Falcons Fly Fast at the NCISAA 2A State Championships
Recently, The O’Neal School Cross Country team closed out their season at the NCISAA 2A State Championships, hosted at the iconic McAlpine Creek Park in Monroe, NC. Known for its flat, fast terrain and scenic views of three lakes, the course offered just two small hills—but plenty of opportunities for personal bests and fierce competition. Coming off a strong showing at the SAC Conference Championships the week before, the Falcons were confident, hungry, and ready to leave it all on the course.
The Varsity Girls set the tone for the day. Haddie Habets and Natalia Henderson worked together seamlessly, feeding off the competition and their shared drive to push beyond limits. Both athletes are known for racing with heart and grit—never backing down from a challenge. Out of 86 runners, Henderson finished 27th overall with a time of 23:06, while Habets was close behind in 31st with 23:40, shaving valuable time and showing tremendous growth throughout the season. Watching the two of them race side-by-side was a masterclass in determination and teamwork.
Next up, the Varsity Boys took the line—fired up after watching their teammates’ strong performances. From the gun, the Falcons committed to racing hard. Chris O’Melia made a bold move early, surging with the top 15 through the first mile. His fearless strategy paid off, earning him a 19th-place finish in 18:14. Sam Schmitz followed with a gutsy effort of his own, channeling his competitive fire to finish 32nd in 19:38. Nathan Reifenstahl, running his final race as a Falcon, pushed his body to the limit and beyond, crossing the line in 21:07 (69th) after an inspiring performance. Jack Browning, competing in his first varsity state meet, executed his plan perfectly—starting conservatively and steadily picking off runners to finish 79th in 21:55. Mason Wicks capped off the day with a breakthrough race, running a lifetime best of 23:12, improving his previous PR by over two minutes!
In total, the Falcon Cross Country team shattered expectations—collectively breaking season bests by 6 minutes and 20 seconds, with five athletes earning lifetime personal records. It was a thrilling finish to a season defined by grit, teamwork, and mental toughness. The Falcons left McAlpine not just faster, but stronger—both mentally and physically—and ready to build on their success for next season.
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