If the cross country season was any indication, the 2022-23 indoor track and field season should be an entertaining campaign for Northwood and Seaforth — the only two Chatham County teams to compete in the sport.
Among the top storylines in the county heading into the season is how Northwood will adjust to losing a handful of senior leaders. The biggest challenge for the Chargers will be replacing Caroline Murrell, who won the 3,200-meter race at last year’s 3A state championships in a time of 10:49.69.
Murrell, who also won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter race at this past year’s 3A outdoor state meet and placed third at the 2021 3A cross country championships, is now a freshman at N.C. State. Murrell’s performance led the Northwood girls to a 11th place team finish at last year’s indoor championships.
On the boys side, the Chargers have graduated their only individual competitor from last year’s state championships in Colin Henry, who finished 10th in the 3,200-meter race. The Northwood boys did win a state championship in last year’s meet, taking the 4x800 relay in a time of 8:25.61.
Northwood will compete as a team for the first time at the COROS Explore Perfection Invitational at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem on Dec. 10.
Elsewhere in the county, Seaforth will look to improve on its first season as a varsity program last season. While the Hawks did not qualify for the 2A state championships as a team, they were represented by sophomore Jack Anstrom.
Anstrom finished third in both the 1600- and 3,200-meter races at last year’s state championships in times of 4:39.85 and 10:02.19, respectively. Anstrom will be among the favorites to take the title in both events this season, as the two finishers above him in both races were seniors and have since graduated.
Seaforth will hope Anstrom carries over some momentum from cross country season. Just a few weeks ago, the sophomore won the 2A cross country state championship in a time of 16:15.43.
The Hawks have not yet released their schedule for the 2022-23 season.
Sports Editor Jeremy Vernon can be reached at jeremy@chathamnr.com or on Twitter at @jbo_vernon.