Track and field athletes from Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties returned home this weekend with some added cargo following their respective state meets in Greensboro.
Mountain Island Charter's Olivia Patterson fared particularly well, helping the Raptors' 4x100- and 4x200-meter relay teams to state titles. Accompanying Patterson was Joslyn Senneh, Sydney Labenson and Ajuliah Washington in both races. Patterson also placed second in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
North Lincoln's Olivia Ferraro was the other local standout to return with state gold, winning NCHSAA 3A state gold at 1,600 meters. She also finished fourth in the 800-meter race.
BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD: Despite fourth-round loss, youthful Cherryville baseball team sets stage for future success
MOVING ON: Here's how Crest softball, North Lincoln baseball continued their NCHSAA title pursuits
Here's a rundown of area athletes who earned a spot on the podium this past weekend.
800 meters: Bella Green, North Lincoln (2:15.44; third); Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln (2:16.03; fourth)
1,600 meters: Olivia Ferraro, North Lincoln (4:59.74; first); Bella Green, North Lincoln (5:03.09; third)
4x400-meter relay: North Lincoln (Amanda Lutz, Olivia Ferraro, Bella Green and Ella Myers, 4:03.08; fourth)
4x200-meter relay: Shelby (Areanna Bates, Olivia Oliver, Killiana Oliver and Noni Oliver, 1:44.65; third)
4x100-meter relay: Mountain Island Charter (Andre Ramseur, Malachi Davis, Justice Washington and Javon Boyd, 42.97 seconds; first)
Pole vault: Brady Goodin, Mountain Island Charter (12 feet; tied for second); Christopher Unitis, Mountain Island Charter (12 feet; tied for second)
Girls
100 meters: Olivia Patterson, Mountain Island Charter (12.07 seconds; second); Ajuliah Washington, Mountain Island Charter (12.40 seconds; third)
200 meters: Olivia Patterson, Mountain Island Charter (25.08 seconds; second)
4x100-meter relay: Mountain Island Charter (Joslynn Senneh, Sydney Labenson, Ajuliah Washington and Olivia Patterson, 47.86 seconds; first)
4x200-meter relay: Mountain Island Charter (Joslynn Senneh, Ajuliah Washington, Sydney Labenson and Olivia Patterson, 1:40.76; first)
"Big Red" is back on top of NCHSAA 3A boys tennis.
South Point claimed its second 3A title in a row Saturday with a 5-4 victory over 3A East champion Carrboro.
Shiv Patel, James Dover and Tyler Cunningham won singles matches for the Red Raiders. Fresh off winning a 3A state doubles title, brothers Rex and James Dover earned a win in doubles, as did Patel and Brandon Cunningham, giving South Point the edge.
The Red Raiders' season concludes with a 19-1 record.
A fast Gaston Christian start buckled under the pressure of a hot Grace Christian lineup, earning a sweep of their best-of-three NCISAA 3A state championship series.
Grace Christian did a bulk of its damage in the second and third, scoring nine runs over those two innings. The Crusaders finished with 14 hits, catcher Ethan Bunceleading the hit parade by going 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and three runs. Alex Pena Jimenez, Matt Murchison and Calen Ellis collected two hits apiece, each of them also hitting a home run.
Logan Davis and Camden Cobb (run) had two hits apiece, with Xander Sutton hitting a three-run homer for Gaston Christian. The Eagles' season ends with an 18-4 record.