Staff report

CONCORD — Carson’s boys had three of the top five runners in Thursday’s South Piedmont Conference Cross Country Championships, but with five strong teams dispersing points, South Rowan was able to win the team championship.

South got it done with a 4-10-15-16-17 score sheet. Ethan Overby had the fourth place in 17:17.

South freshman Davis Kemp was 10th in 17:45. Garrison Raper (15th, 18:25), San Noe (16th, 18:36) and Keaton Sloop (17th, 18:38) arrived at the finish line in a decisive pack for the Raiders, who are coached by Tyler Downs.

Carson’s Jorge Clemente-Garcia, the Rowan County champ, won another major meet, flying on the Frank Liske Park course for a 15:50 clocking. Carson’s Eric Gillis, second to Clemente-Garcia in the recent Rowan County Championships, placed third. Carson’s Chance Simmons ran 17:25 for fifth place.

The Cougars’ next two runners were 24 and 43. Carson finished with a score of 76 and tied West Rowan (6-11-14-19-26) for fourth place.

Lake Norman Charter was third with a score of 74.

It was tight between the Raiders and Robinson, which placed three in the top 10. Robinson had runner-up Chase Tomkins, who ran 16:07 to finish between Clemente-Garcia and Gillis. Robinson’s total of 64 came from a 2-7-9-18-28 sheet.

All of the top 20 runners came from South, Robinson, Lake Norman Charter, West  or Carson.

Luke Henson (6th, 17:29) led the Falcons. Jonathan Medina (11th, 17:53) and Wayne Hall (14th, 18:25) were in the top 15.

East Rowan finished sixth at 137, with Northwest Cabarrus (207) and Concord (233) next.

Central Cabarrus did not compete.

Downs was honored as SPC Coach of the Year.