By David Rogers. KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — With 175 of North Carolina’s best high school cross country athletes competing, Watauga finished with three women harriers in the top 48 scorers, including freshman Cali Townsend at No. 8, senior Annabelle Stewart at No. 22, and junior Janie Beach-Verhay at No. 48.
Sofi Alexander, a junior at Asheville, topped the field, running the 5,000 meters’ distance in 18:01.23. Townsend was one of three freshmen finishing in the top eight, including Ragsdale’s Elle Dawson (No. 2, 18:02.74) and Cuthbertson’s Colby McCollum (No. 5, 18:13.90). At No. 8, Townsend was less than 15 seconds behind the leader, finishing in 18:16.09.
The other two Watauga scorers were freshman Lily Kimbrough (No. 99, 20:58.61) and sophomore Susanna Goff (No. 127, 21:49.58).
Other Pioneers competing included sophomore Josephine Walker and sophomore Lainey Johnston.
As a team, the Watauga athletes’ five top scores earned them No. 12 out of the 22 full teams in the 4A class, headed by Cardinal Gibbons, Cuthbertson and Marvin Ridge.
