NORTH CAROLINA STATE MEET

Noah Valyo, Mary Bonner Dalton Make Historic Runs Through Ivey Redmon

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

The North Carolina High School cross country season ended in historic fashion. At the state championships held Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville, four records were broken, including two state meet records. 

Athens Drive senior Noah Valyo dominated the boys 4A race, winning the title in a new course record time of 15 minutes, 5.45 seconds. His time beat the previous record of 15:12.57 set in 2016 by Connor Lane. Valyo, who just signed with North Carolina State, is currently No. 15 in the latest DyeStat rankings. 

Marvin Ridge won the Class 4A team title with 88 points. 

The girls race was similar to the boys as Myers Park senior Mary Bonner Dalton broke the 4A meet record with a blistering fast time of 16:54.06 to become the first female to go under 17 minutes in state history. 

In the team race, Cardinal Gibbons ended Cuthbertson’s five-year title run scoring 60 points to claim the team championship.

Orange senior Gabriel Schmid easily defended his 3A title by more than 30 seconds, setting a 3A course record in a time of 15:14.74. 

Croaton senior Tyrese Cone led his team a title defense as he captured runner-up honors (15:48.42).

The North Lincoln girls captured their third straight 3A title with 63 points. Fiver runners finished in the top 30. Individually, First Flight sophomore Morgan Miller won in a time of 18:05.84. 

A young and talented Brevard boys team captured the 2A title scoring 45 points. Brevard placed five runners, all underclassmen, in the top 20 to finish with 45 points. 

NC School of Science & Math won the 2A title as Catherine Parker paced the team, winning in 18:32.63.

Blake Nicholas of Christ the King won the 1A title in a meet record time of 15:36.84. According to NCHSAA records, Nicholas’ time was the first sub-16 minute performance at the 1A state meet in 10 years. Lejeune won the 1A title with 55 points, as four finished in the top 20.

In the girls race, Nicole Alfers made it a team sweep as the Christ the King junior won the race in a time of 18:37.21. This was the first time in school history two individuals have won state titles in the same year. 

TEAM CHAMPIONS

4A: Marvin Ridge boys 88 points; Cardinal Gibbons 60 points - RESULTS

3A: Croatan boys 67 points; North Lincoln girls 63 points - RESULTS

2A: Brevard boys 45 points; NC School of Science & Math girls 82 points - RESULTS

1A: Lejeune boys 55 points; Swain County girls 44 points - RESULTS