News: Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional
2013
The best teams and many of the top individuals from the southeastern U.S. descended upon Wake Med Soccer Park on Saturday, November 30, to run in the NXN Southeast Regional. It had been 4 weeks since 6 Green Hope girls ran in their last 5K and more than 6 weeks for 18 of the other 19 runners who would lace up their spikes Saturday. Green Hope runs in the postseason under the name Western Cary, as they must compete as a club team.
The day of racing began with the freshman-sophomore boy’s race and Green Hope had 6 boys running. Bryce Korabik (18:06) led the Falcons to a fourth place finish and 2 of the 6 boys set their season PR in the last race of the year in very cold conditions to start the day (22 degrees wind chill!).
The second race of the day was a girl’s race combining the girl’s open race with the girl’s freshman-sophomore race. Again, 2 of the 8 GH runners earned a new season PR in the race as the Falcons were led by Martina Savage (19:50) and Gillian Hagenus (20:04) and the Falcons pulled out a victory in the 9th-10th race with a perfect score of 15 pts.
The most-anticipated race of the day was the girl’s championship race. The top 2 teams and the top 5 individuals not on one of those two teams would earn an all-expense paid 5 night trip to Portland, Oregon, to compete in the NXN nationals next Saturday. The Falcons entered a team of 7 girls and 4 individuals in the race. It was not one of the best team races for the girls this year, but running against some of the top teams from the southeast region the 15th-ranked (in the U.S.) Falcons still managed to squeak out a 3rd place finish (out of 22 teams) behind Assumption (KY) and Blacksburg (VA). Elly Henes (17:48) went out with the front pack and led off and on during the race before finishing 3rd to earn one of the individual bids to Portland, joining the 2010 team and Erica Amatori in 2011 to earn a trip. Congrats to Elly and best of luck to her next weekend!
Overall it was quite a year for the Falcons (and a long one that started in early June) and everyone has a lot to be proud of. Thanks to all of the runners and coaches for their hard work and best of luck to everyone in winter and spring track. GHXC!