Gaston College cross country team, Wilson set school and program history at 2024 Region 10 championships

Gaston College's cross country program and sophomore Keirieonna Wilson set school and program history on Saturday morning in the 2024 Region 10 championships at the Cleveland Community College course in Shelby.

Coach Kody Kubbs' Rhinos won their first cross country title - and the school's first fall sports championship - and Wilson became Gaston College's first individual champion.

"We've been focused on this, really since we started our summer training," said Kubbs, whose team holds practice sessions as early as 5:15 a.m. at least once a week. "Every conversation that we have has been about wanting to peak at the region championships. It feels good that all of our hard work, the early morning practices, and the work we've put in has paid off. It's a testament to these young ladies."

Wilson led four Rhinos' runners to finish in the top nine with four of them finishing among the top seven to earn All-Region 10 honors.

Wilson finished the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes and 59.56 seconds to win Region 10 runner-of-the-year honors.

Lexi Birtwistle (4th place in 21:00.18), Maddie Frank (5th place in 22:20.94) and Abbygale King (6th in 25:48.75) joined Wilson on the All-Region 10 team. Abigale Harris (9th in 27:14.88) wasn't far behind to close out the Rhinos' five scorers.

Alayna Cook (14th place) and Sara Scoggins (21st place) also competed for Gaston College, which finished with a collective team score of 19 to easily out-distance runner-up Louisburg's 39-point finish. Kubbs also was honored as Region 10 coach of the year.

"Winning the region championship was a big goal going into the season and we knew it was a possibility," said Wilson, a sophomore from Statesville who attended South Iredell High School. "I'm happy we met those goals. It's very satisfying."

Wilson has been Gaston College's individual medalist in all nine meets in which she has competed in her two-year career.

A year ago, Wilson finished third in the Region 10 championships as Gaston College finished as Region 10 runner-up for a second straight year.

Birtwistle, a freshman from Belmont's South Point High School, says Saturday's strong finish will give the Rhinos extra motivation as the team is now qualified for National Junior College Athletic Association national championships on Nov. 9 at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va. and Wilson, Birtwistle, Frank and King will compete in the NJCAA's Half Marathon championship event three days later on Nov. 12 at Dorey Park in Richmond, Va.

"I think it gives us a lot of momentum," Birtwistle said. "We're all excited. We knew we could do it and we did it. (Coach) Kubbs believed in us and we believed in ourselves."

The cross country team has been fundraising throughout the season to help contribute toward tournament fees and travel expenses. Please consider supporting our runners and their trip to the national championships by donating at https://org.eteamsponsor.com/ETS/supportUs/805036643.