North Carolina State Meet

Hoggard Snaps Cardinal Gibbons' 4A Girls Win Streak

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

It was a historic afternoon for the Hoggard girls cross country team. By placing three runners in the top 20, and all five in the top 35, Hoggard scored 87 points to claim the 4A title at the North Carolina State High School Cross Country Championships at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernerville.

Hoggard became the first team from the Wilmington area to win a NCHSAA cross country title. Hoggard's win also snapped Cardinal Gibbons' streak of nine straight titles, which included four consecutive 4A crowns. The individual winner in the 4A race was Pinecrest junior Carmen Alder, who clocked 17:58.84. It was Alder's second straight title.

Broughton won the 4A boys team title with 68 points. All five scoring runners on the team finished in the top 24. Senior Ian Harrison of Panther Creek ran the fastest time of the day to claim the win in 15:25.58.

With a runner-up finish from senior Gabriella Castro (18:01.18), Cuthbertson easily repeated as the 3A state champion. All fiver scorers finished in the top 25. North Iredell's Jonna Strange won the race 17:57.85, clocking the fastest time of the day among the girls.

Senior Avery Cannon of Watauga won the boys 3A individual title in 15:39, while Chapel Hill had three runners in the top 15 to score 61 points and edge out defending champions Weddington (77 points). 

Despite a 1-2 finish from North Lincoln, Angie Allen (18:42.23) and Alyssa Galvin (18:53.91), Carrboro was able to defend its 2A crown going 5-8-9-10 and placing all five runners place in the top 15 to score 38 points.

Senior Jason Thomson led North Lincoln to another 2A title as he won the race in 15:40.66.

The girls 1A crown was claimed by Research Triangle with 67 points. Three runners finished in the top six. Senior Abigail Hemric of North Stokes repeated as state champ in 19:19.17.

The Lincoln Charter boys defended the 1A title with five runners placing in the top 20 to score 42 points. Franklin Academy junior Aaron Rovank won the race in 16:05.97.

Team Champions

Class 4A: Broughton boys 68 points; Hoggard girls 87 points

Class 3A: Chapel Hill boys 61 points; Cuthbertson girls 67 points

Class 2A: North Lincoln boys 44 points; Carrboro girls 38 points

Class 1A: Lincoln Charter boys 42 points; Research Triangle girls 67 points