“Right now, the main thing we’re really focusing on is Lincolnton, because their team is going to be really tough,” said junior David Bost, the county champion last fall and the top local distance runner last track season.

“We just want to do our thing. I think if we concentrate on what we need to be doing at states and concentrate on everything else, I think everything will fall in place,” said Bost.

Bost wasn’t concerned that he opened the 1999 season finishing second to West Rowan senior Josh Houghton in the preseason event. Bost had edged Houghton almost a year ago for the county title.

“He had a great race,” Bost said of Houghton. “I think I should have done a lot better job of the turns.”

Bost had the lead late in the race, but took a wrong turn toward the lake, allowing Houghton to pull ahead.

Bost then sprinted to catch up with Houghton, but the West runner outkicked him across the dam to the finish line, winning by eight seconds in 17:14.

Salisbury, however, had four of the top six finishers and wound up with a team score of 29 to East Rowan’s 53 and West Rowan’s 60.

“The first four (Bost, Darius Hyman, Tyler Vanderslice and Matt Denison) finished like I expected,” said coach Mike Allen of the Hornets, adding that he wants to have 10 runners finishing well. “I’m looking for those other six guys to stand up,” he said.

TRADITION CONTINUES: The East Rowan girls have won the four county titles, and it’s obvious after the preseason event that coach Amy Wensil’s runners are favored again.

East, led by individual winner Brooke Misenheimer (21:49), won with 21 points to second-place South Rowan’s 59.

Misenheimer, freshman Crystal Swinson, Brittany Fox and Amber Lawlor swept the first four places. Lora Williams, who strained a muscle during the race, finished 11th.

“They’re all working hard. They like each other and enjoy being around each other. It’s a lot of fun coaching them,” said Wensil.

Swinson, who did well in middle school track at Erwin, ran in her first cross country meet ever and had a strong last mile to finish only nine seconds behind Misenheimer in 21:58.

“She did very well today. We were very impressed. She came on really strong,” said Wensil. “That first race, you’re kind of worried if they can get through the mental part and just go out there and run. It’s so much different running cross country than track.

MUSTANGS’ DEPTH: The East Rowan boys, led by junior Jeff Schoch in third place, showed they could be improved over last year, when the Mustangs finished third in the county behind Salisbury and West.

East had only one runner in the top eight, but depth paid off. Brent Dorris, freshman Phillip Johnson and Josh Pinyan finished ninth through 11, respectively. Jameel Carr, a swimmer trying cross country for the first time, was 20th.

SOUTH IMPRESSIVE: South Rowan’s girls, for the first time in 13 years, are a threat to finish in the top two in the county.

South was a power in girls cross country the first two years a county meet was held, winning both titles over runner-up East. The Lady Raiders, however, haven’t been strong since 1986.

Now coaches Dwayne Fink and Chris Beaver have the necessary five runners to score as a team, and South beat Salisbury by four points for third place.

Leading the way for the young South team were freshman Katie Willett, who was second at one time late in the race before taking a fall on the course, and sophomore Beth Erin-Springer.

Willett was fifth in 22:41, followed by Springer in 22:43. Cassondra Stirewalt also place well, taking 10th place.

IT’S THE GENES: Local track buffs will remember Katie Willett’s father, Jim, a star in the 1970s.

Jim Willett has held the county 800-meter record of 1:53.60 since his senior year, 1974. Only one runner, Salisbury’s Andre Steele in 1991, has come within a second of Willett.

Willett earned a track scholarship to East Carolina University, where he eventually broke 1:50 in the 800. He also ran cross country for the Pirates.