Sophomore sprinter Payton Russell led North Rowan’s girls to a third-place finish in the 2A state track meet on Saturday at North Carolina A&T.

Russell won the 400 meters in 55.70 seconds, a record for the 2A meet. The previous mark was 55.73 seconds and was set by Bunn’s Marissa Bellamy in 2012.

Russell added a second place in the 200 (25.45) and took fifth in the 100. (12.75).

Russell also teamed with Brianna White, Nicole Phillips and Rochelle Bowman for third place in the 4×400 relay with a clocking of 4:10.55.

White was instrumental in North Rowan’s strong showing. She was fourth in the 100 hurdles (15.80), fifth in the 300 hurdles (47.75) and seventh in the high jump (5 feet).

North Rowan also got points from Chevy Blaire. She was fifth in the shot put (36 feet, 1 1/2 inches).

Senior sprinter Jaleesa Smoot accounted for all of Salisbury’s 16 points in the meet.

Smoot was third in the 400 (58.56), third in the 100 (12.64) and fifth in the 200 (26.00).

Burlington Cummings won the girls championship with 72 points. Carrboro scored 66, while North Rowan had 42.5.

Boys championship

Shane Parker placed fifth in the shot put (47-9 1/2) to account for North Rowan’s four points in the meet. Parker was 11th in the discus. Michael Streater cleared 6 feet for ninth in the high jump.

D.J. Alexander’s sixth-place finish in the shot put (47-9) produced Salisbury’s three points in the meet.

Salisbury’s 4×200 relay team of Erik Murray, Dante Gaston, Devonte Brown and Lamyron Greene finished 11th in 1:32.53.

North Brunswick won the boys competition with 53 points. North Brunswick’s Jahlen Washington won the long jump and triple jump for MVP honors.