According to Pinecrest girls’ cross country coach John Buchholz, Carolina Horse Park got good reviews from runners and spectators alike at Saturday’s first Patriot Derby Classic.

The Patriot boys and girls fared well too, taking both team titles as well as producing the individual winners in three of the four 5K races.

Chris Kelly of Pinecrest won the boys’ championship race, and teammate Robert Anderson was first in the boys’ open run. Jaleigh Jensen of Pinecrest was the runner-up in the girls’ championship race won by Lavinia Cotto of Jack Britt. Abby Verchick of Union Pines was fifth.

Sarah Klug of Pinecrest won the girls’ open run.

More than 400 runners from 17 schools took part in the event held at the park located in Hoke County. There was a charge for parking that was waived for people that donated canned goods to the Manna food charity.

Both the Southeastern Conference championship and East Regional meets will be held on the course next month.

“It’s on the horse track and you can see who is chasing you the last three-quarters of a mile,” Buchholz said. “It goes through the woods on horse trails, up and down, and on a grass surface. There is plenty of space for parking and for spectators. I think it was a success.”

The top five teams in the championship races were: boys – Pinecrest 32, South View 58, Ashley 105, Pine Forest 114, Hoggard 120; girls – Pinecrest 48, Hoggard 78, Jack Britt 79, New Hanover 110, South View 112. The Union Pines girls finished seventh and the Viking boys came in 10th

The top 15 finishers in each race received medals. Following are the Pinecrest and Union Pines runners that earned medals along with their places and times: boys championship – 1. Chris Kelly (P) 17:07, 4. Becket Killam (P) 17:27, 5. Matt Harmody (P) 17:28, 6. Jacob Troutman (P) 17:33;

girls championship – 2. Jaleigh Jensen (P) 21:21, 5. Abby Verchick (U) 21:37, 6. Sarah Pressley (P) 21:37, 8. Jennie Cunningham (P) 21:49;

boys open – 1. Robert Anderson (P) 17:50, 2. Brandon Elliott (P) 18:06, 3. Tommy Delaunay (P) 18:39,

girls open – 1. Sarah Klug (P) 22:24, 2. Rachel Von Cannon (P) 22:38, 3. Katie Hayes (P) 23:03, 11. Rachel Stewart (P) 24:21, 12. Jordan Edmondson (P) 24:31.