Every runner for the John Paul II Catholic High School boys cross country team ran lifetime-bests on Thursday in the CPIC championship meet at Rotary Dog Park in Kinston as the Saints finished fifth in the team competition.
Those individual successes were highlighted once again by freshman Gabe Lewis, who finished second overall in a school-record 18:16.0. Senior Alex Peterson also nearly broke the old school record of 18:40.5 (Paul Blain, 2016) as he finished fifth in 18:46.86.
For the first time ever, the Saints had three runners under 20 minutes as sophomore Estevan Morales was 13th in 19:20.95. JPII’s scoring was rounded out by seniors Tyler Moore (31st, 20:50.86) and Miguel Morales (33rd, 21:14.52). Freshman Michael Dunn finished 41st (22:18.43) and sophomore Davis Walsh continued an amazing progression as he was 42nd (23:24.34).
It was an exceptionally close team race, with Epiphany taking first with 66 points. JPII was only 18 points behind, but unfortunately it also finished behind Wayne Country Day (72), Parrott (75) and Wayne Christian (83). Greenfield (106) was a distant sixth.
“Time-wise, we absolutely surpassed my expectations, and I had very optimistic expectations,” coach Joe Corley said. “Really, if just a few things break our way here and there, the team competition is a much different story. There was just an 18-point spread between first and fifth — that’s a very tight race. The boys followed the plan. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Sophomore Emma Anderson represented JPII in the girls race and finished 21st in season-best 25:57.8. It was a welcomed improvement this season for Anderson, who set the girls school record at the state meet last year.
JPII now has just one race left this season. The Saints will run in the NCISAA 3A state meet next Friday, Oct. 28, at Hagan-Stone Park just south of Greensboro. The girls race will begin at 9 a.m., followed at 9:45 a.m. by the boys. The previous boys school record was set on the course at Hagan-Stone six years ago.
