2020 Boys Track & Field Preview

Mideastern Conference

Outlook

Hoggard proved its title in 2018 wasn’t a fluke by making it back-to-back championships a season ago. It came down the final event and the Vikings got a third-place finish from the 4×200 relay team to edge North Brunswick by one point. Ashley and Laney were also right in the thick of things.

With points coming from so many different events and athletes, it’s always difficult to tell early in the season which teams have the best chance at winning the conference title. With that being said, Hoggard and North Brunswick both return a lot of talent and should be in the mix again.

The Vikings have 25 athletes back from a season ago and depth is what has helped them win the past two titles. They are always strong in the distance events because of their great cross country program. They also have some talented sprinters, hurdlers and throwers. Hoggard also has the top returning pole vaulter in junior Jaden Bennion, who cleared 10-6 to finish second at last year’s Mideastern Conference Championship.

North Brunswick returns the top athlete in the area in LSU signee and reigning Coastal Preps Athlete of the Year Jieem Bullock. He won the 110 hurdles, high jump and long jump at last year’s MEC Championship and the Scorpions can almost always rely on him to score them big points in multiple events. Gavin McNair is also back for his senior season after winning the 400-meter dash at the conference championship a season ago. Kwesi Clarke was second in the 200 and fifth in the 100. The Scorpions are generally very strong in sprints, hurdles and jumps. 

Ashley won eight straight league titles before being dethroned by Hoggard in 2018. The Screaming Eagles would love to take the title back. They will be extremely strong in the jumping events thanks to the return of Xavier Baldwin, Khalil Jones and Jackson Kupec. Luke Scacheri is the top distance runner in the area and the Screaming Eagles always seem to fair well in the hurdles and pole vault.

Connor Powe of Laney is looking to build off his incredible freshman campaign in which he scored 15 points at the MEC Championship. He was third in the 110 hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles. His brother, Casper, was second in the discus. The Buccaneers also return Anthony Gonzalez-Deras, who finished fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 100.

Past three champions

2019 – Hoggard

2018 – Hoggard

2017 – Ashley

2016 – Ashley

2015 – Ashley

Athletes to watch

Sr. Adam Babson, West Brunswick

Sr. Xavier Baldwin, Ashley

Jr. Jaden Bennion, Hoggard

Sr. Noah Bullard, South Brunswick

Sr. Jieem Bullock, North Brunswick

Sr. Julian Carrano-Shepard, Hoggard

Sr. Kwesi Clarke, North Brunswick

Soph. Mason Evans, Hoggard

Sr. Anthony Gonzalez-Deras, Laney

Sr. Alex Grommesh, Ashley

Sr. Khalil Jones, Ashley

Soph. Jackson Kupec, Ashley

Soph. Nathan Lau, Topsail

Jr. Gavin McNair, North Brunswick

Jr. AJ McNeil, South Brunswick

Sr. Casper Powe Jr., Laney

Soph. Connor Powe, Laney

Sr. Luke Scacheri, Ashley

Jr. Andrew Wallace, Hoggard

Soph. Nyjae Williams, Laney

Around the Area

Outlook

Coastal Christian rolled to its second straight NCISAA Division II state title last year and the Centurions have plenty of returners back to make a serious run at a three-peat.

Marquise Dark scored 25 points at least season’s state championship by finishing first in the 4×200 relay, third in the 100-meter dash and 4×100 relay and sixth in the 200. Tafari Croom and Nicholas Scrocco were right behind with 24 points and Isaiah Arnold scored 18. He was second in the 800-meter run and a member of the victorious 4×800 relay. Skyler Davies is also back for his senior year after placing second in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles.

Athletes to watch

Soph. Isaiah Arnold, Coastal Christian

Sr. Tafari Croom, Coastal Christian

Sr. Marquise Dark, Coastal Christian

Sr. Skyler Davies, Coastal Christian

Jr. Josef Fullwood, Pender

Sr. Luis Hernandez Perez, Trask

Soph. Jadon Lee, Pender

Jr. Spencer Lewis, Coastal Christian

Jr. Nicholas Scrocco, Coastal Christian

Sr. Lonnie Shivers, Pender