Run for the Hills Meet

The first 5K race of the season had a little bit of everything:  ditch, unmarked holes, slick grass, a narrow track in some places, and a serious hill between the first and second mile.  Emma B. (22:22) finished in 10th place to lead the girls varsity squad followed by Rebecca, Sophie, Emma T. and Anna scoring for a third place team finish -the first podium in some time.  Molly and Catie also ran for the varsity squad and finished in the top half of all finishers on the tough course.  The boys were led by River's (17:23) 6th place finish, followed by Josh, Price, Avery, and John scoring for a second place team finish.  Grant and Elias also competed for the varsity squad and finished just behind John in the top quarter of all finishers.  As has been the trend in recent years, new freshmen runners (Rebecca, Sophie, Catie, and Avery) made solid contributions in their first high school 5K.  Complete results are posted here.  Photos of the event are here.  Fortunately the high school races went off first as the temperature and the crowds soared later for the middle school and elementary races.  Team will have 10 days of practice until the Caldwell Invitational in Lenoir on 9/7. 

Pionner Clash of Classes

A large field arrived in Boone on 8/20 to contest the annual Clash of Classes race on the 3K version of the 2K16 home XC course.  The Boys were paced by junior Price St. Clair (10:15) and took a third place team finish.  The Girls were paced by Emma B (13:09).  See complete results here.  Photos of event here.

2016 XC Racing Starts at Conference Relay

The Pioneer XC team officially started racing with a 4-person 3K relay hosted by Freedom High in Morganton.  Both the Girls (Finley, Anna, Emma T., and Emma B) and Boys "A" (River, Price, Grant, and Josh) teams recorded the fastest combined times at the event against a number of conference rivals.  Photos of the event here.

2016 Watauga XC Season Opens with Summer Practice

Summer practices begin 6/20 at 8:30 am at Jack Groce Stadium.  Summer practice schedules can be found on Coach Tom's blog.  Participants must have a completed sport physical.  Find signup and forms on WHS athletic XC page.   

NCHSAA XC State Championships Closes Team Season

Warm but wet conditions greeted the runners.  The boys varsity squad achieved a season long goal of returning to the state XC championships.  Josh crossed the line in 64th as the first Watauga runner, followed closely by Matthew.  Then Grant, Price, Devin, Aiden, and Sam for an 11th place team and  excellent finish to the season.  Complete results can be found here.  Pictures of the event here.  Congratulations to the Seniors on a fine season...we better see the rest of you next year.

XC Regionals 2015: Watauga Boys Return to State

In a race filled with career PR's, a pair of senior runners delivered 'out of their minds' performances to ensure a return trip to the state meet.  Matthew delivered a career PR and team season best of 16:30 to pace the boys with a team best 6th place finish, while Devin continued the season long PR assault by removing another minute or so from his PR and was personally witnessed to pass at least a half-dozen competitors in the final push to the line as the 5th scoring Watauga runner.  In between Josh and Price went about establishing sub-17 career PR's and Grant powered to a strong finish.  Only injury to season leader, River, likely prevented the team for challenging for a regional championship.  Sam and River also competed with the varsity squad.  This crew will be racing in Kernersville again next week!

The Watauga girls varsity squad was led by Emma B who recorded a career PR (21:26) and 54th place finish.  Finley and Ella continued a return to form from injury and posted strong season best finishes.  Emma T. and Anna completed the scoring for varsity team.  Nicole and Molly also competed for the varsity squad.  Ladies your preparation to regain the conference championship begins now!  Complete race results can be found here.  Photos of the event here.

Northwest 3A/4A Conference Meet

Matthew took individual conference champion honors and paced the boys squad who placed 5 runners in the top-10 to easily secure another team conference championship.  Other scorers for the conference champion varsity team included Price, Josh, Devin, and Grant.  Sam and Aiden also finished in the top-15 for all-conference honors.  The girls were paced by a 5th place finish by Emma B., and all-conference performances by Finley, Anna, and Ella.  The team finished second in the conference, just 10 points behind Hickory and well in front of third place.  Complete results here.  Photos of the event here. 

NC Runners Elite Invitational

Emma B. (21:29) and Devin (18:03) PR'd in their respective Varsity Championship races at the NC Runners Elite Invitational on Saturday.  Less than ideal windy conditions prevailed and average overall times were a bit slower.  River led the varsity boy's squad followed by Josh, with a strong finish given the conditions, Matthew, Grant, Price, Devin, and John for a 16th place (out of 41) varsity team finish.  Emma B, was followed by Anna, Finley (dropping a couple minutes off Wednesday's time!), Emma T., Nicole, Molly, and Angela for a 26th place (out of 35) varsity team finish.

Ella and Elias led Watauga finishers in their Freshman/Sophomore races and Sam and Elizabeth led the way for Watauga in the Open races.  Complete meet results are here.  Race photos here.

Watauga Home Meet #2

Conference competition on the home course again last Wednesday.  River led the boy's varsity race from start to finish and the team to a win by a large margin.  Matthew, Grant, Josh, Devin, and Price also finished in the top-10 with Aiden as the 7th varsity finisher in 12th.

The varsity girls were led by Emma B's 4th place finish, followed by Anna in 5th and Finley (in a return to racing) in 7th.  Nicole was 12th and Emma T.  was 14th to complete the scoring.  Hickory won the race by 12 points, scoring a 1st, 2nd and 4 places between 8-11 -Watauga will have to step it up if another conference crown is to be secured.  Complete race results here.  Race photos here.

High Country Classic

Wet, slippery, muddy racing for the first time this (or last) year.  River finished in second (16:55) with a great time given the hills and conditions to pace the boys' varsity to a second place team finish behind a Providence.  Matthew and Josh also finished in the top-10; and Grant and Price in the top-25.  Anna led the girls' varsity with a 21st place finish (21:45).  Emma B., Emma T., Nicole, Molly rounded out the scoring for a 7th place team finish.

John led the boy's JV with a 13th place finish and Hallie (16th) was the top finisher for the girl's JV.  Complete results here.  Racing photos here -Josh, where were you? 

High Country Classic Saturday

XC racing returns to Boone on Saturday starting with the open race at 9 am.  There will be 20+ teams competing on the latest version of the Watauga home course on the greenway.  Complete event schedule here.

Watauga Home Meet #1

Anna and River led the varsity squads to a sweep of local conference competitors with individuals wins on the first look at this year's version of the 5K home course.  The boys team claimed the first four finish places enroute to a convincing team win over second place Freedom.  Others scoring for the varsity squad included the usual suspects and Devin as the 5th scoring runner.  The girls team finished in three of the top five spots with Emma B., Emma T., Nicole, and Molly also scoring for varsity.  See complete results here. See Coach Shaw's photos here.

Knights Crossing Invitational

Pioneers XC headed to Salem, VA for a big invitational including some of the best teams in VA and NC.  The flat, fast course led to a number of season and career PR performances.  The boys varsity team finished 7th of 25 teams in the event's fastest heat, led by Matthew (21st, 16:37) and River (23rd, 16:38).  Also scoring for the varsity were Grant, Josh, and Price.  The girls varsity finished 18th of 23 and was paced by Anna (52nd, 21:25) and Emma B. (62nd, 21:35).  Emma T., Nicole, and Elizabeth also scored for the varsity squad.  Michael (46th, 19:23) and Emma Kate (53rd, 25:10) paced the respective JV squads.   Complete race results here. 

Ashe County Meet Results

In mid-week racing, the girls team led by Anna in first place (22:23), bested both Ashe and West Wilkes.  Emma B, Nicole, Emma T., and Barbara also scored for the Pioneers.  The boys squad finished in second place, led by Devin in third place (19:03).  Aiden, Isaac, Nick, Luke, and Sam also had top finishes for the boys squad.  See the story here.

Varisty Boys Team Win Caldwell Invitational; Girls Second

The weather was hot; the times were slow, but the varsity boy's squad topped twelve other teams to win the Caldwell Invitational.  River paced team -which appeared to be running as a pack for part of the race- in 2nd, followed by Josh (7th), Price (10th), Matthew(11th), Grant (21st), Elias (23rd), and Sam (27th).  Varsity girls finished second to an apparently warm weather acclimated Alexander Central team.  Finley led the girls in fifth, followed by Anna (13th), Emma B (14th), Ella (15th), Nicole (17th), Emma T (33rd), and Elizabeth (54th).

In the girl's open race, Hallie and Molly recorded top ten finishes, while Devin won the boy's open race and Daniel and Michael also recorded top ten finishes.  Photos of the even here.  Also find Coach Shaw's photos here.  Next up racing in West Jefferson at Ashe HS on Tuesday as the team prepares to travel to a big invitational on Saturday.