Carson and Lake Norman Charter Shine at Pfeiffer Invitational

News Summary

The Pfeiffer Invitational saw remarkable performances from high school athletes, with Carson and Lake Norman Charter dominating the races. Eric Gillis from Carson won the boys’ race, while Lake Norman Charter’s Aimery Coffey triumphed in the girls’ division. The competition featured over 240 runners and showcased impressive times and strong team scores, including a perfect score for Pfeiffer University’s men’s team. As the cross country season progresses, local teams are gearing up for upcoming events, displaying their talent and dedication.

Carson and Lake Norman Charter Runners Dominate at the Pfeiffer Invitational!

Greetings, sports fans! Let’s take a moment to recognize the incredible talent that shone bright at this year’s Pfeiffer Invitational, held recently and featuring an electrifying competition among some of our area’s best high school cross country athletes. The boys championship division attracted a whopping 243 runners, and they truly gave their all on the track!

Individual Standouts in Boys’ Race

Name on everyone’s lips? Eric Gillis from Carson, who sprinted to victory with an astonishing time of 15:17. This impressive feat not only secured him first place but also showcased his top-tier performance on a challenging course.

But it wasn’t just Eric taking the spotlight! West Rowan’s Luke Henson made a splash too, finishing fourth in a swift 16:00. A special shoutout also goes to Ethan Overby from South Rowan, who secured 11th place with a time of 16:33, showing fantastic endurance and talent. Following closely behind, West’s Jayden Romero crossed the finish line in 18th with a commendable time of 16:50.

Impressive Times Under 18 Minutes

The competition was fierce, with several athletes finishing under 18 minutes. These standout runners included:

• Jonathan Medina from West – 26th, 17:10
• Liam Crews from A.L. Brown – 28th, 17:14
• Hunter Sirmons from A.L. Brown – 34th, 17:31
• Sam Noe from South – 36th, 17:34
• Chance Simmons from Carson – 38th, 17:38
• Keaton Sloop from South – 39th, 17:40
• Savron Stevenson from A.L. Brown – 45th, 17:58
• Rafael Quintero from West – 48th, 17:59
• Logan Keasler from South – 49th, 17:59

Proudly representing their teams, Samuel Fatovic from Salisbury and Noah Trexler from East Rowan both finished strong, clocking in at 18:02.

Team Scores

In team action, Oak Grove took the team title with a score of 63 points, while West Rowan nabbed fourth place with 142 points. South Rowan followed closely in fifth with 151 points. Rounding out the standings were A.L. Brown in 10th and Carson in 12th.

Girls’ Championship Highlights

The girls’ race was just as thrilling, with Lake Norman Charter’s own Aimery Coffey claiming first place with an impressive time of 19:21. Mooresville’s Olivia Teeter wasn’t too far behind, finishing just 12 seconds later, and grabbing second place.

Carson’s strong showing continued as Karis Miller crossed the line in eighth, achieving a personal record of 20:25. Her teammate Kara Crotts followed closely, finishing 10th with a stellar time of 20:29. South Rowan’s Madalynn Gulledge also had a noteworthy race, placing 22nd with a time of 21:24.

Notable Finishes for the Girls

Many other Rowan runners made their mark as well:

• Julia Burleson from Carson – 30th, 22:09
• Gracie Hinson from South – 36th, 22:22
• Darlene Cruz from Carson – 44th, 22:51
• Morgan Efird from East Rowan – 45th, 22:22
• Karrigan Cromer from South – 47th, 22:59

Team Results for the Girls

In the team competition, Hough stole the show with a score of 65, followed closely by Lake Norman Charter. Carson placed seventh while South Rowan secured ninth, and East Rowan finished in 11th.

Pfeiffer University Men’s and Women’s Results

On the men’s collegiate side, Pfeiffer University achieved an incredible perfect score of 17 in their meet! Individual champion, Sawyer Helms, completed the 8K course in 25:17, showcasing amazing ability. Former Carson stars Jorge Clemente-Garcia and Bricen Burleson also performed well, finishing second and third respectively.

Pfeiffer’s women also had a notable showing, finishing fifth among twelve teams. Notably, Hayley Borst took 24th place with a time of 22:50, while her sister Makayla Borst claimed 30th with a time of 23:43.