Led by two-time state champion and first-place finisher Thomas Graham, Cary Academy won the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference boys cross country championship Friday at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.
On the girls' side, Ravenscroft took home first place with 40 points, a score five better than second place North Raleigh Christian Academy's 45. Cary Academy finished a close third with 53, followed by Durham Academy with 106 and St. Mary's with 118.
But it was a diminutive Durham Academy runner who stood out among the 86 girls who ran in the first race of the afternoon. Because many of Durham Academy's races were against public schools that allow only ninth-graders through seniors to compete, eighth-grader Eliza Dekker, who stands less than 5 feet tall, hadn't competed in a month.
She made the most of the opportunity. Her first-place time of 18 minutes, 41 seconds was nearly a minute and a half faster than the time of 20:06 posted by runner-up Eliz Schricker of Ravenscroft.
"She's been good for quite a few years, so it wasn't a surprise, but it's pleasing to see," Durham Academy coach Cullen said of Dekker. "I certainly haven't seen anyone her age this fast. I'm sure there are some out there, but, no, I have never had a runner in the eighth grade run like her, not at all."
The championship-winning Ravens girls placed two runners in the top five, with Schricker second and Emily Bedsole fifth in 20:45. Ravenscroft's performance was led by underclassmen who helped the team prevail without its top runner.
"We were very surprised to win," Ravenscroft coach Leslie Payne said. "I knew it was going to be tough because we were without our No. 1 runner. It's tremendous, and it shows the depth of our team. My top four were all sophomores or freshmen."
Gabriella Wilderberg led North Raleigh Christian Academy with a third-place time of 20:23, one second faster than fourth-place Emma Astrike-Davis of Cary Academy.
In the boys' race, few were surprised to see Graham, the only runner in Chargers history to win state titles as a freshman and a sophomore, lead the pack with a time of 15:43.
"It's great to know you have Thomas leading for your team," Cary Academy coach Conrad Hall said. "He's very consistent, and it definitely gives our team a boost to know that after the first runner, we're going to be scoring one point. His success is unprecedented. This is my 13th year, and I could coach 15 more and never see another runner like Thomas."
He was followed in second and third place by Durham Academy's twin brothers, Carl and Fred Ward, who each ran 16:04. The Wards helped DA finish second overall.
Rounding out the top five were Cary Academy's Colin Godwin in 16:25 and Durham Academy's Michael Cunningham in 16:46.
Cary Academy finished with 29 points, and Durham Academy had 40. NRCA was third with 60 points, followed by Ravenscroft with 101. St. Mary's finished fifth.
Cary Academy's triumph over Durham Academy on Friday sets up what Hall expects to be a three-way battle at the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Championship Meet on Oct. 29 at Montreat College in Black Mountain.
"Durham Academy beat us earlier in the season, and they're the defending state champs," Hall said. "... Providence Day in Charlotte's right up there with Durham Academy and us, so I think it could be a real tight race, three ways."
