ECC cross country
By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on September 29, 2011 1:48 PM
Cross country is not usually the most viewer-friendly sport on the high school athletics docket during the fall season.
Wednesday's Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference meet at Eastern Wayne proved to be the exception to the rule as Cleveland's Jarrett Hayes stole the show with a blistering time that left the field well in his wake. The Rams' junior leader finished the course at Little Big Horn in 17 minutes and 44 seconds. Nearly two full minutes ahead of the second place runner.
Despite Hayes' victory the Rams could not overtake Charles B. Aycock in the team standings. The Golden Falcons claimed the team event with 31 points. Eastern Wayne tallied 49 points and Cleveland finished with 55.
"I am really happy with how our runners are progressing," C.B. Aycock head coach Sheila Covar said. "Both our boys and our girls have made significant improvements already this season."
Marvin Alexander paced the Golden Falcons with a time of 20:18 and finished in third place. Austin Walker finished fourth overall 11 seconds behind his teammate. Jordan Lee (22:10), Charlie Robertson (22:27) and Ryan Grant (23:00) rounded out the Golden Falcons' team total.
Warren Kirkwood's time of 19:38 seconds was good enough for second place individually to pace Eastern Wayne. Tim Cooper (21:49), Jeremy Murray (23:28), Darian Applewhite (23:48) and Devin Locklear (24:10) completed the Warriors' team score.
The team standings were identical on the girls' side of the stat sheet as C.B. Aycock amassed 21 points and took home first place. Eastern Wayne (54) finished just ahead of Cleveland (63).
Cheyenne Warrick set the pace individually for the Golden Falcons with a first place effort of 23:52. Teammate Chloee Lamb ran second in 24:40. Cady Sheeks (25:36), Myra Waheed (26:04) and Kennedy Perkins (26:21) completed the team total for C.B. Aycock.
"The girls have been running really well the past two or three meets," Covar said. "I am looking forward to getting some days when it isn't as hot and humid to see what they are really capable of running."
Ashley Ames led Eastern Wayne with a third place finish in 25:22. Christy Interrante (28:35), Patricia Malcolm (29:11), Cameron Foster (31:03) and Alex Davis (31:04) completed the Warriors' tally.
Eastern Wayne will run again on Oct. 5 at Triton. C.B. Aycock will host its only meet of the season the same day.