Watauga harriers sweep Northwestern Conference XC meet team titles

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — It was one of those “Chamber of Commerce” autumn days in the High Country and if you were a fan of long distance running or one of the more than 150 harriers competing in the Northwestern 6A/7A Conference Cross Country Championships on Oct. 14, conditions (and setting) could not have been more favorable.

While the Watauga High School women’s cross country team may well have thrown down a gauntlet: making a statement they will be a team to beat for the 6A West Regionals and the 6A state championships, the Pioneers were also near perfect in winning the Men’s Division conference title. Both races were hosted by Watauga.

South Caldwell’s Bryce Corpening (No. 1, 17:30.41) and McDowell senior Dawson Spath (No. 5, 17:48.67) were the only runners preventing the Pioneer men’s runners from sweeping the top 12 finishing spots. Senior Zeke Walker (No. 2, 17:30.42), senior Calvin Zwetsloot (No. 3, 17:45.69) and senior Levi Anderson (No. 4, 17:47.63) led a brigade of Pioneers, including senior Elliott Taft (No. 6), junior Brian Newmark (No. 7), freshman Jonah Pearson (No. 8), junior Grady Gates (No. 9), sophomore Sean Rea (No. 10), junior James Bostrom (No. 11), senior Holden Womak (No. 12) and junior Isaac James (No. 14).

A total of 77 student athletes competed in the Men’s Division from the six Northwestern Conference member teams. Of that number, almost half (32) were Watauga team members.

Men’s Team Scores:

1. Watauga (22 points)
2. St. Stephens (83)
3. Freedom (98)
4. Alexander Central (99)
5. South Caldwell (110)
6. McDowell (122)

Townsend Dominates Women’s Division

Ninety-three harriers competed in the Women’s Division, but Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend finished a little more than minute ahead of the No. 2 runner, Watauga’s rising freshman star, Josie Mayo. Senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 3), sophomore Lily Kimbrough (No. 4), freshman Sophia Stull (No. 5), junior Lainey Johnston (No. 6) and junior Susanna Goff (No. 7) completed the Pioneers’ sweep of the top seven runners to cross the finish line of the 5,000-Meters course.

Including Sydney Townsend (No. 9), Nora Price (No. 10), Vivian Hans (No. 11), Josephine Walker (No. 14), Riley Benson (No. 16), Zoey Stille (No. 17), Bailey Collins (No. 19) and Ayla Crawley (No. 20), Watauga had 15 of the top 20 finishers in the Women’s Division.

Watauga was represented by 42 student athletes in the women’s division.

Team Scores

1. Watauga (15 points)
2. St. Stephens (54)
3. Freedom (96)
4. McDowell (111)
5. Alexander Central (112)
6. South Caldwell (171)

Top 25, Men’s Division

Top 25, Women’s Division