By David Rogers. MILL SPRINGS, N.C. — All seven members of the Watauga men’s cross country team finished in the top 50 of a field featuring 105 of western North Carolina’s best on Oct. 25, all helping to power the Pioneers to a No. 6 team finish in the NCHSAA 6A West Regional Cross Country Championships. The race was staged on the 5K Bridge Course of the Tryon Equestrian Center.
Among the 105 harriers competing there were 14 qualifying teams and a smattering of individual entries (where schools did not have enough entries to make up a full scoring team).
Whit Longhurst of Mount Tabor finished No. 1, his time of 16:02.7 almost 14 second ahead of the No. 2 competitor from Asheville, Asa Mehler (16:16.6).
The Northwestern 6A/7A Conference was well represented in the top 10 with South Caldwell’s Bryce Corpening coming in at No. 7.
Watauga’s Zeke Walker and Grady Gates were the No. 16 and No. 17 finishers with Jonah Pearson at No. 22, Sean Rea at No. 28, Levi Anderson at No. 37, Calvin Zwetsloot at No. 38 and Parker Williams at No. 44.
The Watauga team now looks ahead to the NCHSAA 6A State Cross Country Championships in Kernersville, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m., at the Redmon Sports Complex.
