Each Thursday we'll feature Future Stars who are sophomore year or younger including middle school. We'll look at recent performances and give some insight to their running careers thus far dating back to middle school if we have that information. This week we feature two 7th graders who are at the top of the Middle School XC Rankings!
Athena Pluchos (Union Academy)
7th grader Athena Pluchos of Union Academy has been undefeated through 6 races so far this fall over 3000m and 2 Miles with wins at Friday Night Lights in 12:18 for 2 Miles and 11:12 at Hare & Hounds. If you followed the middle school track season last spring, this should come as no surprise, as Pluchos emerged as the second best distance runner in the state behind Kaitlyn Estep running 2:19.56 for the 800m at adidas Outdoor Nationals and 5:06 at the Carolina Distance Carnival for the 1600m. Even as a 5th grader Plutchos was a standout running 2:25 for 800m and 5:05 for 1500m. She very well could break 5 minutes in the Mile this spring, but has proven to also be a force on the cross country course.
Luke Surface (North Raleigh Christian Academy)
Younger brother of recent NCISAA State Champion Tyler Surface is 7th grader Luke Surface who currently holds the fastest 3000m for Middle Schoolers in North Carolina of 9:31 from Jungle Run. Surface has also run with the varsity high school team at NRCA and holds a season best of 17:11 for 5000m at WakeMed. As a 6th grader Surface emerged on the track running 4:49 for the 1600m following it up with a 10:13 later in the day for the 3200m. His older brother Tyler currently is a freshman at NC State University and ran HS personal best of 4:20, 9:16 and 14:54 in Cross Country winning the NCISAA XC State Championship last fall. Luke is certainly on pace to be as big of a star.