Asheville's Michael Haskin and Sofi Alexander win 4A XC titles

NCHSAA State Championship Results

Photos

Race video and interviews

Merge results

—

Both NCHSAA 4A state championships featured North Carolina's best individual talent. While the favorites started in both races, it seemed as if five to eight athletes had a chance to win in each race.

Both races were mostly the same for about two miles. A tight group of 10 to 15 runners at the front, waiting for the right time and running at a fast pace, but still waiting for someone else to make their move. On the girls' side, Cardinal Gibbons led the pack with everyone else in tow along the three-width stretch of road. In the girls' race, Alexander was a big step behind the leading group midway through the race.d In the boys' race, Michael Haskin (Asheville) appeared to be setting the pace, but was surrounded by all the classification candidates waiting for the actual race to begin.

Michael Haskin of Asheville after winning the boys 4A state title in 15:21

As they passed the two-mile mark, Haskin was in the lead with a group of Philip Blum (Riverside), Tate Shore (Reagan) and Cedar Nichols-Barnhart (RJ Reynolds) who had pulled ahead slightly of the group, others but still within striking distance. Haskin began to pick up the pace in the final mile, but Shore tried to pick up the pace as the kick to the finish line became faster and faster. Haskin and Blum were able to hold on to this move and eventually pass Shore in the fight to the finish line. Haskin had the early step and was right in front of Blum, who was able to keep up with his finishing kick but was unable to gain ground and make a pass, giving Haskin the win 15:21 to 15:22.

Sofi Alexander of Asheville after winning the girls 4A state title in 18:01

Hannah Rae Shaffer (Cardinal Gibbons) picked up the pace when they were just a mile from the finish in the girls race. Alexander had moved from just behind the lead group to Shaffer's back, with Elle Dawson (Ragsdale), Amelia Medlin (Hoggard), Addie Oversmith (Broughton) and Cali Townsend (Watauga) behind him as the top 12 girls gradually fell apart, but steadily still all in a large group. Alexander was able to overtake Shaffer, but Dawson was still hot on her heels as the rookie ran an outstanding race. However, Alexander was able to repeat what her teammate had done an hour earlier and secured the win for the NCHSAA 4A title for Asheville HS by posting the fastest time of the day at 18:01, while Dawson Reached 18:02.

Although Haskins and Alexander both had breakout track seasons earlier in the year and were expected to be 4A title contenders, it hasn't been an easy year. On September 26, Asheville and many surrounding areas in western North Carolina were devastated by Category 4 Hurricane Helene. They just went back to school this week, but there is still no running water, electricity or cell service in most parts of the area. While they had all the excuses they needed to explain why they didn't reach the state title goals they set at the start of the year, they both continued to thrive, with Haskin setting a personal best of 15:01 and Alexander scored their victory at the NCHSAA 4A State Championship by a margin of 17:35.

Both Asheville athletes posted the fastest times at the NCHSAA XC State Championships on Saturday. The Asheville boys team won the NCHSAA 3A team title in 2010 and has had individual state champions with John Harwell in 2008 and Milos Mitric in 2001. It will be hard to keep up with the journey Haskin and Alexander had to make to make their 4A win happen in 2024. WNC and Asheville can be very proud of these two elite athletes.