The North Stokes cross country team traveled to Boone on Saturday to participate in the Pioneer Clash of Classes.

This was a unique meet with runners competing against other runners in their class and they would on run a 3K instead of a 5K.

“This was a great meet for us to start the season with,” Coach Rodney King said. “It is allowing us to see where our runners are this early in the season.”

The Viking cross country team has grown from last year. Last year the Vikings fielded a team of five girls and three guys. This year the Vikings have 18 runners — 10 boys and eight girls.

“We have more than doubled our numbers this year. We have had several upcoming freshmen join the team, we have had several who ran track with us in the spring and enjoyed it, and we have a couple of new runners who are running with us to get in shape for basketball or wrestling,” King said.

The Lady Vikings return Jodie Lemons, who was the Northwest 1A/2A Conference Runner of the Year and state runner up from last year.

They are also returning Jordan Amos, Erin Condon, Caitlin Rhodes, and Elizabeth Klapmeyer. The boys are returning Austin Edmonds, Travis Sexton, and Joey Swanson.

The Vikings had a successful opening meeting. Both the boys and girls team finished second in team scoring behind 4A cross country powerhouse Watauga High School. Eleven out of the 17 Vikings that participated in the meet won medals in their respective races. Freshman Hannah McBride won the freshman girls race in 13:31. Jodie Lemons also won the freshman girls race setting a new Vikings 3K cross country record with a time of 12:27.

Austin Edmonds finished second in the senior boys race. He also set a new Viking 3K Cross Country record with a time of 11:25.

“We had a great day, these runners have been working hard since July and it was good today to see get some fruits for the labor,” said King.

Other Vikings who finished in the top 10 of their races were: Taylor Mabe (7th Freshman) 16:02; Jordan Amos (3rd Sophomore) 13:44; Caitlin Rhodes (7th Sophomore) 16:08; Elizabeth Klapmeyer (8th Junior) 15:25; Erin Condon (9th Senior) 15:29; James Hammonds (3rd Freshman) 12:35; Peter Swanson (10th Freshman) 14:39; Sean Condon (5th Sophomore) 11:55; and Travis Sexton (10th Sophomore) 12:38.