Croatan beats reigning champion Franklin in 3A boys indoor track state championship
There is a new N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A boys indoor track state champion this season.
Croatan finished Saturday's competition at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem with 84.5 points, beating reigning champion Franklin, who finished in second place with 57.333 points.
This marks the second time in the last three years Croatan has won the boys indoor track state championship. It is the fourth overall championship for the program, which also claimed titles in 2018 and 2019.
Croatan had five first-place finishes in the meet, including two gold medal-winning relay teams. The Cougars won the 4x400 meter relay and the 4x800 meter relay on Saturday.
In the individual competitions, Croatan saw a first place finish by Luke Nicolajsen in the 300 meter race, by Andrew Wahlgren in the 1000 meter race, and by Jake Carroll in the pole vault.
Croatan also had a second-place finish by Trey Austin in the 500 meter race and a third-place finish by Pierce Mahnke in the 55 meter hurdles.
Franklin senior Elijan Cochran was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the state championship. Cochran finished second in the 300 meter race and the 55 meter hurdles. He also placed third in the long jump.
Dudley's Le'Ezra Brown won two events on Saturday, the 55 meter dash and the 55 meter hurdles. He set a new 3A meet record in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 7.25 seconds.
The NCHSAA also recognized two athletes with the Sportsmanship Award on Saturday. The winners were Wahlgren of Croatan and David Rogers of Franklin.
NCHSAA 3A Boys Indoor Field Event Results
3A Boys Pole Vault
1. Jake Carroll (Croatan) - 14-00.00
2. Aaron Jennings (Franklin) - 13-06.00
3. Lance Everhart (Asheboro) - J13-06.00
3A Boys High Jump
1. Christian Hackett (Union Pines) - 6-08.00
2. Josh Flack (Enka) - 6-04.00
3. Lance Everhart (Asheboro) - J6-04.00
3A Boys Long Jump
1. Aaron Higgins (Central Academy of Technology & Arts) - 22-06.00
2. Jeremiah Sellers (North Lincoln) - 22-04.25
3. Lance Everhart (Asheboro) - 22-03.00
3A Boys Triple Jump
1. Kwan Oates (Hickory) - 45-01.00
2. Devin Dow (Dudley) - 44-03.00
3. Kevin Spears (Harnett Central) - 43-03.25
3A Boys Shot Put
1. Zahir McPhail (E.E. Smith) - 54-07.50
2. Jacob Butler (East Rowan) - 49-10.25
3. Zion Coulson (Northeast Guilford) - 48-01.00
NCHSAA 3A Boys Indoor Running Event Results
3A Boys 55 Meter
1. Le'Ezra Brown (Dudley) - 6.38
2. Bryson Lomick (South Point) - 6.41
3. Elijah Cochran (Franklin) - 6.45
3A Boys 300 Meter
1. Luke Nicolajsen (Croatan) - 35.13
2. Elijah Cochran (Franklin) - 35.29
3. Travis Covington (Southern Guilford) - 35.77
3A Boys 500 Meter
1. Justin Bryant (Eastern Guilford) - 1:07.41
2. Trey Austin (Croatan) - 1:07.77
3. Amir Goines (Ashbrook) - 1:07.98
3A Boys 1000 Meter
1. Andrew Wahlgren (Croatan) - 2:32.76
2. Max Thompson (Kings Mountain) - 2:32.83
3. Will Downs (Atkins) - 2:34.67
3A Boys 1600 Meter
1. ELi Julian (South Rowan) - 4:20.04
2. Hudson Rice (West Henderson) - 4:22.28
3. Connor Bagwell (North Lincoln) - 4:22.70
3A Boys 3200 Meter
1. Eli Julian (South Rowan) - 9:35.73
2. Hudson Rice (West Henderson0 - 9:36.42
3. Ethan Rich (Western Harnett) - 9:46.95
3A Boys 55 Meter Hurdles
1. Le'Ezra Brown (Dudley) - 7.25 (R)
2. Elijah Cochran (Franklin) - 7.71
3. Pierce Mahnke (Croatan) - 7.80
3A Boys 4x200 Meter Relay
1. Dudley (Adeniyi Adegorioye, Koredell Bartley, Antonio Lee Jr., Derrick Hicks) - 1:32.13
2. Southern Guilford (Travis Covington, Kameron Davis, Daivion Hall, Damian Vaughan) - 1:32.18
3. Statesville (Jehahj Sherrill, Davin Clarke, Mekiaun Davis, Nicholas Porter) - 1:32.90
3A Boys 4x400 Meter Relay
1. Croatan (Trey Austin, Matthew Quispe, Cooper Stephens, Luke Nicolajsen) - 3:29.18
2. Central Academy of Technology & Arts (Cameron Little, Matthew Pfister, Timothy Parsons, Jayden Rutledge) - 3:32.75
3. West Henderson (Keagan Saft, Hudson Rice, Rian Jones, Will Robinson) - 3:33.87
3A Boys 4x800 Meter Relay
1. Croatan (Trey Austin, Seth Nelson, Cooper Stephens, Matthew Quispe) - 8:08.90
2. Central Academy of Technology & Arts (Andrew Catapano, Gavin Jansen, Heyden Christensen, Timothy Parsons) - 8:12.47
3. Franklin (Matheson Post, Barrett Stork, Cooper Tyler, Logan Russo) - 8:17.44
NCHSAA 3A Boys Indoor Track Team Standings
1. Croatan - 84.5
2. Franklin - 57.333
3. Dudley - 53.5
4. Central Academy of Technology & Arts - 37
5. Union Pines - 28
6. West Henderson - 27
7. North Lincoln - 24
8. South Rowan - 23
T9. Asheboro - 22
T9. Southern Guilford - 22
