Colin Godwin of Cary Academy and Bakri Abushouk of Cary High produced an incredible finish Saturday at the N.C. State Cross County Challenge at WakeMed Park in Cary as they ran the fastest times in the state this year.

Abushouk was undefeated this season, and had led almost the entire race, before Godwin overtook him on a sloping hill during the final yards of the race.

Godwin, a senior, finished in 15 minutes, 13.3 seconds to nip Abushouk by one-tenth of a second. Godwin’s finish was the 14th fastest ever on the course, which has been the host course for national as well as regional competitions.

His time is the fastest in the state this year. Godwin’s time also is No. 9 in the country this season, although cross country times are tough to compare because of differences in running conditions and courses.

Abushouk’s time is the second fastest in the state this year, the 15th fastest at WakeMed and No. 10 in the nation.

“Colin quietly has been improving his times,” Cary Academy coach Conrad Hall said. “We knew he was ready for something big, we just didn’t know how big until last weekend.”

Godwin was eighth in the 2011 N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association cross country championships, but won the 800 (1:56) and the 1,600 (4:17) during the spring track season. He defeated 2011 NCISAA cross country champion Thomas Graham in the 1,600 final.

“His race with Bakri was one of the most exciting races that I have ever seen,” Hall said.

Durham Academy sophomore Eliza Dekker (17:44.2) won the girls race by 18 seconds. Cardinal Gibbons junior Mary Grace Doggett (18:14.6) was fourth and helped lead the Crusaders to the girls’ team title, 115-134 over Blacksburg, Va.

The Blacksburg boys topped Midlothian, 57-147. Chapel Hill (173) was third.

The Great American Cross Country Festival, one of the top high school cross country meets in the country, is scheduled for the WakeMed course Sept. 28-29.

Wells Fargo Cup winners: Green Hope, Cardinal Gibbons, Carrboro and the N.C. School of Science & Math will be honored Saturday during halftime of the University of North Carolina’s football game against East Carolina.

The schools will be recognized for winning their classification in the 2011-12 Wells Fargo Cup competition. The Wells Fargo Cup recognizes overall sports excellence. Points are awarded for advancement in N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

Last year’s winners were Green Hope (4A), Gibbons (3A), Carrboro (2A) and Science & Math and Kernersville Bishop McGuinness (tied in 1A).

The 2012 NCHSAA Hall of Fame class also will be introduced.

The newest members are Asheboro coach Donnie Baxter, Pembroke coach and administrator Ronnie Chavis, Garner and Athens Drive coach Lawrence Dunn, Greensboro coach Doug Henderson, Bartlett Yancey coach Lindsey Page, Gastonia coach Larry Rhodes, Salisbury coach Robert Steele, and Shelby coach Jim Taylor.

Wake Christian alumnae named coach: Erica Underwood, a 2007 Wake Christian Academy graduate, has been named as the girls’ basketball coach at the school. She played volleyball and basketball in college at Piedmont International in Winston-Salem, and set the school scoring record with 1,083 points. She succeeds Robby Hamilton, who coached the Bulldogs for eight years.

Rough week for Ravens field hockey: Ravenscroft, which played for the NCISAA title in 2011, had a tough week, last week. The Ravens lost 3-2 in overtime to Charlotte Latin in a rematch of last year’s championship, and then lost to Charlotte Providence Day 3-2 in overtime. They wrapped up the week with a 2-1 loss to Charlotte Country Day.

The Ravens are 8-3.

Cavaliers’ volleyball starts strong: The Durham Academy volleyball team is 13-2 and has been led by senior Quincy Leech, who has 31 kills and 124 assists this season. Junior Mimi Patterson has 67 kills and junior Dana Williams has 42 kills.

Stevens: 919-829-8910