Concord Robinson's Clifford Buck and Natalie Andrejchak sweep N.C. 3A West cross-country titles

Clifford Buck and Natalie Andrejchak have more in common now than just being teammates on J.M. Robinson's cross country team.

They're now both champions, leading the Bulldogs to a sweep of the individual titles during Saturday's NCHSAA 3A Midwest Regional meet  at McAlpine Creek Park.

Weddington's boys and Marvin Ridge's girls claimed the team titles at Saturday's meet, and advanced to next week's NCHSA 3A state championships in Kernersville.

It was the second straight regional title for Andrejchak, a sophomore who finished fourth in last year's NCHSAA 3A state meet.

Her performance -- finishing 21 seconds ahead of Marvin Ridge's Melanie Hussey -- helped the Bulldogs to a second-place finish in the team standings and a berth in the state meet.

"It wasn't my best time," said Andrejchak, who completed the five-kilometer McAlpine course in 18 minutes, 51 seconds. "Those hills (in the first third of the course) were killer. They're all in one place, and it can kill you. But once I got to the flatter areas, I was able to pull away."

Marvin Ridge had three runners finish in the top 10 to take the girls team title, beating Robinson 50-64. Also qualifying for the state meet were teams from Weddington (75) and Charlotte Catholic (86), and individual runners Kelsie Simpson from A.L. Brown, Central Cabarrus' Alex Vandenberg, and Maddie Lowe, Emma Hand and Kara Dunkle from Northwest Cabarrus.

Meanwhile, Buck claimed his first regional title after finishing sixth in last year's 3A Midwest regional meet as a junior and 30th in the 3A state meet.

His win was a lot closer than Andrejchak, however -- seven seconds ahead of Charlotte Catholic's Evan Georges -- and came despite battling a case of tendonitis in his right Achilles heel.

"I've been thinking too much and psyching myself out, and I don't race well," said Buck, who finished in 16:07. Today, I just didn't think about it and I wound up in front at the start. That's when I started pushing it to widen the gap."

Weddington beat out Marvin Ridge for the boys team title 63-83. Also qualifying for the state meet were teams from Charlotte Catholic (98) and East Rowan (116).

Buck was joined as an individual state qualifier by teammate McCann Sheridan, Carson's Kyle Gillis and Zachary Marchinko, and Alex Cornwell from Hickory Ridge.

Midwest 3A Regional Meet
McAlpine Greenway Park

BOYS TEAM
1. Weddington 63
2. Marvin Ridge 83
3. Charlotte Catholic 98
4. East Rowan 116
5. AL Brown 138
6. Carson 149
7. Robinson 178
8. Concord 205
9. West Rowan
10. Cox Mill

BOYS INDIVIDUALS
1. CJ Buck (Robinson) 16:07
2. Evan Georges (Catholic) 16:14
3. McCann Sheridan (Robinson) 16:16
4. Tanner Glackin (Weddington) 16:20
5. Matthew Phillips (Catholic) 16:23
6. Kyle Gillis (Carson) 16:28
7. Luke Warner (Weddington) 16:29
8. Daniel Ferguson (Marvin Ridge 16:37
9. Alex Cornwell (Hickory Ridge) 16:45
10. Cal Meyers (East Rowan) 16:46

GIRLS TEAM
1. Marvin Ridge 50
2. Robinson 64
3. Weddington 75
4. Catholic 86
5. Northwest Cabarrus 114
6. AL Brown 166
7. Hickory Ridge 220
8. East Rowan 241
9. West Rowan 251
10. Concord 299

GIRLS INDIVIDUALS
1. Natalie Andrejchak (Robinson) 18:51
2. Melanie Hussey (MR) 19:12
3. Mallary Price  (Weddington) 19:19
4. Morgan Garrett (Weddington) 19:24
5. Margot Corcoran (Catholic) 19:31
6. Maddie Lowe (NW Cabarrus) 19:34
7.; Nicole Renwick (MR) 19:48
8. Emma Hand (NW Cabarrus) 19:53
9. Kylie Hennessey (MR)19:55
10. Katie Miller (Robinson) 20:09