By David Rogers. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Having all five of your top runners of record complete a 5,000 meters cross country course among the top 50 finishers is a sure way to have a strong team showing when all is said and done. For Watauga in the NCHSAA 4A West Regionals at McAlpine Park, that is what both the men’s and women’s teams achieved on Oct. 28.
MEN’S DIVISION
Led by Pioneer junior Will Bradbury returning to form and capturing the No. 7 spot among 130 harriers in Men’s Division final of the 4A West regional meet, Watauga finished No. 7 in the team standing Removing the runners who did not have enough teammate participation to count as the required 5-man team, the Pioneer team scorers included at No. 7 (Bradbury) – No. 17 (Sam Nixon) – No. 31 (Calvin Zwetsloot) – No. 38 (Jonah Norris) – and No. 44 (Elliott Taft). Even the two alternatives embraced the top 50, including Sam Rex (No. 47), and Collin Anderson (No. 51).
Out of the 17 teams in the men’s division, Ardrey Kell swept the top two places, with senior Raghav Gopalakrishnan and junior Joey Joseph Wells taking top honors ahead of Kevin Cordero (T C Roberson), Will Fiore (T C Roberson) and Logah Hill (Charlotte Catholic) finishing ahead of Bradbury. Not even a full half-minute separated the seven racers. Gopalakrishnan’s first place time was 15:41.62 while Bradbury crosse the line in 16:14.59
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Watauga didn’t have a full contingent of seven student athletes (five scoring plus two alternates) in this race, but the six representing the Pioneers all ran among the top 38 team finishers, including No. 11 (Janie Beach-Verhay) – No. 19 (Rachel Cathey) – No. 24 (Lainey Johnston) – No. 25 (Winter Shaw) – No. 36 (Sydney Cate Townsend) and alt No. 38 (Ellary Smith).
A senior and a sophomore led Myers Park to the team title. Mary Bonner Dalton, the senior, claimed top individual honors in 18:15.39, roughly 45 seconds ahead of her young teammate. Ardreu Kell, T C. Roberson, and Charlotte Catholic rounded out the top four teams ahead of Watauga.
