North Duplin junior Baker Sumner, middle, runs with teammates Jazmine Manzanares, left, and Sasha Arguijo, right, during their Carolina 1A cross country meet held at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Hobbton’s Andrea Sada-Romero emerged as the girls’ top individual finisher during a Carolina 1A cross country meet contested at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Abigail Rowe crossed the finish line fifth overall during the girls’ portion of a Carolina 1A cross country meet ran at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Neuse Charter’s Noah Highfil, left, and Rosewood senior Andon Timmons, right, are side by side during the first lap Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Rosewood’s Dylan Jinks leads North Duplin’s Brittany Huerta and a Lakewood runner through the first turn of their Carolina 1A cross country meet at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s Luis Avilez-Gonzalez is half a step ahead of Rosewood’s Andon Timmons as they make the first turn at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Neuse Charter’s Noah Highfil turns the corner first during the boys’ portion of their Carolina 1A cross country meet held at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. Highfil finished fourth overall. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Girls’ runners from North Duplin, Rosewood, Lakewood, Neuse Charter and Hobbton wait for the “go” signal to start their portion of a Carolina 1A cross country meet ran at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Runners from North Duplin, Neuse Charter, Rosewood, Hobbton and Lakewood line up for the start of the boys’ race at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin’s runners warm up before their Carolina 1A cross country meet at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
North Duplin head cross country coach Kody Kennedy leads the pre-race walk-through at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Tuesday afternoon. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Hindered by injuries and unhappy with their respective efforts in last week’s season-opening cross country meet, North Duplin’s Baker Sumner and Luis Avilez-Gonzalez had the same goal in mind Tuesday afternoon.
They each desired a better, stronger finish.
Though the picturesque Cliffs of the Neuse State Park presented a challenge in hot and muggy conditions, they accomplished their mission. Avilez-Gonzalez emerged as runner-up in the boys’ race and Baker posted the Rebels’ best time among the girls during the five-team Carolina 1A meet.
Avilez-Gonzalez exited the parking lot turn two steps behind lead runner Noah Highfil of Neuse Charter and barely one step ahead of Rosewood’s Andon Timmons.
Highfil and Timmons exited the woods side-by-side on the opening lap.
Avilez-Gonzalez wasn’t too far behind.
The running order changed on the second loop.
While Timmons seized the lead, Avilez-Gonzalez regained his initial spot.
“It was hard, was hot, but I saw one of them walking [ahead of me], so I decided to take advantage of it and pass them in the area back there [on the trail],” Avilez-Gonzalez said. “Just kept my energy from there, managed to hold it over the hills and made it.”
He logged a time of 22 minutes, 29 seconds — a vast improvement over his previous outing at Hobbton. A “stitch” in one his right ribs led to labored breathing and he finished last.
“I didn’t want that [again], made sure I put everything into it today,” he said.
A nagging hip injury forced Sumner to walk off the course a week ago.
She began to experience pain during a meet after spring break last April. The soft-spoken, but determined junior continued to compete and advanced to the state championships in outdoor track.
The problem persisted.
“I took a month off during the summer break,” Baker said.
The layoff provided some rest, but didn’t offer much relief, either.
Hobbton runs on a relatively-flat course.
The Cliffs of the Neuse trail is a slow-rising climb that bottoms out before runners must tackle a final hill to complete the 5k (3.1-mile) run.
Baker crossed the line 11th overall in 34:16.
“My goal for today was just to finish and I’m so glad I was able to do that,” said Sumner as she sipped on a near-empty bottle of water. “I’m used to running the full three miles without walking, but I’ve had to walk some. I wish I was able to continue running like I was before [the injury].
“Going downhill was definitely the most difficult. I could feel the sharp impact on my hip, but that’s what I needed to be able to use that momentum to keep going. I felt so rewarding, I was so happy. It’s a hot day and that does not help at all.”
Timmons won his second consecutive league meet in 22:08.
“Not many people run out here,” he said. “I’m just glad my coach [Jami Amy] brings us out here and lets us run so we can get used to these hills. The second lap, I was feeling it. I’ve got to be honest, if you’re not hurting, you’re not trying.
“You’ve really got to push those three miles.”
Teammate Gage Lewis took third in 23:53. Highfil wound up three seconds behind Lewis. Hobbton’s Nate Miller claimed fifth in 24:12.
Genaro Pacheco (24:44) and Sam Carr (26:27) placed seventh and eighth, respectively, for the Rebels. Luke Holland (29:35) ended up 14th. Teammates Gavin Birkin (32:01) and Lucas Gregory (32:07) sealed the 15th and 16th spots.
Rosewood edged North Duplin 25-30 in team points.
Neuse Charter, Hobbton and Lakewood didn’t have enough runners to post a score in either boys’ or girls’ competition.
Adam Brantley of Lakewood was 12th in 28:10.
For the second straight week, Hobbton’s Andrea Sada-Romero was the top female runner with a time of 25:17. Rosewood’s Dylan Jinks crossed the line just over half a minute later, followed by Neuse Charter’s Isabella Strickland (26:17).
Rosewood’s tandem of India Young (27:30) and Abigail Rowe (30:24) rounded out the top five. The duo, along with Jinks, helped the Eagles defeat the Rebels 15-49 in team action.
North Duplin’s Gabriella Zamudio secured 14th place in 38:16. Jasmine Manzanares (16th, 40:27), Sasha Arguijo (17th, 40:28) and Brittany Huerta (19th, 44:43) helped the Rebels’ cause.
Lakewood’s Kimora Corbett seized 15th place in 38:18.
The next Carolina 1A meet is Sept. 12 at Neuse Charter.
