Ryan Hill of Hickory High School won the South Region race in a NEW STATE RECORDsetting time of 14:46.
Hill was with the front pack at the mile mark as the group hit about 4:36. Coming down the hill, Ryan had let some of the leaders pull ahead, but he obviously knew he was still in striking distance.
He came through the 2-mile mark in around 9:35ish and was sitting in 4th place. Somewhere in the back mile he made a serious push to get to the front and challenge Girma Mecdheso (GA) for the title.
As they came onto the lake, Ryan had a slight lead (step). Girma then pulled back ahead and Ryan just sat there. Just before the final stretch he put on one of the sickest kicking displays I've seen at McAlpine. He ripped up the final stretch to win the region, secure a ticket of the National Championships in San Diego, break the NC state record, and to tie last year's champ, Michael Eaton, for the 4th fastest time ever run at McAlpine . . . as a JUNIOR.