CROSS COUNTRY
Hart runs to victory: At Wilmington, everyone knew the Mideastern 3-A/4-A Conference championship would be a battle of two friendly foes.
White Oak’s Sarah Hart and Jacksonville’s Kaitlyn Davis gave fans what they wanted — a dash to the finish.
Meanwhile, Melissa Price broke a sixth-place tiebreaker to give the Viking girls a conference championship at Hoggard High School.
Hart, who ran a personal-best 19 minutes, 10 seconds, finished first, followed by Davis’ 19:35 to put the two teams at 39 points apiece.
“What a finish,” White Oak head coach Chris Mueller said. “It doesn’t surprise me that it finished this way.”
Hart won the race despite losing her shoe 700 meters from the finish line.
“That’s the kind of kid she is,” Mueller added. “It didn’t surprise me.”
Price broke the tie by finishing 20th at 22:18.
“In this sport, it is easy for the kids to get caught up with the first five runners,” Mueller said. “This is a perfect example that it takes an entire team to win a championship.”
Jacksonville’s Erin Putnam was third overall at 23:23.
Jacksonville (88) and White Oak (96) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the boys meet.
White Oak’s Andre Smith was second at 16:38.
Hart, Davis, Putnam and Smith were all selected to the first-team all-conference squad.
White Oak advances to the regional meet next weekend at Nash Central in Rocky Mount.
BOYS
TEAM: Hoggard 35; New Hanover 54; Laney 85; Jacksonville 88; White Oak 96; Ashley 159; West Brunswick 222.
INDIVIDUAL: 1st, Charles Wofford (H) 16:37; 2nd, Smith (WO) 16:38; 3rd, Steven Miller (NH) 17:08; 4th, Paul Clarke (H) 17:09; 5th, Will Cooper (NH) 17:10; 10th, Tyler Marva (WO) 17:44; 15th Andrew Tiralongo (WO) 18:37; 27th, Damon Neanover (WO) 18:41; 32nd, Michael Hart (WO) 19:32; 42nd, Hunter Wilson (WO) 21:43; 44th, James Kreuger (WO) 22:37.
GIRLS
TEAM: White Oak 39,; Jacksonville 39; Hoggard 62; New Hanover 111; Laney 114; Ashley 150; West Brunswick 189.
INDIVIDUAL: 1st, Hart (WO) 19:10; 2nd, Davis (J) 19:35; 3rd, Putnam (J) 23:23; 4th, Whitley Ramey (NH) 20:49; 5th, Chelsea Deliderto (H) 20:51; 6th, Rachel Johnston (WO) 21:14; 9th, Stephanie Herndon (WO) 21:33; 11th, Angela Cole (WO) 21:37; 12th, Stephanie Rose (WO) 21:42; 20th, Price (WO) 22:18; 37th, Maya Baxter (WO) 24:17.