Staff report
Gray Stone Day School’s boys cross country team came home from Tanglewood Park with the state 1A title Saturday, culminating a perfect season.
The boys placed first in every conference meet they ran this season in addition to winning a county title.
Led by senior Dalton Wally, who finished second overall with a time of 16:47, Gray Stone totaled 65 points in beating 2008 winner Hayesville (72). The next five teams were Robbinsville (86), the North Carolina School of Science & Math (104), Hendersonville (117), Lake Norman Charter (164) and Bishop McGuinness (171).
Gray Stone’s boys have done well at the state meet in the program’s relatively short career, finishing 11th in 2005, third in 2006, second in 2007 and second in 2008.
“This one meant everything to these guys,” coach Rick Perry said. “After analyzing the numbers, I told them they would need to average a 17:30 pace to win it. They stepped up to the challenge and ran at a 17:36 pace.”
Fellow seniors Kaleb Medlin (10th, 17:18), Joseph Sutlive (51st, 18:41) and Mygel Bergstresser (16th, 17:51) performed well in their final high school cross country meet. Juniors Harrison Latimer (13th, 17:48) and Eldon Zacek (37th, 18:18) scored for Gray Stone, and freshman Quinton Parsons (80th in 19:47) rounded out the top seven.
“The time was now, and they did it,” Perry said.
Wally and Medlin made all-state.
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Gray Stone’s girls, who placed second in the Midwest Regional, one point behind Bishop McGuinness, were fifth in their first state meet.
They totaled 136 points to finish behind Robbinsville (62), Hendersonville (77), NCSMS (111), and Bishop McGuinness (132).
Sophomore Hunter Latimer (seventh overall, 20:38) led Gray Stone with an all-state effort.
Freshman Amber Watkins finished 11th (21:01) and was followed by Janna Featherstone (17th, 21:35), Mary Bergstresser (65th, 24:28), Katherine Barrows (66th, 24:29), Kendall Taylor (83rd, 25:29) and Brittany Allyn (88th, 25:45).
“Now that the girls have experienced states and seen what the boys did, they can set their sites accordingly,” Perry said. “They are a young talented team with tremendous potential.”