By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — Rebecca Parker matched everyone else’s look of bewilderment when she crossed the bridge before everyone else Monday afternoon at Dan Nicholas Park.
The West Rowan sophomore had never won a race before and she was seconds away from taking one, at a county-wide race, no less. Parker got a second wind around the final stretch and won the pre-county meet in 22:47, a personal best, to pull off a stunner.
“I was between 10 and 12 at the beginning of the race,” said Parker after hugs from teammates. “I think I did OK. I’ve never won a meet before.”
“At the one-mile mark, I counted and she was in 10th place,” West Rowan coach Elizabeth Clarke said. “Then I saw her coming across and was like, oh my god, she’s in first.”
Parker gained a sizable lead over South Rowan’s Hannah Houston late as Houston took second with a 22:55.
Carson was first in the standings with 41 points, comfortably ahead of West’s 53.. Katie Nichols (23:17) was fourth overall with Miranda Wyatt (23:51) placing sixth. Jakey Clark (24:32) and Alex Hunter (24:34) were eighth and ninth, respectively.
“As a team, we were wonderful,” Carson coach Les-lee Efird said. “We’ve always placed second so to come out on top is pretty nice.”
“We have worked so hard this summer running mile after mile. Obviously, It shows.”
Susannah Dixon from Salisbury was third overall with a 23:12 finish. The Hornets were fifth in the team standings with 102 points. South Rowan took third with 74 points, ahead of East (88). North Rowan was sixth (171). The girls race had 48 finishers and 56 qualifiers.
West senior Alison Baucom was fifth (23:47) individually while freshman teammate Sammie Brassard placing 12th (25:12).
South’s Brenna Pruitt (23:53) was seventh overall with Jade Newton (26:46) placing 19th.
East’s Kristi Bumby was first for the Mustangs and 11th overall with a 24:52 time. Leah Bumby (26:10) and Haley Lyerly (26:47, 20th) rounded out the top three for East.