North Duplin’s Jair Quintana, left, and Luis Avilez-Gonzalez, right, competed in the 2024 NC High School Athletic Association Class 2A state cross country championships Saturday. In the middle is North Duplin head coach Kody Kennedy.
KERNERSVILLE — Runners from North Duplin and Spring Creek competed in the season-ending NC High School Athletic Association boys’ state cross country championships Saturday morning.
The Rebels’ Luis Avilez-Gonzalez finished 41st overall among Class 1A participants. The senior ran the Ivey Redmon Sports Complex in 18 minutes, 29.84 seconds.
Avilez-Gonzalez overcame a midseason injury and repeated as the Carolina 1A Conference individual champion this fall.
Sophomore Jair Quintana crossed the line 65th in 19:18.62. He finished 10th in the east regional and earned all-Carolina 1A Conference honors along with Avilez-Gonzalez.
The duo helped the Rebels seize the Carolina 1A team crown.
On the 2A scene, a first-year cross country runner — Spring Creek’s Caleb Loftin — wound up his season 112th overall. The lanky junior ran the 3.12-mile course in 19:57.68.
Loftin emerged as the Neuse Six 2A Conference champion. He captured first place in all five regular-season meets and ran a personal-best 18:49 in the conference finals.
The Gators successfully defended their Neuse Six 2A team title.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
