Swift horses give way to swift humans when Pinecrest and about 30 other high schools compete in the 4A East Regional cross country championships at Carolina Horse Park in Hoke County Saturday morning.

The boys’ race is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by the girls’

run at 11:15.

The hosting Patriots won both titles a year ago at South View. Coach Jeremy Swofford’s boys have five runners back that finished in the top 14 in Jacob Troutman, Will Pearson, Becket Killam, Chris Kelly and Matt Harmody. Kelly is a two-time Southeastern Conference Runner of the Year.

Javier Bustos, Robert Anderson and Brandon Elliott all finished in the top 10 for the Patriots at the conference meet also held at Carolina Horse Park 10 days ago.

The Patriot girls are led by Jennie Cunningham, who also repeated as Southeastern Conference Runner of the Year. She was the runner-up to the graduated Shelby Howell of New Hanover at last year’s regional meet in a near-Patriot record time of 18:42.

Teammates Jaleigh Jensen, Katie Hayes and Sarah Pressley all finished in the top 12 of that 2011 race. The deep squad of coach John Buchholz also includes other top seven finishers from the recent conference meet in Mulloy Manning, Kelsey Rea, Zia Matti and Sarah Klug.