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Prep Cross-Country Notebook: Tanglewood tweaked course; area by the river eliminated
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Published: November 1, 2008
■ Tanglewood is planning to bring back steeplechase horse-racing in the spring, and because of that, park officials asked for some changes to the cross-country course.
Coach Jeff Thompson of West Forsyth said that the changes were minor.
"They were concerned with foot traffic and parking traffic that in the past had run across or parked on the steeplechase area," Thompson said.
"Where the steeplechase used to be, they wanted us to swing wider and hug the split rail fence. It would make the course longer out in that field."
To keep the course at 3.1 miles, Thompson said, a 75-meter stretch of trail parallel to the Yadkin River was eliminated.
Thompson said that the first two-mile markers are in almost the same spots as in years past.
"As far as the effect on the times, I think it would be negligible if any," Thompson said.
"It's not like we took out or added a hill. To me it will be pretty much the same course except for that little change."
■ Bishop McGuinness finished second in the 1-A girls race last season behind a Hampstead Topsail team led by two-time champion Zatha Loewen. This season, the Villains might have enough firepower to unseat the Pirates.
The Villains put on a show in winning last weekend's Midwest Regional at Tanglewood, placing their seven runners in the top 20 and three -- Meredith Bennett, Cissy Nitz and Katie Pellitteri -- in the top seven.
The Villains won the title by 17 points against East Wilkes, which had the top two individuals in winner Carol Blankenship (20:38) and runner-up Anna Hayes (20:50).
Coach Robert Youtz of Bishop McGuinness said that he expects a four-way battle for the championship, with Topsail, Hayesville and Robbinsville also in contention.
"From all the coaches I have talked to, I think it's really a tossup," Youtz said.
"They put us No. 1 in the poll this week. They might think we have an advantage. But in my eyes, I still see the other three as really big threats.
"Whoever wins it, all five runners will have to run really good races."
Youtz also said he thinks that Blankenship, Kristen Stout of Hendersonville and Faith Trammell of Robbinsville can all challenge Loewen for the individual title.
■ Blankenship tweaked her right calf during last weekend's regional, but Coach Anita Tharpe of East Wilkes said she thinks that Blankenship will be fine today.
Blankenship, a sophomore, has won every race she has run this season.
"It seems to be better this week," Tharpe said. "And I wouldn't say that if I didn't think it was true."
East Wilkes also has a contender for the 1-A boys championship in Eric Blackburn, who finished seventh in the 2007 race.
"I wouldn't bet against Carol or Eric, and I am not big on losing money," Tharpe said.
■ Mount Tabor has had one of the state's stronger cross-country programs for years but didn't fare well at last year's 4-A championships, finishing 14th (boys) and 16th (girls). Coach Patrick Cromwell isn't predicting state titles today but said he thinks that both teams are better.
"If we do what we are capable of, we will have some improvement," said Cromwell, adding that he has two potential top-10 runners -- sophomore Margaret Leak (9th last year) in the girls race and junior Jared Neeley in the boys race.
Leak finished third in the Midwest Regional at Tanglewood, finishing in 19:48 and only six seconds behind runner-up Chelsea Hollingsworth of Northwest Guilford.
However, Hollingsworth and Leak were both more than a minute behind winner Kim Spano of North Mecklenburg, the two-time state champion.
"Margaret rises to the level of the meet as good or better than anyone I know," Cromwell said.
"When the lights are on, she is at her best. A top-five finish would be great. I do think it's more competitive this year on both sides.
She is one that's looked at as being a top-10 finisher."
Neeley also took third place at the regional, finishing in 16:30, about 12 seconds behind winner Patrick Crawford of East Forsyth and 10 behind runner-up Seth Crawford of Northwest.
"He has been running real well all season, and like Margaret, he is a big-race performer," Cromwell said. "He hung with both Crawfords last week until the last 1,000 meters but had a very solid race. I think Jared and Margaret are capable of all-state (top-10)."
■ The cross-country teams at Reagan didn't have to wait long to become competitive.
The girls have finished second twice and third once in three trips to the 3-A championships, and the boys were third last season and fifth in 2006.
In regional competition last weekend at McAlpine Park in Charlotte, the boys were second and the girls fourth.
Boys coach Chris Catton said he thinks that his team has a chance for a top-five finish.
"Everybody is going to have to put their best day together in the same day," Catton said.
"You are relying on seven guys, and if one guy messes up, it will affect our team and other teams. If we take care of our job, we can do it. We can't really rely on someone else."
■ Mason Linker can be reached at 727-7324 or at mlinker@wsjournal.com.
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