Home Local Sports RSHS Cross Country Finishes Regular Season Strong; SAC Championship Meet Set

RSHS Cross Country Finishes Regular Season Strong; SAC Championship Meet Set

Richmond Observer File Photo: The RSHS boys and girls cross country teams.
Photo courtesy of Reggie Miller.

SOUTHERN PINES — The Richmond Raiders boys and girls’ cross country regular season is over, and both teams are getting hot at the right time as the Sandhills Athletic Conference championships approach on Saturday, October 21.

On Tuesday, the Raiders and Lady Raiders teams were in action in a pre-conference championship race at the Elk Lodge in Southern Pines. Serving as the home course for Pinecrest High School, the course is 3.1 miles of rolling hills. Another challenge that presented itself Tuesday was the high humidity and torrential downpours that flooded the course, turning it soft and muddy.

In the girl’s race. Richmond ran in dominanting fashion, as the Lady Raiders finished second overall, only behind Pinecrest. Sophomore Airel Brown, who was featured as this week’s Official Richmond County Athlete of the Week, had another strong showing. As she is Richmond’s No. 1 runner, Brown finished fourth overall with a time of 22:47. Teammates senior Shelby Matheson placed 12th overall (24:16), and freshman Gracelyn Weatherford was right behind Matheson in 13th place (24:24). 

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The boys team, which continues to improve, placed fifth in the race; Pinecrest also won the boys race. Senior Brandon Silva finished 12th overall (18:41), and junior Zachariah Hamilton placed 19th (19:05).

When head coach Reggie Miller was asked for a quote on Tuesday’s performance, he cited a Bud Wilkinson quote that reads: “If a team is to read its potential, each player must be willing to subordinate his personal goals to the good of the team.”

Both teams will return to the Elks Lodge course to compete in in the SAC championship meet on Saturday, October 21, at 10 a.m. State regionals are to follow; stay tuned to the RO for updates.