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During the 2004 East Regional, a cross country runner from Wilmington called the Elks' Southern Pines Country Club course "Satan's Sanctuary."

At Tuesday's Mid-Southeastern Conference championships, the sanctuary was made even more imposing by the afternoon's hard rains.

But afterward you could tell that some of the victorious Pinecrest runners actually enjoyed sloshing and slipping around the 5K layout.

"It's awesome," said the Patriots' Amanda McKinney, who won the girls' race to complete an undefeated season in conference meets. "It makes it so much easier because you have something else to think about besides the pain of it all especially here because it's so hilly."

McKinney completed the race in 20:51. Freshman teammate Rebecca Dupre came in second (21:34) with her best performance of the season. She was followed in by Stephanie Shannon, Caitlin McArdle, Lauren Bishop and Lexi Schustrom as the Patriots took the first six places.

McKinney and the Patriots' Andy Wacker were named the Conference Athletes of the Year after the meet. Wacker kept his league unbeaten string intact by winning the boys' race with a time of 16:48.

Brett Baggett, Andrew Garrison and Mark Moon grabbed the second through fourth places for the Patriots. Billy Gehrung was sixth to complete the Patriot team score.

The Patriots' conference title was the 15th in a row for the Pinecrest girls and the 13th straight for the boys. Both girls' coach John Buchholz and boys' coach Ed Kelly were recognized as Conference Coaches of the Year.

The team scores for the boys' race were Pinecrest 16, Jack Britt 72, Seventy-First 86, Hoke 118, Scotland 118, Westover 164 and Douglas Byrd 168. The girls' results were Pinecrest 15, Scotland 50, Seventy First 65, Jack Britt 90 and Hoke 137.

Pinecrest also dominated the junior varsity races. Freshman Fay Chu, whose sister Lauren won the East Regional on the same course in 2004, won it for the Patriots. The boys' winner, was the Patriots' Travis Hart.

O'Neal Volleyball

O'Neal claimed third place overall in the conference with a 3-0 sweep of Calvary Baptist Day School on Tuesday in their final regular season match.

The Falcons swept the home team 25-12, 25-19 and 26-24.

They begin conference tournament action Thursday against either Salem Academy or American Hebrew Academy.

Leah Kelly led the way with five kills. Jackie Woodyear added 11 service points.

O'Neal finishes the season 11-6, 10-4 in the conference.

Tuesday matches, pending reports:

Girls' tennis -- O'Neal at High Point Christian, 3:30 p.m. (varsity-jayvee match)

Volleyball -- Pinecrest at 71st, 6 p.m.

Wednesday Schedule

Girls' tennis -- Union Pines, first round dual tournament; Pinecrest in dual team tournament, 5 p.m.

Boys' soccer -- Western Harnett at Union Pines, starting with jayvee match at 5 p.m.; Jordan-Matthews at North Moore, 6:30 p.m.; Pinecrest at Westover, beginning with jayvee match at 5:30 p.m.

Volleyball -- Douglas Byrd at Pinecrest, starting with jayvee match at 5 p.m. (Senior Night); Union Pines at Triton, Cape Fear Valley Conference tournament

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