News: Mideast Regional
2021
The Mideast Regional had a much different feel to it this year due to Covid-related limitations. Here is a sampling:
--Teams had to qualify from the conference meet toregionals to limit the number of runners.
--No fans were allowed this year.
--Boys and girls teams were split into two heats. Each heat was limited to 50 runners. The NCHSAA required each team champ and the top individual from each conference be in the fast heat. That meant that with 7 runners per team and a minimum of 3 individuals in the fast heat there could be at most 6 teams per heat.
--Results from both heats would be merged after the eventand the top 3 teams and 4 individuals would advance to the state meet. Normally it would be 5 teams advancing.
So here was how the day would unfold:
The boys were in the 2nd heat (which was the faster heat as they were the Tri-8 champs) and the race went off at 2:30. The boys had upset Cary in the conference meet, but knew Cary would be ready to battle for the team title. Heading into the race it appeared to be a3-team fight for the trophy as Cary and Pinecrest each had frontrunners, but Green Hope looked to use its strong pack to pull out the win. All 3 teams were expected to advance.
At the halfway point of the race, it did not appear that this would be Green Hope’s day as the normally strong pack was split up early and other teams went out hard. As the boys began to climb the big hill for the second and final time, though, it was clear that they had made a move over the second half of the race and the race would be decided in the last 500 meters. The boys fought up the hill and gave everything they had. A couple even set career PRs on a very blustery January day, but in the end Cary ran exceptionally well and edged the boys by 2pts (46-48). The boys were led by Luke Young (PR 16:15), Ben Cale (PR 16:18), Gavin Hansen (16:22), Jacob Kurak (16:40), and Kyle Davis-Isaac (16:53).
In the girls race, Panther Creek was the clear favorite followed by Apex and Holly Springs. Pinecrest had 3 strong runners up front, but appeared vulnerable due to their lack of depth. Green level edgedout GH in the conference meet and the two teams hoped to be ready in case any of the higher-ranked teams were to falter. The race was the final race of the day and the temperatures had dropped by the time the gun was fired. In fact,several minutes before the race began snow flurries would start and be joined by very high winds. The snow and worst of the wind did not last long, however, but the windchill made it feel very cold.
The girls have been dealing with some minor injuries that have cropped up in the last 2 weeks and several runners were impacted by the time the regional meet rolled around. One of the top 7 could not go due to injuries and others were hurting as they fought through the final stretch of the season. The girls gave it everything they had and looked to be in fairy good shape at the halfway point, but the injuries caught up to them and the team would finish 7th on the day. While this would mark the first time since 2001 that the girl’s team did not make the state meet as few of the girls had a really good day and they all gave everything they had. They were led by juniors Katie Foppiano (20:20), Reagan McDaniel (20:30) and Kaela Brandon (20:33). With no seniors in the top 5 and only 2 in the top 13 the girls are already thinking about next year and ready to put the work in to get back to the state meet.
The boys will race at the state meet on Friday January 22nd at Ivey Redmon Park in Kernersville. More info to come.