Sophomore track and field sensation Kayla Davis transferred to Hough High School to kick off the second semester of the school year along with her brother Jesiah Davis. The two siblings had attended Providence Day previously, but only competed unattached with their club Run U Xpress.
They'll now join the Hough program on the track and will begin competing for the Huskies inside the North Carolina High School Athletic Association during the outdoor season.
Davis was the New Balance Outdoor National Champion a year ago as well as USATF Junior National Champion in the 400m Dash as a freshman. Her 51.17 PR from last year took 1.6 seconds off the previous North Carolina 400m State Record.
Despite being a superstar individually, Davis has always enjoyed the team aspect of track in field from competing in relays or spending time with teammates at practice and meets. This played a big part in her wanting to compete for her new school as it will keep track fun for her.
Kayla's mother, Katina Davis, will join the Hough coaching staff as well as a volunteer coach.
Relays weren't really an option for Davis to compete in the last two years and were always something she did with her club teammates growing up. She'll join junior Milan Fields who placed 3rd in the 100m Dash and 6th in the 200m Dash a year ago at the NCHSAA 4A State Championships.
This will have a pretty big shake up in the NCHSAA 4A classification. Panther Creek return as heavy favorites to repeat in the team title, but Hough adding Davis' 20 points plus the possibility of two strong relays could put them in the mix for team titles over the next three years.
We already had some of the deepest girls sprint fields in state history in 4A, but it just got even tougher in the 200m and 400m.
Below are the projected top returners with addition of incoming freshman as well as Davis in the 4A 200m and 400m Dash. The state meet is going to be insanely competitive in the girls sprints the next four years to say the least.
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200 Meter Dash
PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
1 | 2022 | Hough, William A | 23.08 | 10 | ||
2 | Alysia Johnson | 2020 | Hillside | 23.73 | 8 | |
3 | Jonah Ross | 2020 | Garner | 23.83 | 6 | |
4 | Jahzara Hart | 2022 | Southeast Raleigh | 23.98 | 5 | |
5 | 2023 | Mallard Creek | 24.08 | 4 | ||
6 | 2023 | Wakefield | 24.12 | 3 | ||
7 | Ani Judd | 2020 | Southeast Raleigh | 24.15 | 2 | |
8 | Ahlexandria Deloache | 2020 | Z.B. Vance | 24.31 | 1 |
400 Meter Dash
PLACE | ATHLETE | GRADE | TEAM | TIME | POINTS | |
1 | 2022 | Hough, William A | 51.17 | 10 | ||
2 | 2023 | Mallard Creek | 53.14 | 8 | ||
3 | Alysia Johnson | 2020 | Hillside | 53.18 | 6 | |
4 | 2023 | Wakefield | 53.69 | 5 | ||
5 | Ella Mainwaring Foster | 2020 | Providence | 55.13 | 4 | |
6 | 2023 | Harding University | 55.26 | 3 | ||
7 | Amari Taylor | 2021 | Pine Forest | 56.39 | 2 | |
8 | Nimeesha Coleman | 2020 | Providence | 56.88 | 1 |