Warhorses run away with fifth straight conference championship
Senior Elijah Jones wins WHC meet, collects runner of the year honors
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 21, 2022
Owen senior Elijah Jones was named Western Highlands Conference Runner of the Year, Oct. 18, leading the Warhorses to their fifth consecutive conference title. Photo courtesy of Maggie Jones
It was a cold day in Valdese, Oct. 18, when the Owen cross country teams arrived to compete in the 2022 Western Highlands Conference Championship meet, but the chilly weather did little to slow down the red hot Warhorses and Elijah Jones.
Seven Owen runners finished in the top 10, as the team cruised to its fifth consecutive conference title. Jones continued his strong senior campaign, winning the ninth of 10 races he’s competed in this season, while collecting his third straight WHC Runner of the Year award.
Jones finished the 5,000 meter race in 17:25.27, with fellow senior Jaheem O’Hara taking the second spot less than six seconds later. Owen junior Leo Parmenter rounded out the top three, with a time of 18:47.93, while sophomore Harding Kinnaird completed the team’s sweep of the top four spots in 18:53.30.
Seven Warhorse cross country runners in the top 10 spots of the Western Highlands Conference Championship meet, hosted by Draughn. Owen will compete in the NCHSAA 2A West Regional meet, which the team will host at ACA. Photo courtesy of Maggie Jones
Sophomore runner Eli Lewkowicz and junior Steve Garcia finished seventh and eighth, respectively, and senior Tad Sloan-Westmoreland’s ninth place showing marked the seventh Warhorse to claim a top 10 finish.
Jones, who posted the second fastest time (15:52.1) in Owen history in the Sept. 13 Watermelon Run in Cullowhee, finished first in six straight meets to open the season. He has now won three straight events in the month October, following a third place finish in an Asheville Christian Academy meet to close out September.
The Owen Warhorses captured their fifth straight conference championship in Valdese, where the Warlassies finished second in the WHC. Photo courtesy of Maggie Jones
With their performance in the conference championship, the Warhorses qualified for the NCHSAA 2A West Regional meet, which they will host in Swannanoa, at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, on the home course of ACA.
The Warlassies will join their Owen counterparts in the regional competition, following a second place finish in the conference championship meet.
Led by senior Sadie de Beer's sixth place finish in 23:57.49. She was followed by juniors Piper Berry (24:21.86) and Lillian Walker-Hanning (24:32.66), who took the seventh and eighth spots.