New Bern, Sam Jordan of Laney, Booker Nunley of Garner, and Wayne Davis of SE Raleigh all traveled as a part of Track EC and lit up the track.
North Carolina continues to prove to the rest of the US that it is a hotbed for track. Last year, multiple national champions and numerous top-5 performers came out of the Tarheel state. This year looks to be the same!
Wayne Davis, II: Wayne ran 7.76 in his preliminary heat, which is a fine time in itself. His previous PR for 60m came at last year's Nike Indoor Nationals where he ran 7.83. However, in the finals, Wayne threw down an extremely impressive 7.63. This time is just .01 off the National Record which is held by 3 former HS athletes, including US Olympian, Terrance Trammell. He did break the National Junior Record which was 7.74. After Wayne's year as a sophomore, where he won the Nike Outdoor National title, won the World Youth Games, and set soph. national records - it looks like Wayne Davis is rewriting the history of HS hurdling. (photo by Mark Keenan)
Booker Nunley: Last year, NC dominated the national hurdling scene, with about 4 or 5 of the top 7 in the US. Booker Nunley seems to have responded to the graduation of some of those top hurdlers, and taken it on his shoulders to continue the depth and dominance for NC. Booker finished 2nd to Wayne in Arkansas. He ran a solid 7.94 in the prelims, but then hurdled his way to a very fine time of 7.78 in the finals, #13 on the national All-Time list. A time that would have made the finals at last year's Nike Indoor Nationals. With the emergence of Booker Nunley, Wayne's continued improvement, and Spencer Adams still lurking - NC is looking very strong again in the hurdles.
New Bern 4x800/4x400: New Bern's boys ran the #3 US time while winning at the Arkansas Invitational. The time is also the 2nd fastest time in NC history. They won by 4 seconds over an always tough Newburgh Elite Program, running 7:57.22. This time shattered the previous best in NC, set by East Forsyth, at last week's UNC meet. New Bern now has a 20 second gap on the rest of NC and has set themselves up to be the obvious favorites for the 4A indoor state title. The team was made up of Andrew Hendrix, Anthony Hendrix, Rodney Stewart, and Banks Barnes. Their 4x400 ran 1 second off what they ran last week and finished 2nd to Newburgh. They hit another solid time though, running 3:25.03. (photo from last week's Hispanic Games, 4x400)
Andrew & Anthony Hendrix: These junior twins continue to help New Bern roll! Last week Andrew ran 1:56 in the 800, one of the nation's best so far this indoor season. He moved down an event at Arkansas and ran the open 400, clocking a very solid time of 49.89. This was not only a PR indoors, but looks to be his fastest open 400 ever. Andrew has stepped up and looks to be running better than ever. Anthony ran a 49 last weekend in New York and this weekend ran the 800. He finished 2nd overall and won his heat in a time of 2:00.27.
Sam Jordan: Last weekend, Sam Jordan of Laney gave TJ Graham a run for his money at the Durham Striders NC Opener. He continues to run well and will look to give Graham, the nation's top returning sprinter, a race at each meet they go head-to-head. Jordan took 2nd in the 60m dash running 6.88 in the finals and 6.89 in the prelims. He also cracked the 22 second barrier in the 200, hitting 21.99 in the prelims, but was a DNF in the finals.
Fuquan Greene: I still don't know the exact spelling of his name, I've seen it spelled differenly in just about every result I've ever received. However, that is besides the point, this sprinter from New Bern continues to improve. He really came on last year during the outdoor track season and hasn't let up. Fuquan, a sophomore, is currently tied for the US #1 time in the 200m after his performance on Saturday. He hit 21.72 in the prelims, as did TX senior Markus Henderson. In the finals, Henderson did not run, and Fuquan raced to victory in another great time of 21.76. In the 60m dash, he also ran well, clocking a time of 6.97 in the prelims, and then false-started in the finals.
Mike Price: Another New Bern athlete making huge progress. Mike won the LJ competition in Arkansas with a jump of 22-10.75. His jump looks to be over a foot better than his previous best and moves him into #1 this indoor season for the state of North Carolina. With the emergence of Price, and the obvious sprinting/middle distance talent that New Bern has, they still look to be a team to beat at the 4A state indoor championships.