Westchester posts two top-3 finishes in PTAC championship
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
Oct 19
KERNERSVILLE – Westchester Country Day had a strong showing in its final race before the state championship meet, while High Point Christian is still working its way into form.
The Wildcats – highlighted by a first-place finish by Cruz Hesling in the boys race – finished second in the girls team scores and third among the boys team scores, while the Cougars took sixth in both team totals during Monday’s Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference championship meet at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex.
“Oh man, 10 out of 10,” Westchester coach Tim Anderson said with a smile.
Hesling won the boys race in 17:31.72, followed by teammate Caleb Bayne in second (17:47.22) to lead the Wildcats. In the girls race, Ali Schwartz finished second (21:18.71), followed by Grace Evans in sixth (22:04.15) as Westchester aims to continue running well into the state championship meet.
“I was particularly pleased with the guys,” Anderson said. “Cruz was projected to be second or third. He went out a little easier and let the race come to him. At the 2-mile mark, he just went for it and finished great – so strong, ready to go.
“And Caleb’s a new runner for me this year. He’s a basketball player, and we found him in August and he came out to run cross-country. Our goal was just to get him fit, and now he might make all-state. It’s amazing how far he’s come.”
The state championship meets will be at the end of next week at McAlpine Park in Charlotte. The 2A meet will be Friday, Oct. 30, and the 3A meet will be Monday, Nov. 2. Runners will seeded and be staggered in groups, so running well here late in the season is particularly important.
“We’re peaking at the right time – especially the girls,” Anderson said. “The girls usually peak a little later, so they’re right where they need to be to be top one or two in the state. That’s our goal for next week.”
Hesling, a sophomore, has consistently been one of the top runners in the conference all season. But he didn’t finish how he’d have liked in the Wildcats’ previous race at Ivey Redmon, so he tweaked his approach and found success – cruising to a 16-second victory.
“Last time we raced here for the invitational, I went out too fast and ran a 4:50 first mile,” he said. “I was just trying to stick with Will (Scott) because I know he’s a great athlete. And if I could just keep a consistent pace, then I’d PR.
“I just have to train smart and give it all I’ve got at states – that’s all I can do.”
Cole Johnson, a freshman, placed fifth in the boys race to lead HPCA, which is in its second week back following a two-week halt to in-person learning and athletics. Carson Keifer took 37th to lead the girls.
Normally, coach Heather Foster said, the Cougars would be tapering back their workouts this time of year. But they’ll use the next two weeks to keep working toward the state championship meet.
“I was really impressed with our all-conference individual Cole Johnson,” Foster said. “He’s starting to get back some of his fitness and peak at the right time. He was out for quarantine for some time and had some challenges. But he’s right up there with the best of them. So, I’m proud of him.
“And as a team, with the closure of our school for a couple weeks, it affected us. We’re not where we want to be right now, so I think we’ll improve into the state meet. We’re a little behind where we would be. It’s been challenging, but the effort was there. Fitness-wise we just might not be where we’d like.”
]Forsyth Country Day won the boys conference championship with 42 points, followed by Greensboro Day with 65 and Westchester with 91. HPCA finished with 114 points. Greensboro Day won the girls conference title with 43 points, trailed by Westchester with 62. HPCA totaled 185 points. COUNTRY
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
Oct 19
KERNERSVILLE – Westchester Country Day had a strong showing in its final race before the state championship meet, while High Point Christian is still working its way into form.
The Wildcats – highlighted by a first-place finish by Cruz Hesling in the boys race – finished second in the girls team scores and third among the boys team scores, while the Cougars took sixth in both team totals during Monday’s Piedmont Triad Athletic Conference championship meet at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex.
“Oh man, 10 out of 10,” Westchester coach Tim Anderson said with a smile.
Hesling won the boys race in 17:31.72, followed by teammate Caleb Bayne in second (17:47.22) to lead the Wildcats. In the girls race, Ali Schwartz finished second (21:18.71), followed by Grace Evans in sixth (22:04.15) as Westchester aims to continue running well into the state championship meet.
“I was particularly pleased with the guys,” Anderson said. “Cruz was projected to be second or third. He went out a little easier and let the race come to him. At the 2-mile mark, he just went for it and finished great – so strong, ready to go.
“And Caleb’s a new runner for me this year. He’s a basketball player, and we found him in August and he came out to run cross-country. Our goal was just to get him fit, and now he might make all-state. It’s amazing how far he’s come.”
The state championship meets will be at the end of next week at McAlpine Park in Charlotte. The 2A meet will be Friday, Oct. 30, and the 3A meet will be Monday, Nov. 2. Runners will seeded and be staggered in groups, so running well here late in the season is particularly important.
“We’re peaking at the right time – especially the girls,” Anderson said. “The girls usually peak a little later, so they’re right where they need to be to be top one or two in the state. That’s our goal for next week.”
Hesling, a sophomore, has consistently been one of the top runners in the conference all season. But he didn’t finish how he’d have liked in the Wildcats’ previous race at Ivey Redmon, so he tweaked his approach and found success – cruising to a 16-second victory.
“Last time we raced here for the invitational, I went out too fast and ran a 4:50 first mile,” he said. “I was just trying to stick with Will (Scott) because I know he’s a great athlete. And if I could just keep a consistent pace, then I’d PR.
“I just have to train smart and give it all I’ve got at states – that’s all I can do.”
Cole Johnson, a freshman, placed fifth in the boys race to lead HPCA, which is in its second week back following a two-week halt to in-person learning and athletics. Carson Keifer took 37th to lead the girls.
Normally, coach Heather Foster said, the Cougars would be tapering back their workouts this time of year. But they’ll use the next two weeks to keep working toward the state championship meet.
“I was really impressed with our all-conference individual Cole Johnson,” Foster said. “He’s starting to get back some of his fitness and peak at the right time. He was out for quarantine for some time and had some challenges. But he’s right up there with the best of them. So, I’m proud of him.
“And as a team, with the closure of our school for a couple weeks, it affected us. We’re not where we want to be right now, so I think we’ll improve into the state meet. We’re a little behind where we would be. It’s been challenging, but the effort was there. Fitness-wise we just might not be where we’d like.”
]Forsyth Country Day won the boys conference championship with 42 points, followed by Greensboro Day with 65 and Westchester with 91. HPCA finished with 114 points. Greensboro Day won the girls conference title with 43 points, trailed by Westchester with 62. HPCA totaled 185 points. COUNTRY
