by Ricky Quintana

Cary, NC - The third edition of Great American XC Festival Middle School Championship crowned two cross country speedsters who will be ones to look for in the future.

In the boys race, Lewisville MS(NC) eighth-grader, Eli Sloop, collected his first title of the season running away from the field to win in 9:54.1.

Eli Sloop Interview

“ My goal was to come here to win and break ten,” said Sloop of his first race at WakeMed Cross Country Course. “ I had a blast and it was great competition. I’m so blessed to be here and praise God. Last year, I didn’t do any big meets and this year I wanted to get some experience to get ready for high school.”

Sloop was never headed and was 1:03 ahead of second place finisher, eighth-grader Spencer Lamb of Without Limits Triangle who finished second in 10:57.9.

In his last race, Sloop finished second to eighth grader Luke Surface of North Raleigh Christian at the Friday Night Lights XC Festival on September 5. There, Sloop held his own, finishing in 10:18.50 to Surface’s 10:01.30. Two weeks later, Surface went on to run the fastest time ever recorded in cross country 5,000m by an eighth grader, 15:12.10. Sloop has not been deterred by Surface’s outstanding times.

“ Seeing his [Luke] times makes me motivated. I just want to be faster than him. That’s my goal. No disrespect to Luke, he’s an absolute legend.” 

Surface will be running the Boys Race of Champions Saturday morning.

Splitting the boys first and second place finishers was 7th grader, Angie Alder of Provo, UT. The fastest US sixth grade miler of all time, 4:50.52, finished in a sizzling time of 10:46.1. 

Angie Alder Interview

Alder’s family were residents of North Carolina in her earlier years and they made the trek to Cary, NC this year so they could visit the places where they grew up and compete against some tough competition. Her older sister, Lily, US #5 ranked girls high school runner who will be running the Girls Race of Champions tomorrow morning gave her some tips before the race.

“ She said to work it up the hill and we had a joke that she has to go up it twice tomorrow and we were laughing that she has to go up it twice. It’s a hard hill. I had a good advantage because I run at altitude and here I can actually breathe.” 

Alder was well ahead of second place finisher, Zoey Bernys of NVA Track (Ashburn, VA) who ran 11:40.9. She came away feeling good about her winning effort.

“I just wanted to come in and finish in the top three. I wanted to give it 100 per cent. I probably could have gone faster at the start, but I think I gave it my all.”