RESULTS
Both Weddington's boys and girls squads took down some stiff competition today at the adidas XC Challenge! The boys scoring 105 points placing 6 boys under 16:20 with a 10 second 1-5 spread! The boys scored 5 runners before every other school placed 3 proving that they indeed are the real deal. Mount Tabor boys came in second lead by Michael Moerk and Cameron Ponder finishing 6th and 7th scoring 171 points with Panther Creek at 191. Cary boys were strong in 4th with a 17 second 1-5 spread and a 16:36 team average.
The girls beat out top the Weddington girls also had a strong day running an average of 19:22 edging NCHSAA 3A competitors Chapel Hill 126 to 156. Third place was pre-race favorite Blacksburg who has qualified for NXN the last four years. This was a big statement by both Weddington and Chapel Hill as well as West Forsyth who were just one point off of Blacksburg for 3rd.
Individually John Tatter (R.J. Reynolds) won a showdown with North Carolina's top individuals clocking a new state leading time of 15:00. Tatter was able to reel in Cameron Ponder heading up the hill after trailing him slightly over the last mile. Tatter's 15:00.70 is just off Connor Lane's 14:59 meet record from 2015 and was a 24 second PR which came from this meet a year ago. Brent Bailey (Ocean Lakes, VA) edged David Melville (Northern Guilford) for second as both clocked 15:13. This was a massive breakout performance for Bailey who held a PR of 16:09 coming into the meet.
On the girls side Natalie Tyner (Laney) lead Victoria Starcher (Ripley, WV) as they approached the hill, but Starcher was able to find another gear making a pass on Tyner as they approached the top of the hill and took the individual crown in 17:41. Tyner clocked a new PR in her season debut running 17:47 for second with Blacksburg's Kaitlynn Wolfe taking 3rd in 18:20.
In the Boys Invitational Race Brian Risse lead North Lincoln to a dominating team performance with an individual victory in 16:12. North Lincoln score 83 points edging Mooresville and Jordan who scored 134 and 166 respectively. On the girls side the Parkersburg, WV duo of Olivia Collett and Madison Trippett posted a 1-2 finish running 18:44 and 18:47 as they also took home the team trophy with 140 points over North Lincoln's 149. Both North Lincoln teams look to be contenders for the NCHSAA 2A team title this fall after strong days at WakeMed.