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We saw many new state leading performances as well as athletes climbing the national ranks yesterday at JDL Fast Track.
Kayla Davis (Run U Xpress) and Shawnti Jackson (Wakefield) squared off in the 300m Dash. Davis was .04 seconds off the JDL Fast Track Facility Record of 37.88 head by Tamara Clark last year. Shawnti Davis would be running her first competitive 300m of her high school career after a freshman debut of a 6.93 55m Dash, still standing at US#1 today.
With Jackson on the outside of Davis the two had a historic race where Davis would take down the facility record running a new US#1 mark of 37.70 with Jackson in a new PR of 38.48 good for NC#2, US#4 and NC#3 All-Time Indoors. Both with race in a loaded AAU 300m at the VA Showcase next weekend. Note that Davis' 37.70 came after a 1:13 500m not too long beforehand.
Jaylen Wright (Southern Durham) came into the weekend as the national leader in the 55m Dash with his 6.29 at JDL last month. After easing into the finals Wright would better his PR and US lead with a blazing 6.25. This will move him up to NC#5 All-Time as he looks to be chasing Trentavis Friday's 6.19 state record this indoor season.
David Lampkin III (Mallard Creek) and Trevin Moyer (North Mecklenburg) would run new PRs to of 6.38 to move to NC#2 and US#6 which Isaiah Gadson would clock 6.39 for a new PR in NC#4 US#10 fashion. It's been rare to see athletes under 6.4 before states in the last few years. Seeing four in early January in one race is pretty impressive.
Sophie Spada (Charlotte Country Day), Gwen Parks (Reagan) and Lauren Tolbert (Highland Tech) threw down the top 3 1000m times in the state so far this indoor season. Spada was able to hold off Parks for the win in 2:56.85 to Parks' 2:57.02. Tolbert was just behind in 3rd at 2:58.18. Spada's mark is good for US#9 and Park's US#12. Both will race in the 1000m at the VA Showcase next weekend as well.
Morgan Smalls' (Panther Creek) had a strong day in the jumps and on the track. She won the Long Jump in a seasons best of 19-7, good for US#2 and then was just off her seasons best in the Triple Jump clearing 40-9. She would set a new PR in the 300m clocking 40.71 in the third fastest section, likely looking for a 4th event at the indoor state meet this season.
Alexander Nunley continued his strong start to the indoor track season clocking a PR of 7.45 in the 55m Hurdles in the Prelims, but would go on to break that in the finals clocking 7.35 in the finals. Nunley's mark is good for a new NC#1 mark as well as a US#6. Nunley would also win the 300m Dash in 35.26.
Falon Spearman (Providence Day) would take down a strong field in the 55m Hurdles just edging Kendall Jordan (Cummings) running 8.06 to Jordan's 8.07. Taylor McKinnon (Cardinal Gibbons) was just behind taking 3rd in 8.15.
Maddon Muhammad (Myers Park) would take home the 1600m title over Ben Armentrout and Jacob Gallant. Muhammad clocked a new PR of 4:24 just ahead of Armentrout who clocked 4:25 and Gallant at 4:28.