South Lenoir and Greene Central Excel at NCHSAA 3A East Regional Cross Country Meet
South Lenoir and Greene Central Excel at NCHSAA 3A East Regional Cross Country Meet
The NCHSAA 3A East Regional Cross Country Meet, held on October 26, 2025, at the Kinston Fairgrounds, featured standout performances from South Lenoir and Greene Central in the women’s and men’s 5K races. With the top five teams and the top seven individuals not on qualifying teams advancing to the NCHSAA 3A State Championships on October 31 in Kernersville, South Lenoir secured team qualifications, while Greene Central’s Colby Kaminski earned an individual state berth. South Lenoir’s men, ranked 5th in 3A, and women, ranked 12th, solidified their contender status, while Greene Central’s men, ranked 31st, showed promise.
Women’s Race: South Lenoir Punches State Ticket
Wake Prep Academy dominated the women’s 5K, scoring 17 points behind Sarah Reynolds’ winning time of 19:32.28. South Lenoir, ranked 12th in 3A, finished third with 89 points, earning a state championship berth as one of the top five teams.
Alexa Haro led South Lenoir, taking sixth in 22:49.63, securing five team points and an individual state qualification. Valeria Ramos Gutierrez placed 10th (23:29.10), followed by Sage Jones (21st, 25:02.99), Evelyn Garcia (23rd, 25:15.66), Skyler Day (29th, 25:52.13), Valerie Valdivia (36th, 27:05.95), and Kadence Thigpen (41st, 28:13.03). The Blue Devils outscored Goldsboro (105 points) and Midway High School (117 points) but trailed Heide Trask (77 points).
Greene Central’s lone runner, Arely Patino, finished 31st in 25:56.47. Without enough runners for a team score, Greene Central did not qualify as a team, and Patino’s placement fell short of the top seven for individual qualification.
Men’s Race: South Lenoir Secures Second, Kaminski Qualifies
Farmville Central’s Gavan Hartman won the men’s 5K in 16:44.41, but Wake Prep Academy topped the team standings with 44 points. South Lenoir, ranked 5th in 3A, took second with 56 points, securing a state championship berth.
Wesley Vernon led South Lenoir, finishing fourth in 18:07.40, earning three team points and an individual qualification. Jack Rouse placed eighth (18:22.62), followed by Kole Burkett (11th, 18:35.89), James Miller (17th, 18:57.23), Jamison Gautier (18th, 19:11.62), Yael Ramirez-Rico (19th, 19:12.67), and Adam Garcia (24th, 19:24.73). Their depth surpassed Spring Creek (94 points) and Heide Trask (112 points).
Greene Central, ranked 31st in 3A, finished eighth with 197 points, missing team qualification. Colby Kaminski led the Rams, placing 11th in 18:34.62, earning an individual state qualification as one of the top seven runners from non-qualifying teams. He was followed by Jan Morales (40th, 21:19.63), Clayton Little (42nd, 21:48.56), Vann Howley (48th, 22:40.28), and Coiln Mersman (58th, 24:52.42).
State Championship Outlook
South Lenoir’s men (5th in 3A) and women (12th in 3A) head to Kernersville as strong contenders, with their depth—multiple runners in the top 30 at regionals—positioning them to challenge teams like Wake Prep Academy. Greene Central’s Colby Kaminski will compete individually, carrying the Rams’ hopes and highlighting their potential for future seasons.
The Kinston Fairgrounds meet showcased Lenoir County’s cross country talent. South Lenoir’s team qualifications and individual standouts, paired with Kaminski’s state berth for Greene Central, set the stage for a competitive NCHSAA 3A State Championships.
