Millbrook cross country
After finishing fourth at last year's 4-A state meet, Millbrok's Samantha George — helped by a strong finish — captured third place at Saturday's state championships at Tanglewood.
George surges late, takes third
What makes Samantha George's third-place finish at Saturday's NCHSAA 4-A state cross country meet at Tanglewood most impressive isn't where she placed.
It's where the Millbrook sophomore was with approximately a mile left.
Early on East Chapel Hill's Carolyn Baskir and T.C. Roberson's Laura Hoer established themselves as the racer's leaders, with Baskir always a few strides in the lead.
But behind that twosome stood George steadily holding down third, which seemed about right considering she captured fourth in the same race one year earlier.
However, as the race moved into its final mile, George slipped from third and into a fight for sixth place. It appeared a Top 5 finish seemed in doubt as the field gained ground on the sophomore.
Moments later Hoer and Baskir entered the homestretch, with the T.C. Roberson senior pulling off the surprising victory, posting a time of 18:13. Baskir finished just a second later.
With first- and second-places accounted for, the question was who would appear next?
Twenty seconds later, George came within view of the finish, wrapping up a spirited comeback with an incredible kick.
The sophomore finished with a time of 18:48, outracing Myers Park's Becca Deloache (18:53.22) and Ardrey Kell's Kaitlyn Kramer (18:53.81), who finished fourth and fifth.
"I just tried to keep the leaders in sight," George said afterward. "And I just tried to run as hard as I could to the finish."
Behind George, Sanderson's Allison and Samantha Cook — the Lady Spartans' lone two representatives — finished 30th and 32nd, respectively. Allison Cook improved six places on her 2008 finish.
Leesville Road's Lauren Strapp took home 43rd, and Millbrook's Allora Burke placed three spots later.
In the team standings, Green Hope clinched a convincing win, defeating T.C. Roberson 47-60 for the state championship.
Millbrook, which qualified for states with its fourth-place finish at the Mideast Regionals last week, took 12th.
Bonnie Gartland (92nd), Olivia Wedegaertner (96th), Megan Corbally (100th), Emily Buchenberger (111th) and Amber Buckalew (120th) competed for the Lady Wildcats Saturday.
A year after competing as a freshman by herself at states, George explained having her teammates there too made the weekend much easier.
"It means a lot to me to have them here," she said. "It was always my dream to have my teammates run along side of me at states."
Sanderson's Allison Cook (791) and Leesville Road's Lauren Strapp (454) run side-by-side during an early leg of Saturday's state meet. Cook placed 30th and Strapp snagged 43rd.
