Carson's Eric Gillis and distance coach Zachary Marchinko

Staff report

MATTHEWS — Several Rowan athletes competed in Saturday’s Carolina Distance Carnival held at Weddington High.

They had competed in the Robert Steele Rowan County Championships the previous day.

Carson’s Eric Gillis ran a 9:08 3200 meters, a county record time, on Saturday. He was 15th in an elite field. Four runners broke 9 minutes.

Gillis had competed in the 800, 1600, 3200 and 4×800 in the county meet, but he and teammate Jorge Clemente-Garcia still had something left. Clemente-Garcia ran a 9:27 3200 on Saturday.

South Rowan’s Hope Julian ran a 5;15 mile.

Salisbury’s Samuel Fatovic ran a 2:01.37 800, while Salisbury’s Finnegan Avery ran 2:02.95.