By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — The four high school divisions of the Blue Ridge Mountain Rentals High Country Classic cross country meet on Sept. 20 saw strong Watauga performances, especially in the Varsity Men’s Division where Will Bradbury continued to set the pace for the Pioneers.
VARSITY MEN’S DIVISION
Watauga’s Will Bradbury finished No. 1 (16:44) and led a team of eight Pioneers finishing in the top 22 of 88 competing student athletes. A junior, Bradbury completed the 5,000 meters course 43 seconds ahead of the No. 2 finisher, Benjamin Notarangelo, of Rock Hill, S.C.’s Northwestern High School.
Watauga had a total of seven runners in the top 11, including sophomore Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 3), sophomore Elliott Taft (No. 4), sophomore Zeke Walker (No. 6), freshman Grady Gates (No. 7), junior Jonah Norris (No. 10) and senior Collin Anderson (No. 11).
TEAM SCORES
- Watauga – 21
- Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) 57
- Wilkes Central – 113
- Forsyth Home Educators (Winston-Salem) – 140
- North Carolina Leadership Academy (Kernersville, N.C.) -144
- Providence Academy (Johnson City, Tenn.) – 155
- Enka (Candler, N.C.) – 180
- Liberty Prep Christian Academy (Mooresville, N.C.) – 203
- Avery County – 204
- McDowell (Marion, N.C.) – 268
- Franklin School of Innovation (Asheville) – 307
VARSITY WOMEN’S DIVISION
With a young team that included a freshman, an 8th grader and a 7th grader in the top three positions, Lexington High School (Lexington, S.C.) ran away with the Varsity Women’s Division team title. The Wildcats dominated the top 10, including the the top six finishers. Freshman Kendra Miles completed the 5,000 meters course in 19:28.00, almost a full minute ahead of teammate Elanorah Patangan (8th grader), who crossed the finish line in 20:26.00. Just three seconds behind was 7th grade student athlete, Brooklynne Cox, in 20:29.00.
Watauga ended the meet as the No. 3 team out of the 10 teams competing. Sophomore Janie Beach-Verhay was the Pioneers’ top finisher at No. 9 among the event’s 79 participants, stopping the clock at 21:04.00. Other scorers for the Pioneer women included senior Rachel Cathey (No. 16), freshman Lainey Johnston (No. 18), junior Sadie Buchanan (No. 20), and freshman Maggie Visser (No. 23).
Other Watauga runners finishing in the top half of the field included Ellary Smith (No. 27), Mia Libre (No. 28), Elyse Rea (No. 31), and Julian Martin (No. 35).
Team Scores
- Lexington (Lexington, S.C.) – 15
- Northwestern (Rock Hill, S.C.) – 53
- Watauga – 82
- Providence Academy (Johnson City, Tenn.) – 153
- Wilkes Central -159
- Enka (Candler, N.C.)
- Liberty Prep Christian Academy (Mooresville, N.C.) – 215
- Forsyth Home Educators (Winston-Salem, N.C.) – 216
- North Carolina Leadership Academy (Kernersville, N.C.) – 243
- Avery County – 254
JV MEN’S DIVISION
Watauga showed off its roster depth in the JV Men’s Division, with nine of the top 13 finishers, including a sweep of the top four in a competition featuring 62 student athletes from seven schools. Levi Anderson finished No. 1, followed by Davis Crymes No.2, Silas Powell No. 3, Cameron Nance No. 4, A J McAulay No. 6, Brian Newmark No. 9, Miles Page No. 10, Santino Wood No. 11, and Holden Womak No. 13.
JV WOMEN’S DIVISION
East Mecklenburg sophomore Hadley Kolodziey finished the 5,000 meters course 90 seconds ahead of teammate Megan Palmer to take No. 1 and No. 2 in the race that saw 58 student athletes competing.
Watauga’s Sophia McEvoy was the Pioneers top finisher, at No. 7. Other Pioneer finishers in the top 20 included Scarlett Rupp at No. 15, Hadley Carpenter at No. 17, Kara Schneider No. 18, Madden Maple No. 19, and Anna Norris No. 20.
