By David Rogers. KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — With all five scoring members of the Watauga Women’s Cross Country team finishing in the Top 25 out of 139 student athletes competing in the NCHSAA 6A State Cross Championships, the Pioneers ran away with the state title on Nov. 1.
All six members of the team, including only one backup, completed the 5K Run at the Redmon Sports Complex among the Top 33. The team score of 64 easily beat the team runner-up, East Chapel Hill (82) and the No. 3, Middle Creek (107).
While senior Georgy Helmers of E.E. Smith HS (Fayetteville) won individual honors (17:21.40), followed by Asheville senior Sofi Alexander at No. 2 (17:30.41) and sophomore Elle Dawson of Ragsdale (Jamestown) at No. 3 (17:35.07), Watauga sophomore Cali Townsend’s No. 4 (18:15.46) finish led a brigade of Pioneers, including freshman Josie Mayo (No. 9, 19:00.77), sophomore Lilly Kimbrough (No. 14, 19:32.68), senior Janie Beach-Verhay (No. 21, 19:55.96) and junior Lainey Johnston (No. 25, 20:06.26).
Not counted as part of the team score (only the top 5 finishers from each school go into the team totals), junior Susanna Goff crossed the finish line in the No. 33 position, well ahead of the vast majority of the field with a time of 20:41.85.
TEAM TOTALS
