By David Rogers. TAYLORSVILLE, N.C. — It is just the beginning of the 2025 high school cross country season in the High Country but the Watauga Pioneers seem to have returned to dominant form in the new 6A/7A Northwestern Conference.
In the Aug. 11 NWC Triple Threat meet, the Pioneer men and women exceeded expectations in both times and finishing places.
The “Triple Threat” event is unique in that it is 5K of running — but broken into three separate races, each separated by 5-10 minutes. The three segments are 1-mile, a half-mile, and then a 1.5 mile run to finish things.
According to Pioneer assistant coach Scott Townsend, all the men start each segment, with the women starting 30 seconds later. Then, once the final women’s harrier has completed the segment, there is a five to seven minute break and the next segment starts.
“The race was held on the campus of Alexander Central and multiple terrain changes from grass, to trail to track,” explained Townsend.
Head coach Randy McDonough was pleased with what he saw.
“The kids really showed up today,” said McDonough. “The times most of the kids ran are times we hoped for at the end of the year. We are pretty excited about our chances this year.”
As usual, the Pioneers have a big contingent of runners this year, pushing each other as well as themselves. Some are in it to win, others for the camaraderie, and still more for their personal development when you talk to them individually.
In the Women’s 1.5 Mile race, Watauga had 37 student athletes competing, compared to St. Stephens with nine, McDowell with one, Alexander Central with three, Freedom with 13, and South Caldwell with three.
Watauga swept the first five places at the 1.5 Mile distance, led by Cali Townsend (No. 1), Janie Beach-Verhay (2), Josie Mayo (3), Lilly Kimbrough (4), and Nora Price (5). After St. Stephens’ Jade Gonzalez-Cardenas crossed the finish line at No. 6, Watauga captured the next four spots with Lainey Johnston (7), Sophia Stull (8), Susanna Goff (9) and Sydney Townsend (10). All in all, the Pioneers captured 17 of the top 25 finishing positions in the Women’s 1.5 Mile segment.
In the Men’s 1.5 Mile segment, Watauga swept the first six spots, led by James Bostrom (No. 1), Sean Rea (2), Zeke Walker (3), Grady Gates (4), Elliott Taft (5), and James Isaac (6). In total, the Pioneers took 12 of the top 25 places, with Cormac Walker, Brian Newmark, Levi Anderson, AJ McAulay, Parker Williams and Caleb Duvall rounding out the leading two dozen.
In the Women’s 1-Mile segment, Watauga swept the first six spots, with Townsend, Beach-Verhay, Kimbrough, Johnston, Mayo and Price capturing the honors. Again, the Pioneers were overwhelmingly dominant in taking 15 of the top 25 places.
In the Men’s 1-Mile run, South Caldwell upset Watauga in the team standings, thanks to a first place finish by the Spartans’ Bryce Corpening. Watauga nonetheless finished second, with nine runners in the top 25, led by Bostrom (No. 2), Rea (7), Gates (8), Zeke Walker (9), Taft (10), Anderson (13), Newmark (16), James (17) and McAulay (25).
In the Women’s Half-Mile, Watauga took the seven of the top 10 spots, including Townsend (No. 1), Beach-Verhay (3), Mayo (4), Johnston (5), Kimbrough (6), Price (7) and Stull (10). The Pioneers took team first place honors, including 14 of the top 25 finishers.
In the Men’s Half-Mile race, the Pioneers captured nine of the top 25 spots, led by Bostrom (No. 1), Zeke Walker (8), Gates (9), Newmark (12), Rea (15), Anderson (16), Taft (17), James (18) and McAulay (20).
The Pioneers’ assistant coach, Scott Townsend, put the early season performance into perspective.
“We performed well and have positioned ourselves for a great season,” said Townsend. “We measured up well against the conference competition and many of our student-athletes, when their times were compiled, are hitting their season goal times in just week 3 of the season. The summer work is paying off and both the women’s and men’s teams are poised to finish well at the regional and state levels.
“MileSplit NC has recently ranked the our women’s team No. 18 out of all classifications in North Carolina and No. 3 in the 6A class. The men’s team is projected as No. 5 in 6A based on last year’s returners. So we have work to do, but love where we are this early in the season.”
Next up for the Pioneer harriers is “Class of the Classes” on Saturday, Aug. 16, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Watauga High School home course, starting below the Football Stadium, down the gravel road to the starting field and to the Greenway.
