Fox, a junior, took the first individual victory over her career with a time of 23 minutes, 9 seconds on a humid afternoon over a hilly 3.1-mile course on the Northwest campus.

Freshman Katie Willett of South Rowan was second, one minute behind Fox at 24:09, but she led the South girls to third place in a seven-team field.

The host Northwest team, coached by former Salisbury coach Keith Rhoney, won the girls title with 42 points, while Sun Valley was second with 78. South Rowan edged East Rowan 93 to 103 for third place. Central Cabarrus took fifth with 108, followed by Mooresville, 124, West Rowan, 153, and Piedmont, 164.

Sun Valley’s powerful boys team, defending state 3A champions, rolled to first place with 30 points, followed by Northwest with 55 and East Rowan with 73. West Rowan was fourth with 117, followed by South Rowan, 143, Piedmont, 153, Mooresville, 156, and Central Cabarrus, 175.

“I think this was a real cross country course,” said East’s Fox. “It was hard, but for the first time, we actually experienced one. It had a lot of hills. It was real muddy too, and it was kind of hard to get traction.”

Fox’s East teammate, senior Brooke Misenheimer, led the first mile before being slowed down by shin splints, which have bothered her all season.

“I passed her on the second hill after the first mile mark. I knew she was (hurting),” said Fox.

Willett, Beth-Erin Springer (ninth in 25:16), Katie Morgan (19th in 26:51), Cassondra Stirewalt (21st in 27:33) and Ahmina Khan (42nd in 32:13), the only five team members, gave the South girls their third-place finish.

Fox, Amber Lawlor (17th in 36:26), Elani Centron (26th in 28:36), Crystal Swinson (29th in 29:15) and Misenheimer (30th in 29:15) accounted for East’s fourth-place finish.

Lauren Duffy was the top finisher for the West girls, taking sixth in 24:42. Others in the top five for the West team were Starla Allen (28th in 28:49), Allison Moore (32nd in 29:47), Kendall Overcash (43rd in 32:47) and Mary Beth Knox (44th in 32:53).

Other leaders for East’s Mustangs were Alan Billings (12th in 19:58), Phillip Johnson (15th in 20:22), Josh Pinyan (21st in 21:03) and Brent Dorris (22nd in 21:07).

Josh Houghton led West’s Falcons by finishing seventh in 19:43. Other West leaders were Chris Duffy (14th in 20:21), Jonathan Williams (27th in 21:37), Justin Dionne (33rd in 22:46) and Scott Johnson (36th in 23:17).