Cross Country captures first individual win at Nike Cross Regional Southeast

Sophomore Brooke Ruffin made history by becoming the first Lion to win the prestigious Nike Cross Regional race held in Cary, N.C. Nov. 26. Her time of 19:29.7 in the Rising Stars 5K race was a personal best.
Ruffin’s strategy was to focus on the runner next to her. “We were pacing with each other, and at the last mile, I pushed up the hill. I kept saying ‘I can do this’ and everyone was cheering for me. I was so shocked.” Ruffin said. Her first-place finish led the girls Rising Stars team to a victory.
In the varsity races, the boys finished 12th, led by a 55th place finish by junior Matt Owens in 16:11.8. The girls team’s top finisher was senior Jessica Meek, who ran 19:47.8 finishing 122nd.