Friday Night Lights (NC)
ON-SITE COVERAGE: Photos - Videos
Nevada Mareno is officially cementing herself as a runner on the rise, as she snagged a win over North Carolina's best distance runners in Sara Platek and Elly Henes. The Leesville Road junior ran 17:38.53 to set a course record at the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville, as Platek also broke 18 minutes with a 17:49.22 effort.
Henes, No. 25 on the Flo50 National XC Rankings, took third in 18:56.11 to lead the Flo50 #18 Green Hope girls to the overall title over Mareno's Loonies (30 to 52). Green Hope typically begins the season by racing conservatively, so one can assume Henes has a bit more in the tank.
Junior Ben Savino of Apex took the boys' championship title in 15:55.52 over the East Chapel Hill duo of Connor McDonald and James Gildard, who finished 2-3 in 16:01-16:03.
Saucony Flo50 National XC Rankings: