By Charlie Tyson, Staff Writer

Chapel Hill High School dominated at the Orange County Cross Country Championships Oct 10, with both its varsity boys and girls winning their races by substantial margins.

Runners from Chapel Hill High, Carrboro High, Cedar Ridge High, Orange High and East Chapel Hill High faced off at the meet. East Chapel Hill’s varsity teams did not compete because coach Steve Marquis said he wanted to rest his varsity runners. He chose to use his JV runners instead.

The meet took place on a breezy afternoon. From the starting gun to finish, CHHS maintained a solid lead.

Chapel Hill junior Will Bunch nabbed first place by a 1.1 second margin, with a 5K time of 16 minutes, 20.9 seconds. Bunch’s teammates mirrored his impressive performance, as seven out of the top eight finishers were Tiger runners.

Even so, Chapel Hill’s excellent showing failed to completely measure up to coach Ron Olsen’s high expectations. When asked how he felt about his boy’s team’s success, Olsen said, “They weren’t successful. They let someone break up their top five.”

Nevertheless, Olsen said he is happy with the level at which his boy’s team is performing, although he hopes to get 10-15 seconds faster per runner by the end of the season.

The Tigers are racing at the 3-A level this season, but the competitiveness hasn’t subsided.

“We still run the same schedule,” Olsen said. “It’s a new conference, but about as competitive as PAC-6.”

Chapel Hill High won the varsity girls’ race by a similar margin, but Carrboro High’s Grace Morken finished first, with a time of 19 minutes, 8 seconds. Chapel Hill’s Tristan Van Ord finished second, in 19 minutes, 12 seconds. Both runners are freshmen.

Carrboro women’s coach Sarah Hallenbeck describes Morken as “very tough and very mature.”

“She’s good at planning a race and racing a plan,” Hallenbeck said.
Hallenbeck is excited about Morken’s potential.

“One of the most exciting things about her running is that she’s got room to grow,” Hallenbeck said.

Morken hopes that her success as a younger runner will both encourage older runners and give incoming freshman confidence.
Morken and Van Ord share an athletic history together, having been teammates on the Triangle United soccer team. They’re now happy to compete as friendly rivals.

“I think it’s awesome,” Van Ord said. “I love running and I hope to be racing with Grace again.”