Freshmen and sophomores boosted Pinecrest as the boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams both qualified for the 4A state championships at Saturday’s East Regional meet.

The Patriot girls finished second to West Johnston and the boys came in third behind first place South View and runner-up West Johnston in the races held at Wake County’s Wendell Park.

The top four teams from each region qualified for the state meet that will be held at Beeson Park in Kernersville this Saturday. Team scores are based on a team’s five best times.

Shelby Howell, of New Hanover, won the girls’ 5K race with a time of 18:41. Led by sophomore Jennie Cunningham’s eighth-place finish (19:40), all seven of the Patriot girls finished in the top 34 of a race that included 141 contestants. Five of the seven Patriot runners posted personal-best times.

The other six Patriots included freshman Mulloy Manning, 11th (19:51), senior Alexa Zoellner, 20th (20:15), sophomore Sarah Pressley, 21st (20:17), sophomore Hayden Rudd, 30th (20:43), sophomore Kara Zoellner, 30th (20:44) and junior Katana Lemelin, 34th (20:56).

Patriot girls’ coach John Buchholz has been encouraging his squad to run as close to each other as possible.

“They pushed each other and I’m hoping more of them get personal bests this week,” he said. “Mulloy had a fantastic race.”

Senior Landon Sherwood, the runner-up to teammate Connor Kelly at the Southeastern Conference championship meet, led the Patriot boys with a 20th place finish (16:46). Luis Vargas of Harnett Central won the race in 15:17.

All seven runners for the Patriot boys finished in the top 42 in a field of 144. They included freshman William Proulx. 27th (17:07), Kelly, a senior, 31st (17:16), sophomore Becket Killam, 34th (17:23), senior Tyler Clark, 36th (17:27), freshman Matthew Harmody, 37th (17:27) and sophomore Jacob Troutman, 42nd (17:38).

Proulx and Harmody had the second and third best times by freshmen in the meet. Only two sophomores posted better times than Killam.

“I feel like Proulx broke through some barriers and moved himself up among the best freshmen in the state,” Patriot boys’ coach Jeremy Swofford said. “Matt Harmody also had a good race.

“I feel pretty good about states. We’re a young team and I think finishing in the top 10 is a good goal for us.”

Contact Charlie Bergmann at cbergmann@nc.rr.com.

Team scores for state qualifying teams — Boys — South View 61, West Johnston 63, Pinecrest 143, Jack Britt 158; Girls — West Johnston 35, Pinecrest 85, New Hanover 116, Terry Sanford 118.