.png)
PREDICTIONS & PREVIEWS: 2025 NCHSAA 4A Indoor State Championships
Written by Joiner Evans
Edits & additional commentary via Garrett Zatlin & Donny Speas
Over the last few years, North Carolina has been one of the more competitive states in the country when it comes to the distance events -- and this year is no exception. With national-caliber athletes attacking each end of the distance running spectrum and everything in between, fast times have been plentiful.
With the top-four finishers at the indoor state meet earning All-State honors, everyone will be fighting for their place on the podium; anything can happen and upsets bound to happen. Held at the JDL Fast Track on Saturday, we are sure to see a handful of exciting battles.
Let's get into what North Carolina native, Joiner Evans, thinks we’ve got in store for this year’s North Carolina 4A Indoor State Championships…
Girl’s 1000 Meters
Louisa Betz (Broughton) - 2:57
Kaitlyn Estep (Cardinal Gibbons) - 2:57
Rachel Riley (Mount Tabor) - 2:58
Kasey Dingman (Lake Norman) - 2:59
Sofi Alexander (Asheville) - 3:00
Analysis: Goodness, these girls are on another level in North Carolina!
Seven girls have dipped under three minutes over 1000 meters this season and five more girls have run exactly 3:00. The lowest-seeded girl in this race has run 3:03, a very solid time in it's own right.
Pre-race favorite, Kasey Dingman, comes into the state meet with a scorching seasonal best of 2:53. However, this will be her second race of the day and she won’t have much rest between the two races. That's a lot to ask of any high schooler, regardless of their talent level.
I still think Dingman will be able to hold her own and keep herself in the mix for gold. However, others will likely try to take advantage of her tired legs, possibly with an early aggressive pace.
Of course, Dingman is not alone when it comes to contesting more than one event this weekend. Take for instance Sofi Alexander and Rachel Riley. Both of those young ladies are attempting the ambitious distance triple between the 1000 meters, 1600 meters and 3200 meters!
Seeded second with a 2:56 mark, Rachel Riley will be in a perfect position to make the All-State podium if she's able to properly manage her multi-race workload. The Mount Tabor sophomore has had a strong indoor track season, posting personal bests over 1600 meters (5:01) and 3200 meters (10:52).
But believe it or not, it's actually freshman Kaitlyn Estep who has been just as good, if not better! The rookie has posted times 2:58 for 1000 meters and 4:52 for 1600 meters. Tack on a 10:39 (3200) PR, and Estep certainly has both the leg speed and endurance to carry her to the top of the podium. And truthfully, few athletes are more dangerous than high-upside freshmen like her.
A more middle distance focused star, Louisa Betz posted impressive times of 2:09 for 800 meters and 4:48 for 1600 meters last spring. Sofi Alexander is another name to keep an eye on with a solid all-around resume which features a time of 2:58 for 1000 meters, 4:51 for 1600 meters and 10:24 for 3200 meters. She is one of the more complete distance runners in this field even if she's not a top-three seed.
Boy's 1000 Meters
Hunter Bates (Weddington) - 2:29
Kyle Barney (Marvin Ridge) - 2:29
Tate Shore (Reagan) - 2:31
Cade Cresswell (Porter Ridge) - 2:32
Andrew Riley (Mount Tabor) - 2:33
Analysis: I’m calling an upset here.
Kyle Barney has had a fabulous winter campaign, running a 1000-meter personal best of 2:27 and a 1600-meter personal best of 4:16. The catch, however, is that he will be coming into this race with tired legs.
Entered in both the 4x800-meter relay and the 1600 meters prior to this 1000-meter run, Barney could have up to 2400 meters of quick-turnover racing already in his legs when he toes the line for this event.
On the other hand, Hunter Bates is only entered in the 4x800-meter relay, giving him plenty of rest before he attacks the 1k.
Coming in with personal bests of 2:29 (1k) and 4:20 (1600), Bates is undoubtedly a formidable opponent. The Weddington junior also boasts an impressive 49-second 400-meter personal best, as well as a 1:54 (800) mark, showing us that he has the necessary foot-speed to take home the win in a championship-style race.
Fifth-seeded Tate Shore comes into this matchup with some seriously impressive times. With personal bests of 2:31 for 1000 meters, 4:12 for the mile and 9:14 for 3200 meters, Shore is arguably the most diverse and balanced distance athlete in the field. In fact, he is probably one of the more consistent names as well!
Four out of his five 1600-meter performances have gone under 4:20. And when Saturday rolls around, I'm willing to bet that his high-floor resume will allow him to avoid any truly poor performances.
Now for Cade Cresswell, the third-fastest boy in this 1000-meter field. Coming in with personal bests of 2:30 (1k), 4:21 (1600), and 9:32 (3200), Cresswell brings another well-rounded resume to the table.
A more middle distance focused runner who holds a personal best of 1:54 for 800 meters, Andrew Riley will be another runner to keep an eye on.
Girl's 1600 Meters
Hannah Rae Shaffer (Cardinal Gibbons) - 4:54
Kasey Dingman (Lake Norman) - 4:54
Sofi Alexander (Asheville) - 4:56
Addie Oversmith (Broughton) - 4:59
Ruth Metaferia (Leesville Road) - 5:00
Analysis: This is going to be one heck of a race! All of these girls are at the top of their game and will be mostly fresh coming into this eight-lap affair.
Starting off with the pre-race favorite, North Carolina commit Hannah Rae Shaffer will look to claim this 1600-meter state title for the first time in her career. With personal bests of 2:13 (800), 4:46 (1600) and 10:14 (3200), Shaffer will be incredibly challenging to take down.
However, Lake Norman junior Kasey Dingman should not be counted out. With personal bests 2:53 (1k), 4:48 (1600), and 10:41 (3200), Dingman can theoretically handle most race scenarios thrown at her. If Hannah Rae Shaffer is able to shake everyone else in this field, then the Lake Norman star could be the final one to drop.
Of course, this field is absolutely stacked with well-rounded performers. Take Sofi Alexander for example. She holds personal bests of 2:58 (1k), 4:51 (1600) and 10:24 (3200). Her aerobic strength could be a major asset in a race that could be a test of one's fitness rather than their tactical execution.
Another athlete to pay attention to is true distance star, Addie Oversmith, who seems to specialize over 3200 meters. However, she is no slouch over this 1600-meter distance, either. While she has “only” run 5:01 this winter, she has an outright personal best of 4:56.
Be sure to also keep an eye on Ruth Metaferia who has run 4:58. The junior from Leesville Road has run as fast as 10:41 (3200) in past seasons. She has also run 3:00 for 1000 meters this winter.
Boy’s 1600 Meters
Michael Haskin (Asheville) - 4:18
Tate Shore (Reagan) - 4:18
Kyle Barney (Marvin Ridge) - 4:19
Philip Blum (Riverside) - 4:20
Cam Kuss (Broughton) - 4:21
Analysis: This is a seriously talent group. There are 11 boys seeded under 4:20 for 1600 meters while the top seed sits at 4:14. In other words, the margin for error in this race is likely be going to be incredibly slim.
Let's start off with NC State commit, Michael Haskin. Coming in with a blistering personal best of 4:12 for 1600 meters, one could argue that the future Wolfpack runner will be the one to beat on Saturday. Not only that, but he also holds a personal best of 9:03 over 3200 meters to further strengthen his credentials.
While Haskin might look like the one to beat, he will be closely followed by Tate Shore of Reagan. Shore has also had an incredible season, running 2:31 for 1000 meters, 4:14 for 1600 meters and 9:19 for 3200 meters. Not only that, but the future App State Mountaineer has run 1:53 over 800 meters and 14:59 (5k) on the grass.
Shore is a true "jack of all trades" who, on paper, doesn't have any glaring drawbacks. Based on his skillset, he should be able to handle any kind of race scenario thrown at him, whether that be tactical or aggressive.
Now for the most recognizable name in this bunch, Kyle Barney.
The Charlotte commit is admittedly known for his prowess in the middle distance events under the 1600-meter distance. Even so, it's hard to ignore the indoor track season that he's had so far, running 2:27 for 1000 meters and 4:16 for 1600 meters.
That kind of turnover and speed in the 1k could make Barney a lethal late-race threat. If the leaders aren't able to get enough separation before the last lap, then the Marvin Ridge star should have a realistic shot at gold.
Seeded in seventh with a 4:17 mark is Riverside's Philip Blum. This well-rounded performer has run times of 2:30 for 1000 meters, 4:17 for 1600 meters and 9:06 for 3200 meters this season. He'll be an underdog for a top-three medal, but he should absolutely be considered when talking about the final All-State spot.
Girl’s 3200 Meters
Hannah Rae Shaffer (Cardinal Gibbons) - 10:36
Addie Oversmith (Broughton) - 10:41
Alessia Potts (Pinecrest) - 10:45
Sofi Alexander (Asheville) - 10:47
Colby McCollum (Cuthbertson) - 10:51
Analysis: This race is loaded with talent. I also think we have a real possibility to see some really intriguing tactical decisions play out. Every single one of our predicted top-five girls will have competed before this event. That, in theory, will temper some of those young women from being aggressive front-runners.
Let’s start with two name who haven’t been mentioned in this article yet.
Alessia Potts from Pinecrest comes in with an impressive 10:38 PR in this event, as well as a 4:55 (1600) personal best. However, she doesn’t have much championship racing experience, something that could be tricky to manage in a field of accomplished veterans.
On a similar note, Cuthbertson freshman, Colby McCollum, will look to earn her first All-State honor on the track. That is definitely a real possibility as she has already ran 4:59 (1600) and 10:50 (3200) during her short high school career. And if our theory about youth-based upside holds true, then she could be a surprise wild card on Saturday.
Of course, I'd be remiss to not bring up Hannah Rae Shaffer who has the fastest seed time of any athlete via her 10:24 (3200) mark from back in January. Shaffer is undefeated this winter and there's a very real possibility that she will win her first indoor state title this Saturday.
Boy's 3200 Meters
Philip Blum (Riverside) - 9:21
Michael Haskin (Asheville) - 9:24
Cedar Nichols-Barnhart (R.J. Reynolds) - 9:25
Cam Kuss (Broughton) - 9:27
Jacob Dorsch (Pinecrest) - 9:28
Analysis: Geez, this race could go so many ways.
The top-eight boys have all dipped under the 9:20 (3200) barrier and many more are knocking on the door. However, eight of the top-10 seeds will have at least one race in their legs. That could, in theory, make this a more tactical race.
As previously mentioned, Philip Blum has run some seriously impressive times, ranging from 2:30 for 1000 meters to 9:06 for 3200 meters. He comes in as the clear favorite with eight seconds between him and the next fastest runner. And even with tired legs, he should still be in the mix to take home gold.
However, Cedar Nichols-Barnhart may benefit the most from so many of his competitors choosing to double back for this race. Running 4:18 for 1600 meters and 9:16 for 3200 meters, Barnhart is no slouch. However, he does lack some of the top-end foot-speed that some of his counterparts such as Haskin and Blum possess. Don't be surprised if he opts to be a bit ambitious in the latter-half of this race.
Michael Haskin will look to take top honors in both this event and the 1600 meters. The Asheville senior has been on fire this season, running sub 4:20 for 1600 meters each of his attempts at that distance. Combine that with a blazing 9:14 (3200) PR from last month and you've got a true contender for the state title.
Girl’s 4x800-Meter Relay
Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders - 9:22
Cuthbertson Cavaliers - 9:34
Reagan Raiders - 9:36
Broughton Capitals - 9:38
Leesville Road Pride - 9:39
Analysis: It's fair to say that this race has a very clear favorite.
The Cardinal Gibbons Crusaders are miles ahead of this field. Each member of their lineup has produced sub-2:20 (800) marks with Hannah Rae Shaffer running 2:13, Kaitlyn Estep running 2:11, and both Addy Mitchell and Maggie Whitham running 2:18.
It will be incredibly tough to take down that stacked group of girls. It's not totally impossible, but A LOT would need to break in favor of another relay if they are going to land the win.
That said, the real competition will be for the next three All-State positions. While Cuthbertson did lose their legendary senior trio of Justine Preisano, Stella Kermes and Charlotte Bell, they have still held their own this season. Coming in as the second seed, the Cavaliers should have the experience and upside to make the podium.
The Reagan Raiders, at least in my eyes, are flying are little under the radar. They are led by senior Sarah Fassinger. With a 2:18 personal best, Fassinger is closely followed by Kate Henderson who holds a personal best of 2:20. Rounding out their lineup looks to be Meghan Eidelman and Lily Hays. On paper, that's a fairly balanced lineup.
The fight for this last All-State podium honor will be close with Broughton Capital and Leesville Road both entering strong lineups. Broughton is led by two stars: Louisa Betz who has run 2:09 and Addie Oversmith who has run 2:17. Leesville Road, however, has a much more balanced lineup, with their girl's 800-meter personal bests spanning from 2:22 to 2:24.
Boy’s 4x800-Meter Relay
Weddington Warriors - 7:56
Marvin Ridge Mavericks - 7:56
Mallard Creek Mavericks - 7:58
Broughton Capitals - 7:59
Holly Springs Golden Hawks - 8:00
Analysis: It’s not often that you see a state meet this stacked, especially for a relay, but this group of boys has proven to be exceptional this season. Three teams have dipped under the eight-minute barrier this winter with more looking to dip under that mark this weekend.
The Broughton Capitals come into this weekend with the fastest seed time and boast a very balanced four-man group. However, most of their boys have not dipped under two minutes in the open 800 meters. On the other hand, the second-fastest team this season, the Mallard Creek Mavericks, have two boys (Kyllen Weathers and Kevin Noble Jr.) who are comfortably under that barrier.
You may have noticed that while the Holly Springs boys have broken eight minutes this winter, they are not on our projected All-State podium (top-four). That, however, is simply a testament to the caliber of this field.
How about the Weddington Warriors? They are are simply too stacked to overlook. Anchored by Hunter Bates who holds a 1:54 (800) mark, the Warriors have the ability to take top honors on Saturday with legs of Anderson Taylor and Dallin Starkie (2:01 personal bests for 800 meters) as well as Logan Bentley (1:59 personal best for 800 meter). On paper, we don't see any legitimate weak points, and that's a huge asset in a sometimes chaotic championship relay.
Marvin Ridge’s performance in the 4x800-meter relay relies heavily on the inclusion of their star, Kyle Barney. While he is listed in their lineup, there is no guarantee that he will toe the line. He is also entered in the 1000 meters and the 1600 meters.
However, with Barney, the Mavericks have the ability to have all four of their guys run under two minutes on their splits. And if their lead ace can inch reasonably close to his 1:53 (800) PR, then you're looking at a relay that could take home gold.
