Despite competing without its top five runners, the Cedar Ridge girls cross country team finished third at the Big 8 Cross Country Championships at Chapel Hill High School on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Orange boys cross country squad finished third in its competition, led by junior Kyle Van Tubbergh, who finished 11th overall.
Orange and Cedar Ridge had strong finishes from underclassmen in the girls meet. Sophomore Allison Musty was the top finisher for the Red Wolves, completing the 5,000 meter course at a time of 20:09.40. She finished 13th overall. Musty’s classmate, Ella Nissler, came in 13th with a time of 20:45.90.
Orange’s top finisher was freshman Sascha Godfrey, who crossed the finish line 18th overall at a time of 20:51.50. Cedar Ridge freshman Anne Morrell came in 19th at 20:56.40, ahead of Orange sophomore Ava Heffernan, who came in 20th at 21:08.50. Red Wolves freshman Ariadne Solis finished 21st.
Orange freshman Abby Dease, the daughter of baseball coach Dean Dease, came in 27th. Panther sophomore Katie Cook registered a 29th place finish.
Chapel Hill captured the girls’ individual and team championship. The Tigers had 15 points. East Chapel Hill finished 2nd with 63 points. Cedar Ridge was 3rd at 91 points. Orange was fifth at 112 points.
Chapel Hill’s Katherine Dokholyan won the individual conference championship with a time of 17:55. It was a day dominated by the Tigers, who had the top six finishers in the girls’ race.
In the boys meet, Orange finished 3rd with 98 points. Cedar Ridge finished 5th with 106 points, only five points behind Northwood.
Van Tubbergh completed the course with a personal best time of 16:57. Cedar Ridge’s top finisher was junior Rory Legg-Bell, who came in 14th at 17:17.30. Brian Finch, in his final conference meet, came in 16h for the Red Wolves. Orange junior Sam Rasinske finished 17th at 17:26.20, another personal best.
Orange senior Andrew Sollars crossed the finish line 24th. Cedar Ridge’s Alistar Stewart came in 27th. Orange sophomore Wesley Morris finished 28th, while Panther wrestler Mitchell Askew came in 29th. Cedar Ridge’s Eli Tilley finished 30th.
Chapel Hill had the top eight finishers in the boys race. The individual champion was senior Ryan Combs, who finished the course at 15:37.20.