Green Hope Cross Country

The Mideast Regional meet was held on Saturday October 27^th at Wake Med Park after more than 24 hours of rainy and cold weather.  The course was a bit sloppy to say the least,but the Falcons were ready to go for it and try to earn a spot in the state meet on November 3^rd.  The Mideast Region is traditionally the toughest region in the state and has produced the past 10 girls 4A state champions and 9 of the past 10 boys 4As tate champions.  Green Hope was the host school for a busy day of racing at Wake Med with 8 total races and 4 regions at the Park. 

The boys race began at 9:30 in cold and wet conditions.  The top 5 teams in the entire state going into the race were in the Mideast Region, but the region was only allowed 4 bids to the state meet. That meant 1 (or more of the top 10 teams in the state would not be able to make the trip to Kernersville next weekend. This provided for a very competitive race for one of the 4 bids.  The boys were in the mix from the start asThomas Vo and Reed Blackman were just off the lead pack the 1^st time up the hill.  The boys were in a good position at the halfway mark, but it was obviously going to be a close team finish among the favorites.  Thomas Vo (6^th,15:39, 11 sec career PR) and Reed Blackman (9^th, 15:48, 1 sec career PR) paced the Falcons with 1^st team all-regional finishes.  Earning 2^nd team all region were Justin Polonio (11^th, 15:59, 38sec career PR), Spencer Cowley (15^th,16:13, 7 sec career PR), and Michael Taylor (20^th, 16:23, 16 sec career PR).  Seth Young (23^rd,16:24, 35 sec career PR) and Dillon Patel (29^th, 16:33, 18 sec careerPR) rounded out the top 7. 

Cary edged the Falcons for the team title (55-61), but the Falcons had a great day on the course as they beat out SWAC champ Panther Creek (64pts) and Cap-7 champ Cardinal Gibbons (67pts).  Outside of the top 4 qualifying teams from the region, the top 7 individuals not on one of those qualifying teams move on to the state meet.  For the 1^st time in the state’s history a team (Apex) will advance 5 or more individuals(6), which means Apex may have earned a “team” bid as well.  One thing is for sure, though.  The Mideast once again showed the power of the region on the boys side. 

The girls race went off at 10:30am and the girls were ready to battle for one of the top 4 spots. Cardinal Gibbons was the heavy favorite going in, but the girls wanted the runner-up trophy.   Coming up the big hill for the first time things did not look great as the girls were a bit further back than expected.  A lot can change, though, on the backside of the course at Wake med and the girls fought hard to the end.  In doing so they pickup up a lot of pts in the second half of the race.  Gibbons ranaway with the team title again, scoring a very low 24pts, but the girls (95pts)easily pulled out 2^nd place and brought home the trophy.  Apex (128pts) and Panther Creek (139pts) also advanced. 

Senior Bailey Fowler (9^th, 19:33) earned 1^st team all-region and Tess Davila (17^th, 20:05) 2^nd team all-region.  Freshman Ana Cubillo (22^nd,20:21, 22sec career PR), Kelsey Vogel (23^rd, 20:24), and senior Julie Tonon (24^th, 20:25, 26sec career PR) rounded out the scoring.  The girls were excited with their performance as it was a bit better than the conference week almost 2 weeks ago.  They are hoping for a top 5 finish at the state meet. 

Both teams will advance now to the state meet in Kernersville on November 3^rd. The Boys race at 10:30 and the Girls race at 11:30.