Newton – Robbinsville’s cross-country team capped off another successful season during the 1A Western Regional meet Saturday at Southside Park.
Sophomore Aynsley Fink was the top finisher for Robbinsville, as her time of 21:58.34 was good for 16th overall in the girls race. Fink was the lone Black Knights runner to obtain All-Smoky Mountain Conference honors during the championship meet at Cherokee on Oct. 23, with a time of 22:41.28 shoehorning Fink into seventh place at the divisional meet.
“Her performances at both conference and regionals were stellar, and you could tell she was giving it all she had,” Robbinsville cross-country coach Kaitlyn Carringer said. “She’s extremely competitive, and even though she missed qualifying for state, her effort was 110 percent.
“There’s nothing more I could have asked for at regionals.”
Coming across the finish line in 31st place was junior Ava Barlow, who posted a time of 23:12.07. Barlow received an All-Conference honorable mention for her 11th-place mark of 22:53.64 at Cherokee.
“Ava also had a good season,” Carringer added. “I’m excited to see both Aynsley and Ava work together and improve next season, as well as having all the girls return, plus adding new runners to the roster.
“I think we could have a great girls team next season, as long as everyone stays healthy.”
The remaining Lady Knights to compete at Newton were Anna Riddle, Montana Adams, Lizzie Barnett and Delaney Hooper.
In the boys race, Hayden Stewart took 45th overall to finish as the top Black Knights runner. Also competing at regionals for the Robbinsville boys were Sully Shanahan, William Cable, Logan Hooper, Nathan Fisher and Phoenix Brooks.
“The boys team was very young, with all freshman and sophomores and only one senior (Fisher),” Carringer said. “Our goal for the season was to focus on improving and every single one of them did. These boys showed effort all the way through.
“Now that they have some experience, and a few are going to run indoor track for the first time, I think next year we will see even more improvement.”