Results
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North Lincoln girls do it again as they claim the NCHSAA 3A girls team title scoring 63 points to hold off cross-state rival First Flight, who have been in many battles against each other on the girls and boys side in recent years.
We had seen North Lincoln boys serve as a power in the NCHSAA 2A and 3A ranks over the last decade, but the girls have created their own dynasty after winning their first team title in 2020 in 2A before moving to 3A in 2021. Since joining the 3A classification North Lincoln has only continued their excellence winning three straight titles from 2021-2023.
While North Lincoln came in as favorites, First Flight looked to be a close challenger as well as North Buncombe and West Henderson who were just behind North Lincoln at the 3A West Regional last weekend.
The Knights were led by sophomore Olivia Ferraro who placed third overall in a new PR of 18:33 followed by senior and ECU commit Bella Wood in 7th place each earning all-state status individually.
First Flight would equal North Lincoln through 2 runners with senior Morgan Miller taking the individual win kicking past Fike's Erin Pope in 18:05. Lucy Stecher would finish just behind Wood in 8th place overall clocking 19:04 score 8 points each through two runners for the two top teams coming in.
First Flight would go on to be the first of the two programs with four runners through the finish as Kayla Folkes and Moira Furr would finish 16th and 19th overall finishing just behind North Lincoln's third Cambelle Reffner who was 12th overall. But the fifth runner would be the big difference as North Lincoln's Elan Eurey and Sienna Rush would bring it home as the Knights 4th and 5th girls in 26th and 29th overall. North Lincoln showed off their depth playing a factor as 6th and 7th runners would displace First Flight's 5th.
North Buncombe would have a strong day finishing third overall 14 points back of the podium with 85 points overall and a 19:43 team average led by senior Katie Johnson in fifth overall. WNC foe West Henderson would take fourth with 135 points while Carrboro rounded out the top 5 with 190 points.
North Lincoln win their fourth straight title and will be favorites to win their fifth in 2024 with sole senior in their top 7 being Bella Wood. However, First Flight will graduate the same only in senior Lucy Stecher who each were their school's 2nd runners today only 2 seconds and one place apart.
| PLACE | TEAM | POINTS | SCORERS | TIMES |
|---|
| 1 |  North Lincoln | 63 | 2+6+11+21+23 (27+31) | 1:33 1-5 Split | 19:25 Avg |
| 2 |  First Flight | 71 | 1+7+13+15+35 (42+50) | 2:42 1-5 Split | 19:28 Avg |
| 3 |  North Buncombe | 85 | 4+10+19+20+32 (58) | 1:52 1-5 Split | 19:43 Avg |
| 4 |  West Henderson | 135 | 3+26+30+36+40 (43) | 2:23 1-5 Split | 20:16 Avg |
| 5 |  Carrboro | 190 | 18+22+46+51+53 (112) | 1:44 1-5 Split | 20:51 Avg |
| 6 |  Croatan | 211 | 9+16+55+65+66 (68+69) | 2:59 1-5 Split | 21:04 Avg |
| 7 |  Franklin | 212 | 12+24+45+64+67 (97+103) | 2:44 1-5 Split | 21:06 Avg |
| 8 |  Tuscola | 219 | 17+28+44+59+71 (78+93) | 2:31 1-5 Split | 21:11 Avg |
| 9 |  Lake Norman Charter School | 229 | 8+48+49+54+70 (72+73) | 3:09 1-5 Split | 21:11 Avg |
| 10 |  Swansboro | 235 | 5+25+41+80+84 (89+108) | 3:48 1-5 Split | 21:11 Avg |
