Top runners compete today

Conferences hold cross country meets

The Tri-Eight and Cap Seven boys and girls cross country championships are scheduled for today at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary.

The Tri-Eight boys run at 3 p.m., followed by the Cap Seven boys at 3:30.

The Tri-Eight girls run at 4:30 and the Cap Seven girls at 5 p.m.

Some of the best runners in the state will participate.

From the Cap Seven, Broughton was the 2007 boys state 4-A champion, and league rival Enloe was on its heels.

Green Hope, which is a member of the Tri-Eight, has been ranked among the top boys teams in the Southeastern United States this season.

MORE CROSS COUNTRY: Also today, the Cape Fear Valley 3-A runs at Campbell University at 4 p.m., and the Carolina 1-A championship meet is at 4:30 at the Cliffs of the Neuse State Park.

On Friday, the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference championship will be run at WakeMed Soccer Park.

EAST WAKE WINS SOCCER TITLE: East Wake clinched its first boys soccer conference championship Monday with a 5-2 win over Garner.

The victory pushed East Wake to 11-1 in the Greater Neuse River 4-A. Clayton and Holly Springs are tied for second, each with four losses.

"I feel a plethora of emotions," East Wake coach DeLane Hayes said. "It has been a roller-coaster of a season.

"Trying to instill good ethics, pride, and heart hasn't been an easy task and at times has been very trying."

But Hayes said one of the payoffs came Monday when East Wake scored three goals in the final 13 minutes.

"The attitude and effort we have worked on really came out when it seemed Garner had us against the ropes," he said. "It is a wonderful thing for our program and players."

COWHER TO WOFFORD: Lindsay Cowher, a 6-foot-2 forward at Ravenscroft, has committed to play women's basketball at Wofford College.

Cowher averaged 15.9 points and 8.1 rebounds as a junior.

She helped lead the Ravens to the Triangle Independent Schools Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association 3-A state semifinals.

Cowher, the daughter of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, expects to sign her national letter of intent on Nov. 12 during the early signing period.

TIGERS WIN GOLF: Southern Lee won the Carolina Central Conference girls golf tournament on Monday, but Chapel Hill is the regular-season champion.

The girls golf league, which is made up of teams from four conferences, bases the championship on the combined results from the regular season and the conference tournament.

Chapel Hill's Michelle Ahn was the league's player of the year, and the Tigers' Jim Williams was the coach of the year.