UPDATED: ‘Clash of the Classes’ kicks off High Country XC season

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — With 36 schools and 890 student athletes converging on the Watauga High School cross country course, you not only have to expect a lot of parents, grandparents and family friends, but also a lot of coaches and alums of various programs. It all made for a lot of energy in and around the course on a classic “Chamber of Commerce Day” in the High Country for the Pioneers-hosted “Clash of the Classes” on Aug. 16.

Watauga High School head coach Randy McDonough said it was the most schools and the most runners to ever participate in Clash of the Classes, which has run continuously since being started in the 1980s by former App State head coach, John Weaver. McDonough became Watauga’s coach in 1993 and later took over as event director for Clash of the classes, heading it ever since.

The top 15 finishers in each class earned a medal, but for the vast majority of student athletes it was as much about finishing and lowering personal bests as it was about winning.

MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS

Watauga 8th grader Kate James Moore ran away with the race, crossing the finish line more than 46 seconds ahead of a trio of athletes from Providence Academy in Rose Holland, Mia Fox and Hadley Cowert. Another trio of runners, all unattached, were across the line next, including Anna Summers, Lila Carter, and Cora Taft.

Highlighted by Moore’s No. 1 trek around the 2-mile course in 13:13.47, the other members of the top seven were all under 15 minutes. A total of 41 student-athletes competed in the Middle School Girls division. “Middle School” is a little bit misleading, however, because there were runners as young as 2nd graders from Run for Life Iredell — and a 4th grader from Run for Life Iredell, Rebekah Milos (15:17.86), who was No. 12 to cross the finish line, well ahead of almost 30 older athletes.

Only three schools had enough entrants to qualify for team scoring, led by Watauga District (31), Run for Life Iredell (40) and Langtree Charter Academy (59).

MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS

It was a photo finish — and Boone was well represented in the Middle School Boys division by Grace Academy, with team members taking four of the top six spots, including No. 1 Evan Gordon (11:37.56), No. 2 Micah Arnold (11:37.92), No. 5 Brandon Gordon and No. 6 Evan Dredla.

Arnold, Gordon and Dredla are all 7th graders. In between the Grace Academy runners were a pair of Providence Academy performers, No. 3 Jake Robinson (11:52.22) and No. 4 Finn Blackburn (13:07.39).

Sixty-three student harriers made up the field. Watauga 7th grader John Braxton finished No. 10, as the top Wolverine runner, closely followed by 8th grader Yates Hodges at No. 11.

Grace Academy picked up No. 1 team honors, with 27 points, followed by Providence Academy (39), Lakeshore Middle School (83), Watauga District Middle Schools (96), Run 4 Life Iredell (115) and Chestnut Grove Middle School (170).

9th GRADE WOMEN

RESULTS NOT AVAILABLE

9th GRADE MEN

Watauga freshman Sean Rea was the first Pioneer to cross the line at No. 5, after Seth Marciante (No. 1, 11:08.17, Daniel Boone HS), Liam Crews (No. 2, 11:13.03, A.L. Brown HS), Will Shaffer (No. 3, 11:29.14, William A. Hough HS) and Mason Moore (No. 4, 11:30.14, Oak Grove HS). At No. 5, Rea finished in 11:31.02)

Ninety-two (92) freshman student athletes toed the line for the start of the race.

9th Grade Men Team Scoring:

1. West Henderson (70)
2. William A. Hough (80)
3. A L Brown (101)
4. Daniel Boone (112)
5. Mooresville (113)
6. Watauga (114)
7. David Crockett (121)
8. Providence Academy (158)

10th GRADE WOMEN

One of the star performances among all the races was put in by Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend, finishing No. 1 (11:35.29) in the 10th Grade Women’s division. Townsend was almost a full minute ahead of No. 2, Arvella Nave (12:35.07) of Elizabethton HS.

It was a large division, with 94 student athletes competing. Watauga’s Nora Price was the second Pioneer to cross the line, finishing No. 8 (13:30.36).

Medalist Olivia Ogle (No. 14, 13:50.85), stopped to talk with High Country Sports after her race. Asked why she ran, Ogle said, “I love the feel of the adrenaline at the start of a race. I love competing, but winning is secondary. Getting better every time I run is the goal. It’s about personal development.”

Asked about the Watauga course, she said, “It is beautiful up here. There are a lot of terrain changes, from uneven grass and gravel to pavement and a gravel finish. I’m glad I wore my spikes.”

10th Grade Women Team Scores:

1. A C Reynolds (31)
2. Watauga (35)
3. R J Reynolds (82)
4. West Henderson (109)
5. West Cabarrus (125)
6. Oak Grove (144)
7. Alexander Central (185)

10th GRADE MEN

With a stirring “kick” in the last 100 yards, Oak Grove’s Bryson Vann captured the No. 1 title in the 10th Grade Men’s division, crossing the line in 10:50.27. He was followed by No. 2 Grant Collum (10:59.27, William A. Hough HS), No. 3 Paxton Lawver (11:07.18, Lake Norman HS), No. 4 Dylan Robinson (11:14.39, Providence Academy), and No. 5 Obie Greene (11:16.90, West Henderson).

The field was comprised of 74 student athletes. The top Watauga performer was Cormac Walker at No. 20 (12:22.55).

10th Grade Team Scores:

1. Ardrey Kell (28)
2. R J Reynolds (29)
3. A L Brown (73)

11th GRADE WOMEN

Watauga place two harriers in the top 10 of the 11th grade race, No. 5 Lainey Johnston (13:26.37) and No. 8 Susanna Goff (13:45.35), among the 74 student athletes competing.

The race leaders were No. 1 Olivia Teeter of Mooresville (12:52.58), No. 2 Savannah Piazza of David Crockett HS (13:11.04), No. 3 Lorraine Hunter (unattached, 13:13.52), and No. 4 Ava Nutter of Daniel Boone HS (13:14.59).

11th Grade Women Team Scores:

1. William A. Hough (44)
2. West Henderson (51)
3. Ardrey Kell (54)
4. R J Reynolds (78)
5. East Rowan (105)

11TH GRADE MEN

Ahmn Byrd of Mooresville used a fast-closing sprint to capture the 11th Grade Men’s division, finishing in 10:28.90, just ahead of No. 2 Gavin Christian of Daniel Boone HS (10:36.41). R J Reynolds’ Colin Ehrman was only a second behind as No. 3 (10:37.95), with Adam Dreier of Ardrey Kell at No. 4 (10:45.95) and Clay Summers of R J Reynolds crossing the line at No. 5 (10:47.49).

Ninety (90) student athletes competed in the division, with James Bostrom (No. 11, 11:08.07) and Grady Gates (No. 16, 11:32.14) were the top Watauga finishers.

11th Grade Men Team Scores:

1. Daniel Boone HS (49)
2. Ardrey Kell (68)
3. West Stokes (104)
4. R J Reynolds (109)
5. Watauga (117)
6. Mooresville (141)
7. William A. Hough (148)
8. A L Brown (156)
9. East Rowan (224)

12th GRADE WOMEN

West Henderson’s Amron Rice was first to cross the finish line in the 12th Grade Women’s division, touring the 2-mile course in 12:16.64, well ahead of No. 2 Sadie Honeycutt (12:52.07, Daniel Boone HS) and Hannah Robinson of Providence Academy (13:02.50).

First across the line for Watauga in the No. 4 position was Janie Beach-Verhay, in 13:13.26. Because West Henderson, Daniel Boone, and Providence Academy did not have at least seven runners in this particular class, Beach-Verhay was scored No. 1 for team scoring.

12th Grade Women Team Scoring:

1. Ardrey Kell (37)
2. Watauga (43)
3. A C Reynolds (61)
4. David Crockett (78)

12th GRADE MEN

Daniel Boone HS’s Fisher Battel crossed the line No. 1 in the day’s final race, completing the course in 10:07.81, the fastest performance of the day. He was followed by Luke Vannoy (No. 2, 10:11.65, Oak Grove HS), Julian Coladonato (No. 3, 10:30.02, A C Reynolds HS), Hunter Creech (No. 4, 10:39.32, Oak Grove HS) and Aiden Edwards (No. 5, 10:39.97, Oak Grove HS).

With 80 runners competing, Watauga was led by Elliott Taft (No. 13, 11:11.58), Zeke Walker (No. 16, 11:21.18) and Calvin Zwetsloot (11:23.81).

12th Grade Men Team Scores:

1. Watauga (41)
2. Oak Grove (50)
3. Ardrey Kell (71)
4. William A. Hough (90)
5. West Cabarrus (111)
6. A L Brown (143)

Middle School Girls Top 30

Middle School Boys Top 30

Freshmen Women

Freshmen Men

Sophomore Women

Sophomore Men

Junior Women

Junior Men

Senior Women

Senior Men