Prep Cross Country -- Warriors win meet as Cougars run for first time

By Gabe Whisnant
Published in Sports on September 15, 2004 1:56 PM

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Cool, breezy conditions led to low times across the board and a group of pleased coaches and runners on Tuesday afternoon after a four-team cross-country meet at Eastern Wayne.

Paced by Will Collins' impressive 16:42, the Warrior boys claimed their meet with 17 points, while Aycock took second with 50 points. Michael Scott led the Golden Falcons with an 18:19 -- good for fourth.

"I was impressed with the times. Will is already running the 16s," Eastern Wayne boys coach Vince Beasley said. "With the cool weather ... We've been close to times like this before, but probably not this early in the season."

In the girls meet, Eastern Wayne took the first four spots and had five runners in the top ten on its way to 18 team points. Leslie Lewis won the girls meet with a 21:49. Aycock, who had four top-ten finishers, took second with 38 points.

Goldsboro coach Maxine Carr's girls team didn't figure in the girls team scoring with just four runners and the boys took fourth, but Carr walked away as thrilled as anyone.

It was the Cougar's first cross country meet in school history.

"One of my goals when I got to Goldsboro two years ago was to start a cross country team," Carr said. "It's a joy to coach this group of kids. It's all about teamwork. Nobody leaves anybody behind."

Goldsboro's Danielle Irby (26:20) finished 10th in the girls meet and proved to be the Cougars' highest finisher of the afternoon. Goldsboro's Adrian Lewis (20:44) took 16th in the boys meet as the Cougars finished with 105 team points.

Southern Wayne finished third in the boys as freshman Allen Bennett led the Saints with a 19:39, claiming eighth place. Southern Wayne finished with 82 team points. The Saints girls had just two runners and did not figure in the team scoring.

Eastern Wayne's Matt Interrante (17:00), Michael Lawrence (17:33) finished second and third, respectively. Drew Ziccardi (18:40), Justin Benel (18:42), Matt Vogt (19:03), Steven Hendricks (19:55) and Joey Burridge (20:01) also claimed top-ten times.

Aycock took positions 11-through-15 with David Williams, Alan Toler, Dalton Denning, Brogden Hines and Travis Reeves all running under 20:33.

"I was impressed with our runners. Most of them were on their best times," Aycock boys coach Derek Matthews said. "Eastern Wayne was flying. They got eight in the top ten under 19 minutes. I think it pushed our guys running Eastern Wayne."

Kylie Justo (23:13) led the Falcon girls with a fifth-place finish as teammates Abby Caplinger (23:21) and Danielle Sealey (25:38) took sixth and seventh. Angel Keers claimed ninth for Aycock with a 26:00.

Warrior girls coach Jan Metlzer was pleased to see her team -- still hobbled with injuries -- come through with good times and a solid team win.

"Almost every girl improved her time, some close to two minutes," Eastern Wayne girls coach Jan Metlzer said. "I think a lot of it is a result of this weather we had."

Brittany Ham (22:32), Natalie Taylor (22:59) and April Vinson (23:04) finished right behind Lewis for the Warrior girls.

Girls meet

Eastern Wayne 18, C.B. Aycock 38, Goldsboro N/A, Southern Wayne N/A

1. Leslie Lewis (EW) 21:49

2. Brittany Ham (EW) 22:32

3. Natalie Taylor (EW) 22:59

4. April Vinson (EW) 23:04

5. Kylie Justo (CBA) 23:13

6. Abby Caplinger (CBA) 23:21

7. Danielle Sealey (CBA) 25:38

8. Donna Mumer (EW) 25:40

9. Angel Keerbs (CBA) 26:00

10. Danielle Irby (GHS) 26:20

23. Heather Fields (SW) 32:25

Boys meet

Eastern Wayne 17, C.B. Aycock 50, Southern Wayne 82, Goldsboro 105

1. Will Collins (EW) 16:42

2. Matt Interrante (EW) 17:00

3. Michael Lawrence (EW) 17:33

4. Michael Scott (CBA) 18:19

5. Drew Ziccardi (EW) 18:40

6. Justin Bernel (EW) 18:42

7. Matt Vogt (EW) 19:03

8. Allen Bennett (SW) 19:39

9. Steven Hendricks (EW) 19:55

10. Joey Burridge (EW) 20:01

16. Adrian Lewis (GHS) 20:44