Cardinal Gibbons\' Girls One of NC\'s Best Ben Hovis Oct 10, 2007

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The Cardinal Gibbons' girls cross country team has proved to be one of the best in North Carolina over the past couple weeks. With their dominate win at the Greensboro Invitational over Chapel Hill and Science Hill (TN), and then their performance at Wendy's this past weekend, they may even be the best.

 

The NCRunners.com Team Standings has them ranked 1st, 10 pts ahead of 3A state favorite, TC Roberson. Whether they are ranked 1st or 2nd in the state, they look more than ready to defend their 2A state title. 

Mooresville & East Forsyth Take on Some of Region\'s Best Ben Hovis Sep 28, 2007

Mooresville is now receiving votes in the Southeast NTN Poll which puts them close to one of their goals. They would like to be ranked eventually and this weekend is a step in that direction.

 

East Forsyth is led by Patrick Crawford who recently ran 16:35 at the Wolfpack Inviational. Following him is Dylan Ferris, the nation's #2 800m runner from last year. This team could be dangerous, but it may not be until Regionals and States. 

NCISAA Preview Meet Recap Ben Hovis Sep 26, 2007

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The NCISAA Preview Meet at McAlpine Park featured most of the top ranked private school teams in the state. All the teams in the NCISAA will head back to McAlpine in one month, October 26th, and do this all over again . . . for a state title. The main difference then is that teams will be competing in their classifications and not all together.

 

Adrianne Soo of Durham Academy and Clay Sankey of Providence Day won the Varsity races. Right now they are the top two ranked private school runners in North Carolina. 

 

Results: JV Girls | JV Boys | Varsity Girls | Varsity Boys

Photo Galleries: JV Girls | JV Boys | Varsity Girls | Varsity Boys 

Greensboro Invitational Preview Ben Hovis Sep 25, 2007

Sixty-four high school teams and eighteen college teams will head to Hagan Stone Park this weekend for the Greensboro Invitational. Teams from Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina will all hit up the mostly wooded course. Hagan Stone is not the most spectator friendly course, but it is a favorite of a lot of runners. The course is relatively rolling the entire way and winds mostly through the woods before hitting grass for the final 800 meters. Times are often similar to the well-known McAlpine Park as there are a number of downhills. Attack them and you’ll possibly run a new personal best.

NCRunners\' All-Classification Coaches Poll Ben Hovis Sep 24, 2007

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Coaches have been voting all season on the top 10 in each classification . . . here is the first All-Classification coaches poll.

 

Coaches voted on the top 15 boys and girls teams regardless of classification. The season is about halfway over with, so this seemed like good timing. The 2nd All-Classification poll will come out after the state meets are over in November.

NCISAA teams to Crowd McAlpine on Wednesday Ben Hovis Sep 22, 2007

\"\"This year’s NCISAA state meet is at McAlpine Park on October 26th. The CISAA coaches were receiving many emails from various teams asking if they could come run in one of the CISAA conference meets. As we, the CISAA coaches, put our heads together, we decided to host the first ever NCISAA Preview Meet.

This meet has exploded and is going to be quite an event for a Wednesday at McAlpine Park. There are 23 full teams registered and one team sending an individual, so there will be 24 teams represented at the meet. As you guess, this is a lot of athletes as well. There are approximately 575 set to run one of the 4 planned races.

Taylor, Spano Win at Charlotte Invitational Ben Hovis Sep 22, 2007

Will Taylor of Sun Valley and Kimberly Spano are used to winning. Spano has not only won the Freedom Invitational, the Providence Invitational, and now the Charlotte Invitational, but she is last year's 4A defending state champion. Taylor recently won the Union County Champioships, the Varsity Race at the Seahawk Invitational, and like Spano won the Providence Invitational.

 

Both athletes are running extremely well at this point in the season and should be among the favorites in their classifications, Spano in 4A and Taylor in 3A.

Adidas Raleigh Wolfpack Invitational Recap Ben Hovis Sep 16, 2007

\"\"This was hyped to be quite a showdown on the boy’s side. Western Albemarle(VA) just received the #3 ranking in the Southeast for the NTN Regional Poll. Broughton and Enloe both were named to the honorable mention list. Then of course you had Chapel Hill, who had represented the SE region at NTN for the last 2 years.

 

The girl’s Championship Race looked to be a battle from two teams from Chapel Hill, East Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill. East Chapel Hill was coming off a very good performance at last week’s Seahawk Invitational, finishing 3rd.

 

Results

Photo Gallery - photos taken by CH parent, Arne Johnson 

Coach Ron Olsen's Recap

 

Wolfpack Invitational Preview Ben Hovis Sep 12, 2007

The Adidas Wolfpack invitational looks to be very competitive on both the boys and girls sides.

 

Western Albemarle, of Virginia, is making the trip down and they will meet up with the top 3 ranked 4A boy's teams in the state. it doesn't get much better than that. The individual race should also be a good one as you have two athletes coming off course record setting performances from last week. Both breaking records that were set by Foot Locker Finalists!

 

Chapel Hill's girls will look to prove they belong at the top of the 4A classification. They may have their hands full with the #4 ranked team, East Chapel Hill, the top ranked NCISAA school in Cary Academy, and a couple other 4A schools looking to improve their rankings, Apex & Terry Sanford.  

 

Race assignments

Patrick Campbell Racing With Confidence Ben Hovis Sep 11, 2007

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Mooresville's Patrick Campbell has had an outstanding start to the 2007 XC season. First off, he's the #1 runner on the #1 ranked 3A team in North Carolina. Mooresville won it's first state title in school history last year and looks more than ready to win their 2nd in a row.

Patrick Campbell Racing With Confidence Ben Hovis Sep 10, 2007

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Mooresville's Patrick Campbell has had an outstanding start to the 2007 XC season. First off, he's the #1 runner on the #1 ranked 3A team in North Carolina. Mooresville won it's first state title in school history last year and looks more than ready to win their 2nd in a row.

 

Patrick has run two major races so far and he's finished 3rd in both. Who's beaten him you may ask? Ryan Hill of Hickory has beaten him twice. Hill was the Foot Locker South champion last year as well as the 3A state champ. He has also lost to Taylor Gilland who was one of the top sophomores in the country last year. Finally, the 3rd athlete he has lost to was Luke Lovelace of SC, who also qualified for the Foot Locker finals last year.

 

I'd say that's pretty good company! 

Rules are there for a reason! Ben Hovis Sep 09, 2007

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I have seen some of crazy things already in the 2007 season. I'm amazed at how many coaches, athletes, and parents don't seem to know one simple rule . . .

 

The NFHS sets rules that need to be followed. Grab a rule book and make sure you are familiar with the XC rules. 

North Carolina - Weekend of 9/8 Ben Hovis Sep 08, 2007

EYE OPENER QUICK STATS: Ryan Hill wins. Mooresville's boys win easily. Roberson's girls take 3rd. Graham Davis wins Invite Race.

 

WILMINGTON QUICK STATS: Nick Graw runs away in last mile. Broughton's boys win, Enloe 2nd. Providence girls defeat Durham School of Arts by 3. Andie Cozzarelli wins,  19:00. Will Taylor wins Varsity boys while Middle Creek takes team title. Danielle Hobbs wins Varsity girls and Providence Day girls take team win by 1 pt. over Sherando(VA).

 

DURHAM ACADEMY QUICK STATS: Both boy's and girl's course records fall. Taylor Gilland runs 16:00 all alone and Michelle Lutz runs 18:45. 2nd places were 16:55 and 20:01. Chapel Hill wins both races.

 

Photos courtesty of Keith Driggers, SCRUNNERS.com

Adidas Seahawk Invitational Boys Preview Ben Hovis Sep 05, 2007

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Seahawk Invitational Features Best in NC

Of course some of North Carolina’s top runners & teams will be elsewhere this weekend, but wait until you see who is running at UNCW.

** Important Note: The boy’s preview was written prior to the race assignments being released. Assignments will be out tomorrow as well as the girl’s preview.
 

 

2007 Jungle Run Preview Ben Hovis Aug 31, 2007

\"\"The 2007 Jungle Run looks like a preview of the 4A East Regional. Look for a fun night with some solid racing coming from Saturday night's races. NCRUNNERS.com will be in attendance, taking video of all the races.

 

Photo from the 2006 Jungle Run, taken by Ben Hovis, webmaster, NCRUNNERS.com 

 

 

NCRUNNERS.com Cross Country Coaches Poll-8/28/07 Ben Hovis Aug 28, 2007

\"\"After the first weekend of XC meets, coaches have changed some of their votes. Enloe & Green Hope looked very good in their meets. Mooresville couldn't move up but looked outstanding at WNC. TC Roberson may be the girl's team to beat in NC this year. Owen . . . 2nd place at WNC, look out. South View is much improved, and the list goes on and on.

 

Check out the newest installment of the NCRUNNERS.com Cross Country Coaches Poll.

Teams turn in fine 3k\'s at the Kickoff Classic Ben Hovis Aug 26, 2007

 

There was a 3rd meet this past weekend. It was held at SAS Soccer Complex and hosted by Apex HS. Many of the Raleigh area teams took part and they turned in find performances.

 

Check out the breakdown of the top teams.       

 

WNC CC Carnival Sees New Course Record Ben Hovis Aug 25, 2007

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Some of the state's finest runners competed at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, NC. Ryan Hill and Taylor Gilland took down the old course record set by ex-NC stud, Jack Bolas.

 

Check out the videos!

 

Heather Beichner won the girl's championship race with a fine time, just over 19:00.

 

Mooresville's boys mean business this season, that's been proven! 

Providence Invite Entries - 8/25 Ben Hovis Aug 20, 2007

 

The Providence Invite is highlighted by Mauldin (SC), who is ranked 5th in the SE Preseason NTN poll. Look for fast times from this meet despite it being early season. It's at McAlpine!