By Robin Perry

The challenging Chuck Morehead XC course in Albemarle was the site for the Yadkin Valley Conference pre-season meet bringing 9 schools together to kick off the 2010 XC season.

Gray Stone Day School dominated the meet in both the girls and the boys. Quite a feat, especially for the boys who last year won the 1-A state championship and graduated four of their top seven runners.  Pre-season poles have the Gray Stone girls ranked 2nd in the state.

In the girls meet, Gray Stone had six runners finish in the top seven.  They were:

Janna Featherstone 1st in 23:18, followed by Illa Jones 2nd (23:46), Caroline McLeod 4th (24:10), Amber Watkins 5th (24:34), Hunter Latimer 6th (24:35) and Jennie Wagner 7th (24:38). They had a total score of 18.

Chatham Central's Holly Gaines finished 3rd with a tme of 24:02.  Chatham Central finished second in the meet with 59 points followed by South Stanly (78), North Moore (114), Albemarle (141), East Montgomery (154) and South Davidson (180).  West Montgomery and North Rowan did not have enough girls to qualify.

For the boys, Gray Stone scored 32 points led by Harrison Latimer (18:57), Eldon Zacek 3rd (19:51), Quentin Parsons 5th (21:50) and Miller Chambers 10th (21:50) North Rowan's Mason Jennings finished 9th.

Overall scoring for the boys were South Stanly in second with 76 points, West Montgomery 3rd with 92; Chatham Central 4th with 113; North Moore 5th with 118; East Montgomery 6th-130; North Rowan 7th-160; Albemarle 8th-209.  South Davidson did not have enough boys to qualify.

Coach  Rick Perry admited that after losing four of our top seven last year to graduation "I was really proud to see the boys step it up and win first place by over 40 points."  "And the girls are a very powerful team --able to finish 6 Gray Stone girls in the top 7."

Gray Stone XC will be competing in a meet with Carson and East Rowan next Thursday, Sept. 2 at the East Rowan YMCA at 4:30.  They also have a regular conference meet next Tuesday the 31st at Albemarle City Lake.