(With links to results and photo albums)
1A Boys Recap
There was very little doubt as to who would win this race, as Steve Mulherin (Science & Math) went straight to the front and immediately pulled away.
Dylan Johnson (Hayesville) and Levi Rolles (Science & Math) made a valiant attempt to keep up, but settled for racing each other by the mile mark.
Blake Hollister (Pamlico) was also out well in the early-going, while Zach Millsaps (Elkin) trailed him by about 10m.
As the rest of the field neared the midpoint, the front four were unchanged except for Mulherin's increasing seaparation.
(Mulherin got to the fenceline so quickly I missed him with the video!)
Frank Cline (Robbinsville) and Sam Williams (Bishop McGuinness) had moved past Millsaps and into 5th/6th.
At the two mile mark, Mulherin had a full 75-meters on the second place runner, Johnson.
Rolles was beginning to fade a bit, while Cline and Levy Floyd (Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy) were looking strong.
Mulherin completed him dominating race on cruise control (or perhaps worn out from the fast early pace).
Johnson closed a bit in the final 800 but was never a threat to catch up.
Cline had one of the best performances of the day, all classes, to get all the way up to third in his first state meet.
Hollister held on for fourth with Floyd breathing down his neck, while Michael Westbay (LNCS) was able to climb into 6th.
1A All-State Boys Team
Team Runners-Up: Lake Norman Charter
Team Champions: NC Science & Math
1A Girls Recap
As she has in most of her races this year, Kirstin Parries (Mount Airy) took control early, with teammate Jordan Hiatt behind her.
They were followed by Stephanie Zaino and Sarah Hardin (Lake Norman Charter), with Carly Kreber (Bishop McGuinness) in tow.
Kendall Toineeta (Cherokee) was game for the aggressive pace, holding down 5th at the mile mark.
As they approached the midpoint, Parries looked strong and was pulling away, but Hiatt had begun to struggle.
Hardin, Kreber, Zaino, and Toineeta still ran together in the first group, with Keri Celeste (Franklin Academy) beginning to close on them.
At two miles, Parries was in complete control, with Hardin and Kreber shoulder to shoulder a ways behind her.
Zaino had fallen off just a bit, while Celeste had continued to climb and had passed Toineeta.
Rebecca Rudisill (Highland School of Technology) had moved into striking range of the back end of the top 5.
Parries looked smooth all the way to the finish, winning comfortably.
Hardin and Kreber battled until the last 10 meters, when Hardin got past for second.
Celeste accelerated to the line and finished strong, while Zaino held on to 5th place.
1A All-State Girls Team
Team Runners-Up: Bishop McGuinness
Team Champions: Lake Norman Charter
