Watauga teams finish second on tough course
From staff reports

WEST JEFFERSON — With most of the top runners from Watauga sitting this cross country meet out, the Pioneers still managed second place finishes for both their boys’ and girls’ teams Wednesday at Ashe County.

No runner recorded a stellar time because they were running a tough course. Watauga coach Randy McDonough said the North Surry runner who won the boys’ race, David Hatrick, ran a full minute faster last week at the Caldwell County Invitational. His 17:59 was fast enough to win Wednesday.

“I was very pleased with the way we ran,” McDonough said. “The times don’t show it, but they competed very well. They have a lot to be proud of.”

McDonough said his younger runners wanted to prove they could run with anyone and went out hard. Some of them paid for it later, but he liked their aggressiveness.

The boys’ team finished just two points ahead of Ashe County to claim second place. McDonough attributed much of their success to the running of Stephen Knutson, who finished 12th with a time of 21:04.

“Brooks and Jordan ran a strong race and Stephen Knutson pulled himself up to where he has never been before,” he said. “He was the difference in our finishing second. He doesn’t usually finish ahead of Wesley (Templeton), who didn’t run a poor race, Stephen just ran very well.”

Brooks Forsyth finished fourth for the boys with a time of 19:26 and Jordan Trivette finished fifth with a time of 19:36.

For the girls, Bridgette McLean finished fourth with a time of 24:47, Katherine Culatta finished ninth in 25:47 and Jessica Kennedy took 10th in 26:20.

The younger girls, too, are stepping up more and more as the season goes on.

“Katherine Culatta ran a good race and Bridgette ran well,” McDonough said. “Bridgette is getting better and better at leading that group of girls and Katherine is another runner who ran where she isn’t used to running.”

The girls’ field was paced by Ashe County’s Ashton Little with a time of 22:56.

The Pioneers continue their packed schedule Tuesday with a meet at Lenoir Aquatic, starting at 4:30 p.m. The rest the top runners were allowed Wednesday was meant to help the younger runners confidence, but also to give the top runners a break.

“We have a busy schedule this year and I’m trying to rest people here and there,” McDonough said. “This was a good meet to do this and the coaches were all okay with it. It also gave the younger ones confidence that we trust them to run against anyone.”

Results from the meet hosted by Ashe County.

Boys’ team results:

1, North Surry, 25; 2, Watauga, 64; 3, Ashe County, 66; 4, Alleghany, 125; 5, Starmount, 152.

Watauga’s boys’ results:

4, Forsyth, 19:26; 5, Trivette, 19:36; 12, Knutson, 21:04; 13, Templeton, 21:15; 20, Volmer, 22:21; 22, McGuinn, 22:24; 27, Hay, 23:45; 29, Keeter-Scarlotta, 22:57; 33, T. McDonough, 24:18; 35, Stockamp, 24:32; 39, Pouder, 25:26; 40, Boyd, 25:44; 41, Aldridge, 25:45; 42, Street, 26:02; 47, Anderson, 27:32; 48, Burkhart, 27:33; 50, Steele, 28:46; 51, Shaw, 29:33; 56, Chesnutt, 31:13; 57, 34:23.

Girls’ team results:

1, Ashe County, 19; 2, Watauga, 46; 3, North Surry, 93; 4, Alleghany, 136.

Watauga’s girls’ results:

4, McLean, 24:47; 9, Culatta, 25:47; 10, Kennedy, 26:20; 11, A. Fuller, 26:22; 12, M. Holden, 27:00; 14, Glaser, 27:21; 16, Rumley, 27:45; 21, Lyons, 28:50; 25, Greer, 30:48; 33, Hopkins, 36:07.