The cold rain that plagued the Sandhills for the previous two days gave way Wednesday to a virtually cloudless blue sky and unseasonably warm temperatures for the Pinecrest Polar Bear track and field meet.

Pinecrest head coach John Buchholz said that these December competitions are usually called “Polar Bear” meets for a reason.

“We had one right before the kids got out for break that was pretty miserable (due to the frigidness),” said Buchholz. “The weather cooperated today.”

Six schools were represented, a decent showing for a meet scheduled during the winter holidays. Pinecrest, Douglas Byrd, and South View fielded the largest turnouts.

Several veteran Pinecrest runners put in winning performances, including junior Jennie Cunningham.

In the girls’ mile run, Cunningham left Patriots Sarah Pressley and Sarah Klug in the dust to take the victory in 5 minutes and 29 seconds.

The Pats’ state champion track runner from last season took the lead right from the starter’s gun and extended it with every lap, winning off by herself in a virtual no-contest.

Although it wasn’t a PR (personal record) for Cunningham, she was pleased with the performance nonetheless.

“I really came out to qualify (for states), to see how my training has helped me so far this season,” she said. “I got the qualifying time I needed. I wasn’t expecting a PR so early in the season.”

A track star at Pinecrest since she joined the team in 2009, she was the NCHSAA 4A State Winter Track champion last season in the 1000 meter run. In addition to breaking multiple Pinecrest school records, she already has several regional and conference track titles to her name from the past two years.

Another Patriot runner, Katie Hayes, maintained a short lead over teammate Hayden Rudd throughout the girls’ 1000-meter run, winng by nearly 10 seconds.

Hayes, a sophomore who achieved PRs in the 1600 and 3200 runs earlier this month, said she met her expecations for the meet. “I haven’t done that event since last year,” Hayes said, “so I’m glad I did better (time-wise) than before,”

Three Pinecrest runners and a Pine Forest runner went out quickly in the boys’ mile run, staying in a pack about 50 meters in front of the others for the first couple of laps.

Junior Chris Kelly managed to create from distance from Pine Forest’s Rayon Reid and fellow Patriot Becket Killiam on the final circuit of the track, winning with a time of 4:58.00.

Kelly went on to win the boys’ two mile run later in the day.

Austin Puleo, a senior from O’Neal running unattached, took a commanding lead at the start of the boys’ 500 dash and appeared to be poised for the win. But Douglas Byrd’s Frank Ourales challenged Puleo on the last straightaway and nipped him at the finish to steal the victory by nine hundredths of a second.

“I was a little frustrated,” said Puleo. “I should have pushed myself more the last 100 meters.”

Puleo redeemed himself later in the day, running a 52-second 400 as an individual during the boys’ 4x4 1,600 relay.

“I was proud of that performance,” he said. “I want to run it in 49 (seconds) by the end of January.”

Puleo said he’s hoping to qualify in the 400 for the New Balance Indoor National Championships in New York in March.

Union Pines did not have a large representation at the meet, but had several good results from their field event competitors. Viking Spencer Walden easily won the high jump and the triple jump. His result of 6 feet in the high jump qualified him for the state meet.

Walden, a senior, was the NCHSAA 3A state champion last year in the high jump and the 3-A Cape Fear Valley Conference’s male track athlete of the year.

Ben White, also a Viking, won the pole vault and was second in the high jump.

Overall, Buccholz said he was very pleased with the Pinecrest team’s results.

“We’re doing good,” Buchholz said. “It gave all our kids a chance to compete and a reason to practice.”

“Lots of kids have gotten PRs today, which is fantastic for this early in the season.”