The COROS Distance Athlete Of The Week (5/11-5/17)

May 21, 2026

* Colby McCollum of Cuthbertson winning the NCHSAA 7A 1600m title in 4:40

Watch NCHSAA State Championship Race Video

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Kavi Gibson, Cary Academy (NC)

Class of 2026

Duke commit Kavi Gibson had an all time performance at the NCISAA Division I State Championships in North Carolina last Friday and Saturday winning state titles in the 4x800m, 1600m and 3200m. He anchored Cary Academy's 4x800m in a 1:51 split to a new NCISAA Division I meet record of 7:44.90 surpassing Christ School on the anchor leg to kick off the competition. He'd double back later than night in a stacked 3200m field that would go out at an honest pace just three hours after running a fast 4x800m leg.

Gibson went out in 4:26 with the leaders going through at 4:23. He'd slowly move up through the field to reel in leader Brooks Barbee (Christ School) who holds a 8:40 3200m personal best. He'd make the pass over the final lap and hold off Barbee and a late charge from George Lawson (FCDS) and push through the line in a new personal best of 8:44.46 with Barbee holding off Lawson for 2nd in 8:48.54 to 8:48.59. Gibson's time broke Rocky Hansen's Meet Record of 8:54.41 from 2023.

Gibson wasn't done as he'd have a rematch with most of the 3200m field that yielded 8 sub 9 minute 3200m runners on Saturday in the 1600m. The pace would go out in 2:05 with Gibson tucked in the field in 6th at the halfway mark in 2:06.81. He'd again be patient and let the field battle before moving to the front over the final 400m. He'd move ahead of Barbee, Reynolds Young (Christ School) and Lawson over the final lap closing in 56.85 to win his third NCISAA State Title of the weekend just off his season best of 4:07.53.

Boys 1600 Meter Run Finals

Place	Athlete		Team	Mark	Heat
1	Kavi Gibson	12	Cary Academy	4:07.53	1
2	George Lawson	12	Forsyth Country Day School	4:08.38	1
3	Brooks Barbee	11	Christ School	4:09.47	1
4	Reynolds Young	11	Christ School	4:12.04	1
5	John Templeton	12	Forsyth Country Day School	4:14.32	1
6	Jack Dennehy	11	Christ School	4:14.39	1
7	Brody Webb	11	Christ School	4:14.63	1
8	Adam Haggart	10	Charlotte Country Day School	4:14.92	1

Colby McCollum, Cuthbertson (NC)

Class of 2028

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Sticking with North Carolina, Colby McCollum was the defending champion in the NCHSAA 4A State Championship, and now in the NCHSAA 7A classification after realignment. McCollum held a seasons best of 4:45.81 from the ASICS Carolina Distance Carnival where she placed 9th overall. She was the NCHSAA 7A Indoor 1600m State Champion, but off season was not the favorite with Kaitlyn Estep (Cardinal Gibbons) holding a 4:34.91 seasons best, and Kasey Dingman (Lake Norman) having run 4:46.30 and beating McCollum at the 7A West regional the week prior.

Estep would take the pace out in 1:09 through 400m and go through 800m in 2:23 with Dingman on her shoulder. McCollum was slightly off the early pace but still in striking distance of the lead with a lot of race to play out. McCollum would keep close to the lead as Estep lead Dingman through 1200m in 3:36 looking in control. Estep would put her head down after the bell and charge forward gapping Dingman, but McCollum would do the same passing Dingman and closing in on Estep. Estep led coming off the final curve, but McCollum looked prepared to swing wide and make a move down the homestretch. She'd make the pass with 100m to go and hold it through the line to set a 5 second personal best of 4:40.72.

McCollum's mark was the second fastest ever at the NCHSAA Outdoor State Championships amongst all classifications, only behind former Cuthbertson Cavalier Charlotte Bell who ran 4:38.92 in 2024. Estep would run 4:42.47 for 2nd, but come back later in the meet to run 2:07.83 for the second fastest NCHSAA State Championships 800m in event history and have an epic 4x400m anchor leg to lead Cardinal Gibbons to a state title running 3:56.84.

7A Girls 1600 Meter Run Finals

Place	Athlete		Team	Mark	Heat
1	Colby McCollum	10	Cuthbertson High School	4:40.72	1
2	Kaitlyn Estep	10	Cardinal Gibbons	4:42.47	1
3	Kasey Dingman	12	Lake Norman	4:49.02	1
4	Emma Balaban	10	Weddington High School	4:55.58	1
5	Arabel Cluff	12	Holly Springs	5:00.22	1
6	Ella Harbaugh	10	Marvin Ridge	5:00.57	1

Note:

This is the beginning of a series that will run every week on MileSplit. We will be naming our COROS Distance Athlete Of The Week each week as we finish out the indoor and season and move into outdoor.