Cedar Ridge’s Ian Elliott captured his first conference championship at the Big 8 Champtionships at Northwood High in Pittsboro.
Elliott, a junior, finished with a personal best time of 17:04.6 to finish first overall. Orange’s Hunter Spitzer finished 2nd overall at 17:04.6. The Panthers Spenser Husen came in 4th at 17:12.28
Chapel Hill swept both varsity championships in the boys and girls ranks. CHHS won the boys team championship with 35 points. Orange finished second with 46. Cedar Ridge was third at 69 points. Cedar Ridge’s Colin Bunner came in 5th with a time of 17:12.62. Orange’s Danny Archibald registered an 8th place finish at 17:29.78.
In the girls meet, Chapel Hill was even more dominant, finishing with 16 points. Orange was the runner-up with 62 points, while Cedar Ridge was third with 79.
Cedar Ridge’s Liz Zarzar was the only non-Chapel Hill runner to finish in the top 6, finishing 5th with a time of 20:04.75. Orange’s top finisher was Adalyn Fleming, who crossed the finish line at 20:44.59. Juliana Lester of Orange came in 10th.
Elliott, Spitzer, Husen all qualify for regionals.