NCRunners Elite Invitational Recap

Boys Seeded:

Coming in to the day this race had no clear cut favorite. Right away Christian Landis (PDS) shot to the front and took the pack out quick. He was not alone by any means. At the half mile mark nearly the entire field was together in a pack. Murphy Smith (Ardrey Kell) was right on Landis' shoulder just like at the Hare & Hounds duel. Unofficially they crossed through the mile in a blazing 4:56.

That pack did not last for much longer, however. Landis and Smith decided to push the pace and quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field. As they made their way down the long grass straightaway they only increased their lead. 

As they neared the loop for the final time Landis was sitting on the shoulder of Smith. In their first match-up this season at Hare & Hounds Smith got the best of Landis. As they came charging down the straightaway it was neck and neck. Landis, however, prevailed over the last 50m to take the victory. He crossed the line in 15:42 with Smith coming in at 15:46. 

After the race Landis was happy to get the victory. "I knew that I had a lot of training under my belt, trust your fitness." 

Ryan Motondo (Walter Williams) had a great back half to the race and closed hard finishing in 3rd in 15:54. Elliott Kleckner had a bounce back performance and captured 4th in 16:01. Christopher Upton (RS Central) and Aaron Rovnak (Franklin Academy) battled down the stretch. Upton was 5th in16:08 and Rovnak 6th in 16:10. Austin Brotemarkle (Forestview) was 7th in 16:14.

Jay Shanahan (Durham Academy) outlasted a final push from Jacob Laney (Porter Ridge) and Jacob Scott (North Lincoln/NLTC) finishing in 16:16.04 to Laney's 16:16.35 and Scott rounded out the top 10 in 16:16.83.