Asheville’s Michael Haskin, Sofi Alexander win 4A XC titles

NCHSAA State Championship results

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Both NCHSAA 4A state championships were loaded with North Carolina’s best individual talent. While both races had the favorites going, it felt like five to eight athletes in each race had an opportunity to walk away with the win.

Both races played the same for the most part through about Two Miles. A tight pack of 10 to 15 runners at the front, biding their time and running a fast pace, but still waiting for someone else to make their move. On the girls’ side, Cardinal Gibbons led the pack down that part of the course along the three-wide road with everyone else in tow. Alexander was a step back in the lead group on the girls side halfway through the race.d For the boys, it was Michael Haskin (Asheville) who seemed to be setting the pace, but was surrounded by all the classification contenders waiting for the right race to begin.

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

As they passed the two-mile mark, Haskin was ahead with a group of Philip Blum (Riverside), Tate Shore (Reagan) and Cedar Nichols-Barnhart (RJ Reynolds) who had moved slightly ahead of the pack, though others were still in striking distance. Haskin had started to pick up the pace over the last mile, but Shore tried to pick up the pace as the kick to the finish line gathered pace. Haskin and Blum were able to hold on to this move and eventually moved past Shore in what was a battle to the finish line. Haskin had the early stride and was just ahead of Blum, who was able to keep up with his finishing kick but was unable to make up the ground to make a pass as Haskin picked up the win at 15:21 to 15:22.

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

Hannah Rae Shaffer (Cardinal Gibbons) picked up the pace as they reached a Mile to go in the girls race. Alexander had moved from being just outside the lead group to right on Shaffer’s back with Elle Dawson (Ragsdale), Amelia Medlin (Hoggard), Addie Oversmith (Broughton) and Cali Townsend (Watauga) trailing as the top 12 girls began to run out. , but still all within a large group. Alexander was able to overtake Shaffer, but Dawson was still right on her heels as the freshman had a great run. However, Alexander was able to replicate what her teammate did an hour earlier and make it a sweep for the NCHSAA 4A titles for Asheville HS, who ran the fastest time of the day in 18:01 to Dawson’s 18:02.

While entering the year, Haskins and Alexander were both coming off breakout track seasons and were expected to be among the 4A title contenders, but 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. This week they went back to school, but they are still without running water, electricity or cell service in most parts of the area. Although they had all the excuses they could use as to why they fell short of the state title goals they had set for the year, they both continued to thrive with Haskin running a personal best 15:01 and Alexander a 17: 35 ahead of their NCHSAA 4A State Championship win.

Both of these Asheville athletes ran 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 in John Harwell in 2008, Milos Mitric in 2001, it will be hard to match the journey Haskin and Alexander had to overcome to make their 2024 4A sweep happen. WNC and Asheville have much to be proud of in these two star athletes.