Sports

State champion thrower, sprinter highlight Iredell's best in track and field

Two seniors set to continue their athletic and academic careers at Division I colleges in North Carolina headline this year's Record and Landmark All-Iredell County Track and Field team.

Promise Lovelace Statesville (copy) (copy)

Statesville's Promise Lovelace prepares to throw the shot put during the 2025 Iredell County Track and Field Championships.

Statesville's Promise Lovelace and Langtree Charter's Braden McGee enjoyed phenomenal final seasons and are the Record and Landmark Iredell County Female and Male Track and Field Athletes of the Year, respectively.

Braden McGee Langtree Charter track

McGee

Lovelace, one of the best throwers Iredell has ever seen, punctuated her high school career with a pair of 6A state championships. She won the shot put title with a throw of 42 feet, 6.75 inches and the discus with a distance of 148 feet.

The North Piedmont 6A-7A Conference Female Field Athlete of the Year swept shot put and discus titles at all levels, not just the state. The Charlotte 49ers signee also placed first in the Iredell County Championships, the NPC Championships and the 6A West Regional Championships.

"We may not see this type of domination again at the Iredell County level," Statesville coach Dave Rucker said.

McGee captured the 2A state championship in the boys' 400 meters, sprinting around the track in 48.59 seconds.

Like Lovelace, McGee won that event at all notable levels, also claiming titles in the 400 during the Iredell County Championships, Catawba Shores 2A/3A/4A Conference Championships and the 2A West Regional Championships. The bigger the stakes, the faster he raced.

The Western Carolina signee also placed sixth in the state in the 100 meters.

He was the regional runner-up in the 200 meters (21.96 seconds) and third in the 100.

McGee swept the three fastest events April 9 during the Iredell County Championships at Mooresville High School. He won the 100 (11.00 seconds), the 200 (22.11) and the 400 (49.43) on his way to being named the meet MVP for the boys division.

Led by Lovelace, Statesville's girls track and field team collectively finished fourth during the 6A state meet at N.C. A&T University in Greensboro.

Promise Lovelace (copy)

Lovelace

Lovelace ranks first overall in the state for girls' discus and shot put-among all eight N.C. High School Athletic Association classifications.

A shot put state champ during the indoor track season as well, she boasts personal records of 48 feet, 6 inches in shot put and 161 feet, 10 inches in discus. No one rates higher in the state, according to NC Milesplit, an online network dedicated to high school and middle school track and field and cross country in this state.

"I'm just in awe and grateful for being able to witness the journey," Rucker said this season.

All-Iredell County Track & Field Team

GIRLS

Annie Bailey, West Iredell

Alyssa Bauer, Mooresville

Addie Childress, Statesville

Kasey Dingman, Lake Norman

April Ford, Mooresville

Aubrey Graham Statesville

London Harris, Mooresville

Leighton Highley, South Iredell

Dallas Imes, Statesville

Maddison Leon, South Iredell

Maddie Lippard, North Iredell

Maya Little, Pine Lake Prep

Promise Lovelace, Statesville

Maggie Mahaffey, North Iredell

Lucy McDuffie, Pine Lake Prep

Jayla Parham, Statesville

Iyona Reid, Statesville

Justice Rucker, Statesville

Serenity Sanders, South Iredell

Ja'Miyah Smith, Statesville

Mia Sohovich, North Iredell

Baylee Steele, North Iredell

Olivia Teeter, Mooresville

Ava Tiley, South Iredell

Cydnee Smith Wise, Mooresville

Breanna Sturtevant, North Iredell

Claire Zimmerman, Lake Norman

BOYS

Caden Alcorn, Mooresville

Jake Allen, Mooresville

Preston Ambrose, Mooresville

Thailan Bellamy, Lake Norman

Ahmn Byrd, Mooresville

Cal Cary, North Iredell

Zavion Chipley, West Iredell

Baker Collins, Statesville

Brooks Culp, South Iredell

Dylan Edwards, Lake Norman

Earl Hall, Mooresville

Gabriel Harshman, West Iredell

Kordae Houston, Statesville

Keegan McClure, Lake Norman

Braden McGee, Langtree Charter

Bryant Moore, West Iredell

Alex Porter, Statesville

Chaven Rucker, Statesville

Torrey Stockton, Statesville

Josh Terry, Statesville

Evan Young, Mooresville

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