Johnny Dutch, the fastest high school hurdler ever in North Carolina, feels some stress heading into this weekend's Nike Outdoor Nationals at N.C. A&T in Greensboro.

"There is a lot of pressure, but I think I am mature enough to handle it this year," said Dutch, who just completed his junior year at Clayton High.

Dutch ran the nation's fastest high school 110-meter high hurdles this season (13.55), and his 52.37 in the 400 hurdles, an event rarely contested in North Carolina, is among the top five.

"This might be my year," Dutch said. "I have been training very hard."

Dutch definitely didn't have his best performances in the 2005 Nike Outdoor finals. He fell in the 110 hurdles and stumbled in the 400 hurdles.

"I want to win, and I want to run fast," he said. "I need to believe in myself, let the competition bring out my speed and concentrate on doing things the right way."

Dutch is among a handful of North Carolina athletes who are expected to contend for national titles in the event, which begins Thursday and concludes Saturday.

Gabby Mayo, who just finished her junior year at Southeast Raleigh, won the 100 and 200 sprints, plus the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4-A championships. She has the nation's fastest time this season in the 100 (a wind-aided 11.14) and the 100 hurdles (13.60). Her 23.51 in the 200 is among the top six.

Patience Coleman of Southern Durham has the nation's best high jump this season and will compete Friday. New Bern's Karjuan Williams is the two-time national 800 champion.