After a one-year hiatus from having the state championships indoors - last year the sport was called "winter track" because the state championships were held outside - they return to the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill this year.

Not as many athletes ran for their schools last winter for indoor track season, but part of that could've been due to the lack of a true championship venue. Still, some who did compete were among the state's best last season.

For Green Hope, two members of its three-time defending state champion girls cross country championship team are among the state's best in two indoor track events.

Senior Lauren Colberg was last season's NCHSAA winter champion in the 1,600-meter run, while junior Maura McDonnell was runner-up in the 1,000-meter run.

Apex senior Alexis Murphy, who won the outdoor championship in the 100-meter dash, is back to defend her indoor title in the 200-meter dash.

Murphy isn't the only member of the Cougars team who has high hopes for the winter. Pole vaulter Audrey Diener is coming off runner-up finishes in the winter and spring track and field championships.

Cary's Bakri Abushouk, a junior, is coming off a strong cross country season and is one of the top distance runners in the state. He was also second the 1,000-meter run last winter.