border ...
South Carolina has never sanctioned the sport of indoor track and field. Here's the latest on what's going on in the Palmetto State:
SCHSL Executive Committee turns down indoor proposal (5/17) - SCrunners.com
Bob Jenkins and John Jones are two important voices advocating for indoor track. I first met Coach Jenkins in 1983 while coaching at Myers Park and was very impressed with the man. And I've known John since we were teammates on the track team at RJ Reynolds HS. I'm hoping these two and others eventually achieve their goal. Having indoor track offered for kids across SC, from Myrtle Beach to Clemson... would help to "raise the bar" for our student/athletes in NC ..as well as for our neighbor to the south.

(Posted May 17, 2012)
Latest on former Broughton HS star:
Jesse Williams sharpens his Olympic Trians focus (5/17) - RegisterGuard.com

Not time to abandon interscholastic sports (5/16) - Tim Stevens, N&O

Class of 2012 Triangle college commits (5/16) - N&O

(Posted May 15, 2012)
Former Southeast Raleigh HS star Wayne Davis II certainly produced a memorable Mother's Day present for his mother. Davis, a Texas A&M junior, ran a career best of 13.37 (+1.8) winning the 110 hurdles Sunday at the Big 12 Championships, and helping his team to the team title. Davis, who has Trinidad & Tobago citizenship, set a new Trinidadian National Record. His time bettered the Olympic "A" qualifying standard (13.52), and currently ranks the 20-year-old #15 in the world. The time equals the A&M school record set by Larry Wade in 1998, and set a stadium record. The previous Trinidad & Tobago record was 13.43, set in 1999. Davis' previous best was 13.54.

A&M men win Big 12 Track Title - WTAW.com
Texas A&M men reclaim No. 1 in national rankings - AggieAthletics.com
A&M men defend Big12 outdoor title, women third - AggieAthletics.com
National Records for Alexander, Davis - TrinidadExpress.com

Update: May 17: Former SE Raleigh hurdler nears Olympic berth - N&O

(Posted May 14, 2012)
Alumni update: Hoer receives academic honors - Citizen-Times.com

Rick Strunk of the NCHSAA shared this editorial written by Bob Gardner, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations, in response to an article that was posted May 7 in the online edition of USA Today.
7.6 Million Reasons To Keep High School Sports - NFHS.org

(Posted May 13, 2012)
Asheville High grad Isaac Presson runs fastest 1,500-meter race by a UNC men's track athlete since 1973.
Story - Citizen-Times.com

(Posted May 9, 2012)
Starting-System Technology - GMAnetwork.com

(Posted May 7, 2012)
Interview with former Charlotte Myers Park runner Julia Lucas. (5/6) - RunnersWorld.com
Lucas is now a 15:08.2 5000 runner. Here's a Photo of her from 2000 with her 5000 best.
...And another 2000 4-A West Regional 3200 Photo

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NCHSAA Press Release - May 7, 2012:

JDL Fast Track chosen as site of 2013
NCHSAA indoor track and field championships

WINSTON-SALEM-- JDL Fast Track today announced a partnership with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) to host its 2013 indoor track and field championships. The meet is scheduled for February 9, 2013.

"We are excited about JDL Fast Track becoming a championship venue for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, because a venue of this caliber will create a wonderful experience for our student-athletes," said NCHSAA commissioner Davis Whitfield. "This is a beautiful state of the art facility that should be a tremendous home for our indoor track and field championships. We look forward to a long and very positive relationship with the facility and all those who have expressed an interest in hosting our event."

"The North Carolina indoor state high school meet was one of our early targets when we initially started discussing the project to build an indoor track. To realize that goal of bringing the indoor state meet to Winston-Salem after only one year is a tremendous milestone for us," said David Shannon, owner of JDL Fast Track.

The NCHSAA state indoor meet is the second championship meet to move their event to JDL Fast Track, on the heels of NCAA Division 1 Southern Conference's decision to do so for 2013 and 2014.

About JDL Fast Track

JDL Fast Track, one of the premier indoor track and field facilities in the southeast, is the brainchild of two former Wake Forest University runners and current real estate developers, David Shannon and Craig Longhurst, who identified and fulfilled a need for an area indoor track facility for use by colleges, high schools, local track clubs and youth track organizations.

The privately owned, dedicated indoor track and field facility, which opened in January 2012, houses a 200-meter oval track with a Mondotrack FTX surface -- the same surface that will be used at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Field event areas include two pole vault runways, two long/triple jump runways, one high jump apron and one throws area. The facility also includes a 100-meter warm-up track, office and meeting-room space, a training room, and hospitality suites for coaches' or conference officials' meetings at large events.

About The NCHSAA

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association, Inc., was founded in 1913. The Association is a voluntary, non-profit corporation which administers the state's interscholastic athletic program. The first state championships were held in 1913 in football and track. Today, the Association has 390 member schools and certifies the eligibility of well over 200,000 athletes annually.

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Watauga runners commit to colleges:
Haley Middlebrook made a verbal commitment to walk on at Michigan.
Story (5/6) - WataugaDemocrat.com

(Posted May 4, 2012)
Watauga senior Hannah Barbour has made a verbal commitment to attend Wheaton College a Division III school in Wheaton, Illinois.
Story - GoBlueRidge.net

(Posted May 2, 2012)
Asheville TC Roberson senior Megan McDonald has committed to run college track for Johns Hopkins.
Story/Photo - Citizen-Times.com

North Buncombe senior Eli Clevenger has committed to run college cross country and track for Charlotte.
Story/Photo - Citizen-Times

(Posted May 1, 2012)
Dudley's Tyler Brockington and Achsah Brice to sign with Div. I schools (4/26) - News-Record.com

Green Hope and Panther Creek will remain in the Tri-Nine 4-A Conference; East Chapel Hill will remain in 4-A; Douglas Byrd to drop to 3-A.
"The Board also heard appeals from other schools, including Jordan-Matthews, Chatham Central, Salisbury, Draughn and East Burke, Lake Norman Charter, North Buncombe and Brevard. After long deliberation on each of these appeals, the Board voted to deny the appeals and uphold the previous decisions made by the Realignment Committee." - from NCHSAA Press Release, 5/1.
Story - N&O   Story - Citizen-Times

(Posted Apr. 30, 2012)
Former Charlotte Myers Park runner Julia Lucas, who later starred at NC State and now runs for the Oregon TC, finished 2nd April 29th in the 5000m at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif. Her time of 15:08.52 is a personal best. It is also the fastest time by an American so far in 2012. (Old best, 15:15.91 by Molly Huddle). Lucas is married to native Oregonian Ian Dobson, who ran the 5000 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Lucas incidently is still #1 on the All-Time NC Indoor 1600 list (4:49.86 in 2002).
Photo from 2000.   Recent interview - runnerspace.com

University of Colorado sophomore Jake Hurysz won the "B" section of the 5000m with a 57.0 final lap to lower his personal best by 46 seconds to 13:38.59. Hurysz formerly ran for Eastern Alamance HS and UNC.

Former North Forsyth and NC State star Bobby Mack ran 27:53.52 for 10,000m, placing 14th.
February N&O story.   February Runners' World Interview.   Is Bobby Mack the Jeremy Lin of Running? - Let'sRun.com

Several other former NC high school athletes (Ryan Hill, Sandy Roberts, Kenyatta Iyevbele, Patrick Campbell) also competed for NC State in the meet. (See Details on how they did - GoPack.com)

Complete Results
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3rd Annual NCHSAA Adams Scholarships go to cross country/track student/athletes:
Announcement - NCHSAA.org

(Posted Apr. 27, 2012)
This year's two 7th Annual Clary Medal winners are track and field athletes:   Story (4/26) - NCHSAA.org

2 more WNC track athletes pick schools (4/27) - Citizen-Times.com

Jeff Gorski (who created Klub Keihas) has written a good article in which he emphasizes that coaches and athletes "have better access, information and methods of training today then at any time in human history".
Gorski's article (4/24) - DyeStat.com

Brief item from today's N&O:
"Frazier gets invite: Ravenscroft’s Wesley Frazier has been invited to run in the Dream Mile at the adidas Grand Prix on June 9 in New York. The event will feature dozens of Olympic medalists, world champions and a few of the top high school athletes in the country." - Source: (News & Observer article)

Fayetteville Pine Forest coach runs Boston Marathon in 2 hours, 56 minutes.
Story - FayObserver.com

(Posted Apr. 25, 2012)
NCSSM honored; East Chapel Hill back to 4-A? (4/25) - Herald-Sun.com
AAA Scholar-Athlete Winners Named - NCHSAA.org

(Posted Apr. 24, 2012)
Legendary NCCU Coach Dies at 93.
NCCU's LeRoy Walker dies at 93 - Herald-Sun.com
LeRoy Walker left his mark on US Olympic movement - Herald-Sun
Column: Walker connected people around the world - N&O
Former NCCU chancellor, USOC head LeRoy Walker, dies - N&O
Article - USTFCCCA.org

(Posted Apr. 22, 2012)
Raleigh school an advertising success story (4/21) - Wilmington Star-News

Related story: Schools testing uncharted waters for fundraising (4/21) - Star-News

(Posted Apr. 19, 2012)
The latest on former Matthews Butler star Spencer Adams. - ClemsonTigers.com
Adams was 2007 NCHSAA 4-A 300m Hurdles Champion (36.04 - a meet record) and 2008 110m Hurdles Champion (13.51).

(Posted Apr. 18, 2012)
A series of next winter's high-profile high school meets in The Armory in New York City will include a new event -- the indoor steeplechase. The event will begin as a waterless one-mile event in 2012-13, but depending on the events' success, The Armory will explore including a water jump into future races.
Story - ArmoryTrack.com   Steeplechase info.

(Posted Apr. 16, 2012)
Ardrey Kell Freshman and National Foot Locker Cross Country finalist, Alana Hadley, won the women's 10,000 against college competition Friday evening at the SeaRay Relays in Knoxville, TN. Hadley, who does not compete for her school team, had a time of 34:59.38 (5k splits of 17:21/17:38). The time ranks Hadley as 9th fastest high schooler ever in the 10,000 on the All-Time Girls HS List  (Source: Track & Field News).
Meet Results - FlashResults.com

The National High School record in the 10,000 is 32:52.5 by Mary Shea (Raleigh Cardinal Gibbons HS) Walnut, California, June 15, 1979.

Also at the SeaRay Relays (held since 1967 and formerly known as the Dogwood Relays) University of Tennessee redshirt freshman Tavis Bailey, a graduate of Kannapolis A.L. Brown HS, won the Invitational Discus with a throw of 176-9. Bailey currently ranks No. 4 in the SEC.

Burlington Williams runner Abigail Bost will be heading to Wingate.
Story - Times-News

(Posted Apr. 12, 2012)
Outstanding West Charlotte runner Mark Blackmon has committed to play basketball for Maryland Eastern-Shore. (Source) Blackmon won the 2011 4 Runners Only Carnival, was 2011 NCHSAA 4-A Cross Country Champion, and ran a 15:01 at the Foot Locker South Regional to qualify for the Foot Locker Nationals, but did not run. He received five basketball scholarship offers from colleges, including Stony Brook (NY) and Towson (MD). At the Queen City Relays March 24th, Blackmon ran legs on West Charlotte's 4x800 (4th place, 8:27.49), SMR (1st, 3:37.83), and 4x400 (16th, 3:55.76). He is entered in the Mile, and 800 for this weekend's Taco Bell Classic in Columbia, SC.
Earlier Story/Photo on Blackmon - CharlotteObserver.com

Updated list of Triangle college commits - N&O.  (The date on the story says 4/5, but list was actually updated 4/11)

(Posted Apr. 9, 2012)
David Pickett, founder of WNCPrepTrack.com has announced that his site will shut down at the end of June. He said he wants to focus more on his graduate studies and his new role as college editor at MileSplit, Inc.
Announcement - WNCPrepTrack
News Item - Citizen-Times.com

Pickett has also been helpful to NCPrepTrack for several years, emailing links and alerting me to news items and stories, and helping to provide info for NCPrepTrack's statistical lists.

(Posted Apr. 6, 2012)
Western Alamance HS senior Katie Schomburg signed a national letter-of-intent to compete in cross country for Division II Lenoir-Rhyne.
Story (4/5) - TheTimesNews.com
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Reasons vary, but more athletes favor specialization for sports (3/31) - RockyMountTelegram.com

(Posted Apr. 4, 2012)
Vaulting pole rule controversy in New Jersey - PoleVaultPower.com

(Posted Apr. 3, 2012)
Good story in today's Asheville Citizen-Times on Western Carolina University's track and field program.

(Posted Mar. 30, 2012)
Harris signs with Charlotte
Watauga High senior pole vaulter Reid Harris has signed his National Letter of Intent with UNC-Charlotte.
Story - GoBlueRidge.net

(Posted Mar. 22, 2012)
Former West Davidson HS student-athlete Kortnie Curry has been named the Conference Carolinas Womens Field Athlete of the Week. She is currently a sophomore at Lees-McRae College and recently set a new school record in the High Jump.
Source - GoBlueRidge.net

(Posted Mar. 21, 2012)
Appalachian Signs Three Student-Athletes.
Appalachian State University head cross country and distance coach Michael Curcio announced that Mitch McLeod (Chapel Hill HS), Joshua Ellis (15:59.6 - Bethesda, MD), and Jonathan Bivens (Weddington HS) have signed National Letters of Intent.

Story (3/21) - GoBlueRidge.net
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2010 Morganton Patton graduate John Schilkowsky nearly hits a 4:00 mile.

The Cornell University sophomore ran 4:03.93 at the Valentine Invitational. He ran a 1:49.9 relay leg at the IC4A Championship to help Cornell to a winning 4x800 (7:24.08).

Story on Schilkowsky and other former Burke County athletes (3/20) - Morganton.com

Cornell sophomore Steven Bell (Garner HS) won the LJ (24-4.25) at the Heptagonal Championships. He also won the LJ (23-3.75) and TJ (48-6) at the Kane Invitational.
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Update on former Raleigh Wakefield HS/NC State sprinter T.J. Graham (10.21w +2.9 2008, 10.44 +1.4 2008, 20.82 2008).

(Posted Mar. 20, 2012)
Track and Field fans may want to mark February 23-24, 2013 on their calendars. The new JDL Fast Track indoor facility in Winston-Salem has announced that they will be the host facility for the Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships for both 2013 and 2014.   Press Release

(Posted Mar. 19, 2012)
Asheville Citizen-Times news items:

West Henderson senior Sean Rapp has committed to run college cross country and track for Mars Hill.
Story.

Swannanoa Owen senior Emily Kimble has committed to UNC Wilmington.
Story.

Hendersonville senior Tristen Endaya signed with Carson-Newman.
Story.

2011 Brevard HS grad Alex Goden wins Tobacco Road Marathon.
Story - Citizen-Times.com   Story - News & Observer

(Posted Mar. 15, 2012)
For anyone interested in renewing their USATF officials' certification or becoming a new official, JDL Fast Track is hosting an officials certification course with Roger Burbage on Thursday, March 22 at 6 pm. With at least a dozen track meets planned for next season, we will have a definite need for officials, which is why we are hosting the class.

To sign up, please go to www.tf-registrations.com. The cost is $55 for the USATF and state level fees.

(Posted Mar. 14, 2012)
North Henderson's Catie Byrd has signed with Spartanburg Methodist.
Story - Citizen-Times.com
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Gray's Creek HS graduate Quanera Hayes earns NCAA Division II All-American status.
Story (3/14) - FayObserver.com

(Posted Mar. 13, 2012)
Former Shelby Crest HS sprinter ran on the winning US 4x400 team at the World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Turkey.
Story - ShelbyStar.com   Wrap-up - USATF.org
Index   Results - IAAF.org

(Posted Mar. 7, 2012)
Today's News & Observer has an interesting story on high school girls' sports.

(Posted Feb. 28, 2012)
Performances by former North Carolina high school athletes at last weekend's USATF Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico:

400 - 5th, Manteo Mitchell (Shelby Crest HS/Western Carolina/unattached) 46.17 PR
800 - 4th in Heat, Karjuan Williams (New Bern HS/adidas) 1:50.94
High Jump - 1st, Jesse Williams (Raleigh Broughton HS/NC State/Southern Cal/Oregon TC) 7-6
Triple Jump - 6th, Alphonso Jordan (Huntersville Hopewell HS/Georgia Tech/unattached) 53-9 1/4
60 - 5th in Heat, Gabby Mayo (Southeast Raleigh HS/Texas A&M/unattached) 7.32
60 - 6th in Semi, Gabby Mayo 7.31
60 Hurdles - 3rd, Gabby Mayo 8.04 PR
60 Hurdles - 3rd in Semi, Gabby Mayo 8.06

Results - FlashResults.com
Summaries: Sunday | Saturday
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Elkin HS distance runner signs with UNC-Pembroke
Story/Photos - YadkinValleySports.com

(Posted Feb. 21, 2012)
Here's a story I spotted today that reminded me again how fortunate we are here in North Carolina to have a new, quality indoor track facility.

Antiquated facility in Baltimore features in the rotation to host important indoor meets (2/20) - WashingtonPost.com

(Posted Feb. 20, 2012)
The JDL Fast Track Indoor Track Facility in Winston-Salem has announced their first training program. They have partnered with Crazy Running for their first youth speed development program for kids ages 10-16. The program begins March 4th and will run Sundays and Tuesdays from 6:45 to 7:45 pm. An open house will be held at JDL Fast Track on Tuesday, February 21 from 7-8 pm for anyone interested in signing up their kids. Fees are $65 for kids attending one night per week and $125 for those attending both nights each week. Go to www.CrazyRunning.com for more information!

(Posted Feb. 19, 2012)
Coach Damion Mclean and April Smith of Appalachian State University will be hosting a learn by doing Jumps/Throws clinic at Bunker Hill High School on Sunday, March 18th from 2-4 pm. It may go to 5 pm depending on number of athletes participating. Events will be Discus/Shot Put, Long Jump/Triple Jump. Cost is $30.00 an athlete or coach. If you wish to write a check make it out to Coach Mclean or April Smith. If you have any questions contact John Sullivan at Bunker Hill High School at john_sullivan@catawbaschools.net

(Posted Feb. 16, 2012)

(Posted Feb. 15, 2012)
Former Hickory HS star Ryan Hill, currently at NC State, continues to have an excellent indoor season. Latest is the 4th-fastest 3000m in NCAA history. He smashed the American collegiate record, previously held by Oregon's Galen Rupp.
Pack's Hill runs to record - N&O
Hill breaks American Collegiate Record for Indoor 3000 - GoPack.com
Hill named ACC Co-Performer of Week - GoPack.com

Former North Forsyth HS/NC State runner Bobby Mack won the USA Cross Country Championship Saturday in St. Louis. Mack is currently a volunteer assistant coach at NC State.
Story - GoPack.com

(Posted Feb. 10, 2012)
East Forsyth's Sydney White (13-1 1/2) to Wake Forest.
Austin Vegas (15-6) to William & Mary.
East Forsyth's champion vaulters sign with Wake Forest, William & Mary (2/6) - News-Record.com
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Stormy Kendrick (Gastonia Forestview HS/Clemson) matched her personal best 60m of 7.22 Friday at The New Balance Invitational, held at The Armory in New York City. The time makes her this year's NCAA leader in the event.
Spencer Adams (Matthews Butler HS/Clemson) was named ACC Indoor Performer-of-the-week. (2/7) Story - ClemsonTigers.com
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A good article on the value of technology in speed training - WashingtonPost.com
1972 Olympians John Smith and Dr. Ralph Mann are prominent coaches in the story.

(Posted Feb. 7, 2012)

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NCHSAA Partnership Produces Public Service Announcements - NCHSAA.org

(Posted Feb. 5, 2012)
Former Hickory HS star Ryan Hill became NC State's first runner in school history to break the four-minute mark in the Mile Friday, running a 3:58.33 on Virginia Tech's banked 200m track. His time was also a meet record and track record.

It broke the previous NC State record held by four-time All-American Jim Wilkins (Roxboro HS, '69 &'70 NCHSAA Mile Champion .. [Bradsher Wilkins' dad ... Bradsher was '98 NCHSAA Champion + twice a Foot Locker qualifier]), who ran a 4:00.05 mile in an outdoor meet at NC State in 1973. That record stood for 39 years and was the longest-standing record in NC State's record book.

Stories: GoPack.com | N&O | HokieSports.com

(Posted Feb. 1, 2012) ... (updated later)
Today the the first day that high school seniors can sign an official National Letter of Intent.
Signings for NC athletes | National list | Submission form | Story - DyeStat.com
College Choices:   By college | By college conference - DyeStat.com
Choices by non-signees (by state) - DyeStat.com
Signing Day arrives for Class of 2012 - NCrunners.com
College choices - NCrunners
Updates (2/7) - NCrunners
Charlotte area college signings - CharlotteObserver.com
Greensboro area athletes signing - News-Record.com
Triangle college commits - N&O

Stories:
Ford to Wofford (2/1) - Citizen-Times.com
Scroll up above for signings for Harvey McSwain II, Sydney White, and Austin Vegas.

(Posted Jan. 31, 2012)
Coach Depaul Mittman is recruiting workers/officials for the NCHSAA Indoor State Championships to be held at UNC-Chapel Hill Saturday, Feb. 11th.

If you are interested in volunteering, please email him at depaulmittman@bellsouth.net

1-A/2-A/3-A Schedule:
7:30 - Facility opens for athletes & coaches. Packets available for coaches. Men vaulters weigh-in.
8:00 - Officials Meeting. Facility opens for spectators.
8:15 - Coaches Meeting.
9:00 - Field Events begin. 4x800 Relays (women first).
4-A Schedule:
2:30 - Facility opens for athletes & coaches. Packets available for coaches. Men vaulters weigh-in.
3:00 - Officials Meeting. Facility opens for spectators.
3:15 - Coaches Meeting.
4:00 - Field Events begin. 4x800 Relays (women first).
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Fans of the throwing events may enjoy today's commentary by Jeff Gorski. - DyeStat.com
(One of links in the story appears to be broken. This appears to be the correct link.)

(Posted Jan. 30, 2012)
Wednesday, Feb. 1, is national signing day for football, soccer, field hockey, cross country and track and field.

Hezekiah Ward of the Southeast Guilford Men's Indoor Track and Field Team is signing with UNC-Wilimington.

(Posted Jan. 29, 2012)
Southeast Guilford lost a bookbag (brown made by an outdoor manufacturer) filled with medical and track items and a small black camera bag with cameras at the JDL meet on Friday night. If anyone picked them up by accident, please contact Coach Tyre at coachtyre@hotmail.com or at tyrea@gcsnc.com. You may also contact Coach Tyre at 252 230 7078. A reward is available for the return of these items.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has sent the N.C. High School Athletic Association a proposal for how it wants to realign local schools into conferences beginning with the 2013-14 school year. A few schools in Cabarrus and Union counties would also be involved.
Story - CharlotteObserver.com
(The proposed reconfigurations of the Southwestern 4-A, I-Meck 4-A, and MEGA7 conferences are at the bottom of the page.)
Current configurations - NCHSAA.org

(Posted Jan. 27, 2012)
Cary Green Hope HS distance runner Erica Amatori has committed to William & Mary.

Chapel Hill HS distance star Mitch McLeod has committed to Florida State.

Source: www.newsobserver.com/preps

(Posted Jan. 26, 2012)
NCHSAA commissioner against split leagues - Citizen-Times.com

Former Crest HS standout 3rd in 400 in New York City - WNCprepTrack.com

UNC junior Chrishawn Williams (Southeast Raleigh HS) won the LJ (19-9.5) last weekend at the Hokie Invitational at Virginia Tech.
Results - FlashResults.com.   Story - TarHeelBlue.com.

Ronnie Ash (Knightdale HS/Oklahoma/Nike) and junior Spencer Adams (Matthews Butler HS/Clemson) ran 1 - 2 in the 60m Hurdles at the Auburn Indoor Invitational. Ash won in 7.59 and Adams' 7.68 qualified him for the NCAA Championships. Adams' time is #2 in Clemson history, behind only the 7.60 by former Olympian Duane Ross (North Gaston HS/Clemson) in 1995.

Freshman Keni Harrison, (Clayton HS/Clemson) ran a leg on the winning 4x400 (3:34.97). Clemson's 4x400 now ranks #1 on the current NCAA Women's Indoor List.
Results.   Story - ClemsonTigers.com

At the Texas A&M/LSU dual meet in College Station, TX, junior Wayne Davis II (Southeast Raleigh HS/Texas A&M) was 2nd in the 60m Hurdles with a 7.93. Texas A&M beat LSU 88-68.
Story/Results - AggieAthletics.com

(Posted Jan. 19, 2012)
At the Navy Opener last weekend, sophomore Aerial Chatman (Harnett Central HS/UNC-Wilmington) won the LJ with a career-best of 23-2.
Story/Results - UNCWsports.com

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DyeStat.com today has an interesting article on a new campaign to eliminate the 1600-meters and replace it with the mile. Incidently, the article mentions Jim Beatty -- one of NC's greatest ever runners, who was 1952 and 1953 NCHSAA mile champion while at Charlotte Central HS.

(Posted Jan. 18, 2012)
Appalachian State University track and field director John Weaver has been selected to be a member of the USA Track and Field men's coaching staff for the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in March.   Press release - goASU.com

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At the Texas 10-Team invitational last weekend, Texas A&M junior (former Southeast Raleigh HS star) Wayne Davis II won the 60m Hurdles in 7.91, after an 8.00 in the prelims. He was also 9th in the 200 (21.85). The meet was held at Texas A&M. Former Southeast Raleigh High sprinter Gabby Mayo placed 4th (24.60) in the Olympic Development 200m.  Complete results

UNC senior Jacinda Evans (Southern Durham HS) won the LJ (19-7 1/4) at the Dick Taylor Invitational at UNC. Sophomore Tristine Johnson (Durham Jordan HS) placed 2nd in the TJ (39-6). Chrishawn Williams a UNC junior (Southeast Raleigh HS) was 3rd (39-0 1/4). Williams earlier placed 2nd in the LJ (19-6 1/4). UNC freshman Cori Floyd (Matthews Covenant Day) ran on the 2nd-place 4x400 team (3:53.59). Brendon White, a freshman from Asheville HS, was 4th in the TJ (46-4 3/4). Sophomore Pete Rehder (Cary Green Hope HS) placed 3rd in the PV (15-3).

(Posted Jan. 17, 2012)
NC State freshman Reuben Malone who competed for Harnett Central HS won the Triple Jump (50-11) in his first college meet last weekend at the Virginia Tech Invitational. Former Durham School of the Arts athlete Kwame Boatwright, now a junior at NC State was 2nd (49-2). NC State redshirt junior Danielle Adams (Jacksonville Northside HS) tied for 7th in the HJ. Carl Marant, formerly of Raleigh Sanderson HS, was 10th. NC State redshirt senior Lawanda Henry, formerly of Cape Fear Christian Academy, was 2nd in the Weight Throw (61-4 3/4). Redshirt freshman Tremanisha Taylor, who competed for Southern Vance HS, was 7th. Taylor later placed 5th in the SP (45-1 1/2). Former Fuquay-Varina HS star Grant Pearce, now an NCSU redshirt junior, was 2nd in the Weight Throw (58-10 3/4). State freshman Nathaniel Williams, from West Carteret HS, placed 4th (57-5 1/2). Williams was 9th in the SP (47-9 1/4).

Wake Forest junior Booker Nunley, a former Garner HS athlete, won the 60m Hurdles (7.92). Nunley had a 7.90 in the prelims. His brother Malcolm Nunley, a sophomore who was a hurdler/sprinter at Southeast Raleigh HS, finished 6th (8.15). Former Matthews Butler HS star Spencer Adams, now a junior at Clemson ran a 7.85 in the prelims but did not finish the final. Adams ran on Clemson's winning 4x400 (3:13.11). Stormy Kendrick a Clemson junior who ran at Gastonia Forestview HS, was 2nd in the 60m (7.32) and 3rd in the 300m. Clemson freshman Keni Harrison, formerly of Clayton HS, was 5th in the 60m Hurdles. Harrison also ran on Clemson's winning 4x400 (3:57.58), which qualified for the NCAA's. La'Mont Jackson, a former Winston-Salem RJ Reynolds HS star and now a sophomore at Clemson, placed 3rd in the 500 (1:05.24). Jackson also had a leg on Clemson's winning 4x400.

(I assembled this summary rather hastily. Please let me know if I overlooked someone.)

(Posted Jan. 13, 2012)
Update:   Tarboro's Todd Gurley has committed to Georgia.
Story - RockyMountTelegram.com.  Story - Citizen-Times.com  Report - NCPreps.com

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Former Forsyth Country Day School runner and 2008 Olympic team member Blake Russell competes Saturday in the 2012 US Olympic Marathon Trial in Houston.  Russell won 11 NCISAA track titles while at FCD from 1990 - 1993.
Russell aims for London - JournalNow.com   Story - News-Record.com   Earlier story - TarheelBlue.com
Olympic Marathon Trial Website   Blake Russell's blog.

Addie Bracy, who ran for Northwest Guilford HS and UNC had also qualified for the Olympic Trial but has scratched.

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Former UNC head cross country coach Pete Watson has been named head men's cross country coach at Virginia.   Story - VirginiaSports.com

Virginia also named Todd Morgan as head women's cross country coach. Morgan, who graduated from Wake Forest-Rolesville HS, was 10th in the 1992 NCHSAA State 3-A cross country meet and 7th in 1993. Morgan established an outstanding record at his previous job as head men's and women's cross country coach at Florida. (GatorZone.com)

Virginia's assistant coach for cross country/track and field is Julie Stackhouse, who was NCHSAA State 1-A/2-A cross country champion in 1995 while at Hayesville HS. Stackhouse was four-time NCHSAA State 1-A champion in the 100m Hurdles (1994-97). She was also NCHSAA State 1-A champion in the High Jump in 1995, 1996, and 1997, the 200 in 1994 and 1995, the 800 in 1996 and 1997, the 1600 in 1996, the 300m Hurdles in 1994 and 1995, and in the 400 in 1997. (source)

Former Asheboro HS runner Ryan Vanhoy is now UNC's head cross country coach. Vanhoy was 10th in the 2004 NCHSAA State 3-A Cross Country Meet, and 6th in the 3200 at the 2005 State 3-A Meet.   More on Vanhoy at TarHeelBlue.com

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Tarboro's Todd Gurley is expected to commit today to either Clemson, Georgia or N.C. State. Story - Citizen-Times.com
Gurley competed in the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships in France.   Story - RockyMountTelegram.com   Story - N&O.   More - NCrunners.com

(Posted Jan. 5, 2012)
Track & Field News has released their 2011 U.S. Top 40 Performers lists for each event, and names of 28 former NC high school athletes appear on them:

200m ... 34th, 23.09 Stormy Kendrick (Gastonia Forestview HS/Clemson) 4/23, ACC.
400m ... 16th, 51.94 Aiesha Goggins (Durham Riverside HS)/East Carolina) 5/15, CUSA.
Mile ... 15th, 4:35.69 Julia Lucas (Charlotte Myers Park/NC State/Oregon TC) 6/4, Nashville.
5000m ... 38th, 15:49.24 Addie Bracy (Northwest Guilford HS/UNC/Carrboro TC) 7/19, Lignano.
10,000m ... 18th, 33:08.39 Addie Bracy 5/1 Cardinal Inv.
Half-Marathon ... 23rd, 74:10 Addie Bracy 12/4 Las Vegas.
100m Hurdles ... 40th, 13.23 LaToya James (Burlington Cummings HS/UNC) 4/23, ACC.
400m Hurdles ... 10th, 55.83 LaToya James 4/23, ACC.
High Jump ... =33rd, 5-11 1/2i (1.82m) Patience Coleman, (Southern Durham HS/UNC) 2/25 ACC Indr.
Pole Vault ... =16th, 14-1 3/4 (4.31m) Joanna Wright (Winston-Salem RJ Reynolds HS/Georgia Tech) 4/9 Tallahassee.
Triple Jump ... =35th, 42-2 (12.85m) Radiance Basden (Western Guilford HS/South Carolina) 5/7 Chapel Hill.

100m ... 7th, 9.99 Travis Padgett (Crest HS/Clemson/adidas) 5/21 Clermont. More
100m ... =19th, 10.19 Jonathan Hancock (West Charlotte HS/NC A&T/unattached) 6/17 Charlotte.
100m ... =25th, 10.21 J-Mee Samuels (Winston-Salem Mount Tabor HS/Arkansas/adidas) 5/7 Baie-Mahault. More.
200m ... 27th, 20.62 Sean McLean (SE Raleigh HS/Raleigh Word of God/Methodist Univ.) 6/18 NBN. More.
400m ... 27th, 45.75 Brent LaRue (East Forsyth HS/Wake Forest/unattached) 6/28 Velenje.
400m Hurdles ... 10th, 49.77 Brent LaRue 6/12 Celje.
400m ... 33rd, 45.95 Manteo Mitchell (Crest HS/Western Carolina/unattached) 5/15 Greensboro. More.
400m ... 34th, 46.00 Darius Law (SE Raleigh HS/UNC-Charlotte) 4/16 Auburn.
800m ... 27th, 1:47.10 Karjuan Williams (New Bern HS/adidas) 6/4 Nashville.
1500m ... 20th, 3:38.39 Jack Bolas (Chapel Hill HS/Wisconsin/New Balance) 6/9 Oslo DL.
Mile ... 28th, 3:58.56 Jack Bolas 8/13 Falmouth.
1500m ... 33rd, 3:40.80 Ryan Hill (Hickory HS/NC State) 5/14 Chapel Hill.
3000m ... 15th, 7:50.78i Ryan Hill 2/12 Husky Cl.
5000m ... 15th, 13:31.67 Ryan Hill 5/1 Cardinal Inv.
5000m ... 30th, 13:41.49 Andrew Wacker (So. Pines Pinecrest HS/Colorado) 5/1 Cardinal Inv.
10,000 ... 9th, 28:11.00 Bobby Mack (North Forsyth HS/NC State/unattached) 5/1 Cardinal Inv.
10,000 ... 13th, 28:24.53 Stephen Haas (North Mecklenburg HS/Indiana/New Balance) 5/1 Cardinal Inv.
110m Hurdles ... 7th, 13.25 Ronnie Ash (Knightdale HS/Oklahoma/Nike) 6/24 USATF.
110m Hurdles ... =26th, 13.54 Wayne Davis II (Southeast Raleigh HS/Texas A&M) 6/9 NCAA.
110m Hurdles ... 28th, 13.55 Spencer Adams (Matthews Butler HS/Clemson) 5/28 NCAA East.
110m Hurdles ... =34th, 13.64 Johnny Dutch (Clayton HS/South Carolina/Nike) 5/31 Ostrava IWC.
400m Hurdles ... 5th, 48.47 Johnny Dutch 6/26 USATF.
High Jump ... 1st, 7-9 1/4 (2.37m) Jesse Williams (Raleigh Broughton HS/NC State/Southern Cal/Oregon TC) 6/26 USATF.
High Jump ... =15th, 7-4 1/4 (2.24m) Tanner Anderson (East Burke HS/Duke) 5/15 IC4A.
Triple Jump ... 6th, 54-11 1/4 (16.74m) Alphonso Jordan (Huntersville Hopewell HS/Georgia Tech/unattached) 4/16 Mt SAC.

(Source: Track and Field News eTrack Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 1, January 3, 2012 and Vol. 2, No. 2, January 4, 2012.)

Please let NCPrepTrack know if anyone was overlooked and left off this list.

(Posted Jam. 3, 2012)
Wednesday's winter track meet for Greater Neuse River 4A Conference schools at Southeast Raleigh has been cancelled.
(Source: http://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%23GNRC

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Over the New Year's weekend Track & Field News released their 2011 World and U.S. Rankings, and eight former North Carolina high school stars appear on the top-10 lists.  (The number on the 2010 Rankings was also 8.)

Bobby Mack (North Forsyth HS '03 - NC State) was #10 in the 10,000 meters.
Brent LaRue (East Forsyth HS '05 - Wake Forest) was #10 in the 400 meter Hurdles.
Ronnie Ash (Knightdale HS '07 - Bethune-Cookman/Oklahoma) was #9 in the 110 meter High Hurdles.
Latoya James (Burlington Cummings HS '07 - UNC) was #9 in the 400 meter Hurdles.
Travis Padgett (Crest HS '05 - Clemson) was #8 in the 100 meters.
Johnny Dutch (Clayton HS '07 - South Carolina) was #6 in the 400 Hurdles.
Alphonso Jordan (Huntersville Hopewell HS '06 - Georgia Tech) was #5 in the Triple Jump.
Jesse Williams (Raleigh Broughton HS '02 - NCSU/Southern Cal) was ranked #1 in the world in the High Jump, one position higher than he was for 2010. Williams was 3rd in the voting for T&FN's 2011 US Men's Athlete of the Year.

Incidently the most startling ranking was in the Men's Marathon where Kenyan men took all of the top nine spots. Ethiopia's top marathoner was ranked #10.

(Source: Track and Field News eTrack Newsletter, Vol. 10, No. 61, December 31, 2011.)

2012 should be an interesting year with the US Olympic Marathon Trials on the 14th in Houston, The US Olympic Trials June 22 - July 1 in Eugene, Oregon, with the London Olympics July 27 - August 12. (Track and Field August 3-12.)

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Several of the top young U.S. javelin throwers were in North Carolina last week for a special training and learning camp. The effort was spearheaded by the NSSF.   Story at DyeStat.com