Sep 2

Sep 2 South Lenoir Sweeps Cross Country Meet, Vernon and Ramos Gutierrez Take Individual Wins

South Lenoir Sweeps Cross Country Meet, Vernon and Ramos Gutierrez Take Individual Wins

South Lenoir controlled both varsity races in a cross country meet featuring Trask and Clinton, sweeping the boys and girls team championships while also producing both individual winners.

On the boys side, South Lenoir was dominant from the start, placing the first seven runners across the finish line.

Senior Wesley Vernon led the way with a winning time of 19:43. He was followed by teammate Yael Ramirez-Rico, who finished second in 20:17, and Jack Rouse, who took third in 20:55.

John Jones finished fourth in 21:21, while Silas Rigsbee rounded out South Lenoir’s five scoring runners with a fifth-place finish in 22:01.

Carlos Marte Burgos and Alfredo Limon Howard followed in sixth and seventh, respectively, giving the Blue Devils a complete sweep of the top seven spots.

South Lenoir finished with a perfect team score of 15, well ahead of second-place Trask with 54 points and Clinton with 73.

The Blue Devils’ top five combined for a total time of 1:44:17 and an average of 20:51.40.

South Lenoir also came away with the victory in the varsity girls race.

Senior Valeria Ramos Gutierrez captured the individual championship, finishing the 5,000-meter course in 24:26. Clinton’s Rubi Davila placed second in 24:55, while South Lenoir senior Alexa Haro finished third in 25:09.

The Blue Devils added two more top-six finishes with Evelyn Garcia taking fourth in 28:05 and Valerie Valdivia finishing sixth in 29:59.

Kadence Thiagpen placed 11th in 34:19 to complete South Lenoir’s scoring five.

South Lenoir finished first in the girls team standings with 25 points. Trask was second with 43, while Clinton finished third with 52.

The Blue Devils recorded a total team time of 2:21:58 with an average of 28:23.60.

Woodington controlled the middle school boys 3,000-meter race, sweeping the first four positions. Kade Burkett won the event in 15:04, followed by Quinn Hardy in 16:54, Caiden Hardy in 17:31 and Casey Page in 19:38.