Millbrook cross country
Sanderson's Allison (left) and Samantha Cook race to the finish line Sept. 16 against Millbrook.
Wildcats, Spartans spilt meet Sept. 16
Call it the calm before the storm.
With both squads holding out several runners in preparation of last week's Wolfpack Invitational, the Millbrook and Sanderson cross country squads split its Sept. 16 meet.
Led by Samantha and Allison Cook — the sisters finished first and second, respectively — the Lady Spartans recorded a 25-30 victory.
On the boys' side, Millbrook captured five of the top seven places, posting a 19-42 win.
Millbrook head coach Brian Schneidewind lauded his boys' performance as Richard Miller (18:04) and Paul Carr (18:11) took home first and second.
After graduating four of last year's top five runners, the Wildcats have started to find their stride.
"We knew we were going to have to have some people step up, we just didn't know who was going to step up," the coach said. "It was nice to see those guys (Miller and Carr) continuing to run faster and faster times."
Schneidewind called Carr the team's "most pleasant surprise," explaining the junior has shown great improvement.
In the girls' race, Millbrook's Olivia Wedegaernter (21:23) placed third, just a second behind the leader.
"She has really been having a good two weeks of racing," Scheidewind said, alluding to Wedegaernter's first-place finish in the Jungle Run's jayvee race 10 days earlier.
Millbrook's Bonnie Gartland (fourth; 21:41), Megan Corbally (fifth; 21:53) and Amber Buckalew (eighth; 22:27) finished in the Top 10.
Sanderson's Maddie Divittorio ( 22:25) and Monica Litsas (22:26) placed sixth and seventh, respectively.
According to Schneidewind, it was the Millbrook female runner's first loss of the 2009 season, having gone undefeated in track this spring, and unbeaten in cross country through this race.
"It's too bad to see that streak come to an end," he said.
In the boys' race, Millbrook's Morgan Carstens (18:32), Alex Vinson (18:43), Drew Holley (19:23), Brady Burke (1945) and Alex Wheaton (19:54) all finished in the Top 10.
Sanderson's Patrick Crawford (18:16) placed third, and Billy Fetzner (18:49) took sixth.
The Spartans return to action Wednesday, Sept. 23, hosting Leesville Road at 5 p.m.
Millbrook hosts Northern Durham the same day.
Millbrook's Amber Buckalew (22:27) placed eighth last week against Sanderson.
