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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

Kristen Starkey captured first place for the fifth time in five meets to lead the Ellis girls cross country team to the Tri-County Conference title.

The championship meet was held at South Davie on Oct. 5.

With seven teams and 60 females competing, K. Starkey put the final touches on an amazing seventh-grade season with a time of 13:03.27.

The Jaguars scored 32 points, 18 better than the runner-up, by taking three of the top six places and six of the top 15. Olivia Smith, who typically finished second or third in Ellis’ meets, was second at 13:14.34. Kristen’s older sister, eighth grader Rachel Starkey, was sixth at 14:12.36, followed by Mia Wyatt (ninth at 14:45.99), Berkley Brown (14th at 15:37.41) and Reece Rye (15th at 15:40.52).

The Jaguars ran the table during the eight-meet season.

“This was a strong group of runners,” coach Erica Bost said. “They practiced hard, often running on days when we didn’t have practice. Kristen even went to South Davie a couple of weekends to train on the conference course. They just really worked well as a team. Although I have three runners going to high school next year, I have a strong group of rising eighth graders.”

Fifth-place North Davie was paced by Lylah Applegate (20th at 16:37.74) and Olivia Stanley (23rd at 17:24.62). South Davie’s top finisher was Xiadany Diaz (38th at 19:39.23).

The team scores: Ellis 32, Mooresville 50, Selma Burke 57, China Grove 93, North Davie 136. Erwin and South Davie did not score.