Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1045613
OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 6, 2018 UCW 29 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Local trio shines in cross country finals by EARL VAUGHAN JR. A trio of Cumberland County cross country runners came away with victories recently as their conference meets were held. It was nothing new for Morgan Dorsey of Fayetteville Academy, who for the fifth time won her conference cross country championship running for the Eagles. In the Patriot Athletic Conference meet at South View, the Tigers' Kodi Payne won her second consecutive girls conference title, while Westover's Delsin Burkhart triumphed in the boys race. Dorsey ran her race at Hugh McRae Park in Wilmington, a flat course that's on open ter- rain, which allows participants to see the whole course before running it. Dorsey, a junior, said her strategy for the race this year was the same as it's been the previous times she ran. She likes to stay behind the lead runners for most of the race, then let her track and field instincts kick in late and pull away for the win. "This year, they got out a little slow and I think they wanted me to lead the race,'' Dorsey said. "I don't like to lead. I always feel like someone's chasing me.'' Dorsey, who recorded a 21:20 for the win, said her main concern is doing her best, not winning the race. "I'm not a long distance runner,'' she said. "I can hang for three miles.'' Payne, a senior, has been running slower than last season and didn't have a highly successful regular season in the Patriot Athletic Conference this year. "The girls I ran against last year were perform- ing much better than I was, so I was worried time-wise about what I would run,'' she said. She was obviously familiar with the South View course where the conference meet was held, so she had her strategy planned. "I just started out smart,'' she said, "take the first mile slower than the rest so I could gradu- ally speed up in the woods since we have a hill. I wanted to make sure I had energy saved up so I could go up that hill strong.'' Her winning time was 19:23.60. Burkhart started running track for Westover as a freshman but only tried cross country for the first time last season at the suggestion of his coach. He's quickly found cross country more fun than track. "You're out running around trails on campuses or parks,'' he said. He had a good performance in the Jungle Run at South View earlier this year and was confident about his chances in the conference meet. "Midway through the race is where I usually get fatigued,'' he said. "I made sure I opened up my stride and took deep breaths so I could capi- talize on the hills and turns.'' He took the lead for good at the two-mile marker, he said, finishing in a time of 16:49.80. Dorsey, Payne and Burkhart are all hopeful their performances in their conference meets will help boost them in regional and state com- petition to come. Burkhart probably expressed the feelings of all three best, saying his main concern was staying healthy. "I put in all the necessary work through the summer and during the season to allow me to compete at the regional and state level,'' he said. Delsin Burkhart Kodi Payne Morgan Dorsey Zoe White Seventy-First • Junior • Volleyball/basketball/ track and field White has a 3.9 grade point average. In addi- tion to playing multiple sports, she's active in Student Government Association, Health Occupations Students of America, National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America. Cornell Robinson Seventy-First • Junior • Football Robinson has a grade point average of 3.9. In addition to playing football, he's a member of the Seventy-First National Honor Society. Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop congratulates these amazing scholar athletes of the week and invites them to the Rocket Fizz Store at 1916 Skibo Rd. to receive a FREE gift recognizing their achievement! www.rocketfizz.com PRESENT OUR WEEKLY LINE UP CAPE FEAR HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 7-8pm @ 301 Wingz, 407 Eastern Blvd Airing on WCLN 105.7FM Bill Boyette w/ Coach Jacob Thomas TERRY SANFORD HIGH SCHOOL COACH'S SHOW 8-9pm @ Sammio's, 2623 Raeford Rd Airing on WFNC AM640 Trey Edge w/ Coach Bruce McClellan MONDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 FRIDAY 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 10 20 30 40 40 30 20 10 50 WEDNESDAY November 2nd Coaches Corner Airing on105.7FM/WFNC AM640 all starting @ 6:00pm Followed by LIVE to The Fields @ 7:00pm South View HS @ Gray's Creek HS on 105.7FM Kick off @ 7:30pm E.E. Smith HS @ Terry Sanford HS on AM640 Kick off @ 7:30pm Ending with Postgame Scoreboard w/ Sonny Jones 6-8pm