Owen runs away with cross country titles
Warlassies and Warhorses take conference championships
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 11, 2021
The Owen Warlassies cross country team will represent the Western Highlands Conference in the 2A West Regionals, Jan. 15, after securing a win in the conference championship. Warlassies, from left to right: Laila Burk, Alison Little, Piper Berry, Maddie Swanson, Hannah Larios, Ava Yurchak and Ellery Pamenter. Photo courtesy of Hope Burk
It was a clean sweep of the Western Highlands Conference for both cross country programs at Owen High School this season.
The Warlassies and Warhorses ran away with championships at Jackson Park in Hendersonville, Jan. 8, and qualified to advance to the 2A West Regionals.
It was a cold day as Hannah Larios crossed the finish line in 20:49.6, first in the girls’ championship race. Seven Warlassies finished, four in the top 10 and and all seven in the top 15.
Owen senior Hannah Larios finished first in the Western Highlands Conference Cross Country Championship at Jackson Park, Jan. 8. Photo courtesy of Jose Larios
The meet was the latest in a strong, and at times dominant, season for the senior Larios, who started the season in November with consecutive first place finishes, followed by a Dec. 2 second place performance. She returned to winning form the following meet, Dec. 7.
Three Warhorses finished their race atop the leaderboard. Elijah Jones clocked in with a time of 17:47.3; Jaheem Ohara in 18:02.4 and Trevor Nail in 18:34.4. Five of the seven Warhorses who finished the race were among the top 15.
The Owen Warhorses captured a Western Highlands Championship in Jackson Park, Jan. 8. The team will travel to Charlotte to represent the conference in the 2A West Regionals, Jan. 15. Photo courtesy of Maggie Jones
The top finish was the second of the season for Jones, who posted a time of 18:00 in December at a meet hosted by Polk. He was named WHC Runner of the Year.
Both teams will head to Charlotte, Friday, Jan. 15, where they will be the sole representatives of the WHC in the 2A West Regionals. Warlassies head coach Kate Dost believes the meet will be the toughest of the season for her team.
“The times across our region this year are extremely fast, and because of COVID-19 restrictions only the top three teams from each region to the state meet,” she said.
In a typical season, four to seven teams can qualify for the state championship, but with the modified format, the Warlassies will face three of the top four teams in the state in Charlotte.