Published: 12:00 AM, Sun Sep 05, 2010
Tigers shine in Jungle Run
By Al Myatt
Correspondent
The only competition for Blake Williams of Northern Durham in the boys' championship division of the Jungle Run on Saturday night at South View was Tigers' coach Jesse Autry.
Williams chased Autry and his cross country crew on the gas-powered lead cart like a greyhound goes after the rabbit at a dog track.
Autry kept the pedal to the metal and managed to stay ahead of the Knights' senior, who set a course record with a 15:06 clocking.
Autry's South View boys' team demonstrated its depth and talent by taking titles in the developmental, invitational and championship level races.
"It's much more about team," Autry said. "They bust their butt every day and I'm super proud of them.
"A race is the result of what you do in preparation."
The Tigers totaled 90 points in the boys' championship division. Millbrook was second with 103 and Pinecrest was third at 128.
Millbrook was first in the girls' championship division with 60 points. Pinecrest was second with 88 and New Hanover was third at 98.
Williams broke the mark of 15:16 set by Andy Wacker of Pinecrest in 2005.
Wacker, who now runs at Colorado, might be inclined to challenge the legitimacy of the record since Autry admitted at the postrace awards ceremony that this year's course measured 4,961 meters, 39 meters short of the standard 5K high school distance.
Girls' championship winner Samantha George of Raleigh Millbrook also separated from the pack and broke her own course record by winning in 18:11.
Williams, who broke 15 minutes last year, went out fast. His split for the first half mile was 2:25 and he cruised past the initial mile marker in 4:39.
"I was trying to get out to a fast pace and I went out a little fast but it all worked out," Williams said. "It was all a mental thing.
"I was dying a little bit at two miles but I picked it back up. I still had a little bit left in the tank but I ran a good race."
Fans got on their feet to cheer Williams down the final stretch adjacent to the home sideline of the football field.
"There was a nice little pack last year," Williams said. "Tonight, I was kind of out there alone."
Chris Garrett of North Johnston was a distant second. Mason Boyles of Wilmington Hoggard was third.
Alex Beaudette of Jack Britt took fourth and Michael York of South Rowan was fifth.
Times will be posted at ncrunners.com. They had not been retrieved from the timing device as of press time.
George said she thought the temperature was cooler than last year and that helped her achieve her goal.
"I had to go out and get that record," she said.
Shelly Howell of New Hanover was second in the girls' championship and Jensen Jones of Wilson Fike placed third.