Highland graduate Grace Wassell, a sophomore at Wake Forest, placed 9th out of 121 runners Friday at the Firetower Run in Boone, N.C.
Wassell ran a lifetime-best 21:19 for 6,000 meters on State Farm Field, Appalachian State University’s home course.
This was Wassell’s 4th 6,000 and her fastest by more than a minute. She ran 22:.21 at the XC23 College & Open in Charlottesville, Va., last October.
Wassell was Wake’s 6th runner. The Demon Deacons went 1-2-4-6-7-9-11 and outscored host Appalachian State 20-63 to win the team title.
Wake Forest is ranked 5th in NCAA Division 1 Southeast Region by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
As a freshman, Wassell ran 4:29.46 for 1,500 meters in a meet in Charlotte in April, equivalent of a 4:51.02 full mile.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 