All-Area Cross Country: Hoggard's Summers, Laney's Kelmer make senior statement

There was a time when Hoggard girls cross country runner Ashlei Summers loathed running.

"I hated running in middle school," Summers said of her introduction to cross country. "I remember coming away from the first two practices crying because I hated it so much."

Something changed as she got to high school, and so did her results. Putting together four seasons of varsity running at Hoggard, Summers had her breakout season as the area's best girls runner in 2023, and it wasn't even close.

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Pilling up a host of conference meet victories, the senior ran the area's fastest girls time (17:40.58) in the Mideastern Conference championship in October. She wasn't done yet, taking home first place in the NCHSAA 4A East Regionals and fourth in the state championship.

"I knew I could improve a lot more this season," Summers said of her mindset this year. "Every race I went into, I knew I could get better and stronger and have fun with it. That's what I did, and it was a great experience overall."

For most of her high school career, Summers was good, but not quite the best. Often lost in a talented field of Wilmington-area runners, she got her turn in the spotlight this fall and didn't waste a second.

"With the graduates who graduated last season, I knew pretty early that I didn't have any competition," she said. "I used it as an opportunity now that (other girls) graduated and was like, this is my time now. I've got to prove it to myself."

Beating the second-place finisher at the MEC championship by over 13 seconds, the senior was no stranger to gapping the competition this fall.

"I love leading," Summers said after winning the MEC championship in October. "It's been great, but it gets pretty boring out there by myself, I kind of wish I had someone to race against there."

But what exactly turned Summers, who vividly remembers her distaste for running just a few years ago, into one of the area's most skilled and enthusiastic athletes? She's not sure.

"I honestly don't remember what changed for me," she said. "I think it could just be seeing the improvement and that I could really do it. Something changed, and I just started to love this sport."

While becoming enthralled with cross country might remain a mystery, her dominance this fall was unquestionable. Summers recently committed to South Carolina, where she'll run as a Gamecock next fall.

"This year, it was a great atmosphere on our team," Summers said. "That's what really makes it all worth it. The fun times with my team and all the memories shared that's why I love cross country so much."

2023 StarNews All-Area Girls Cross County Runner of the Year: Ashlei Summers, Hoggard

Winning the Mideastern Conference Championship with an area-best time of 17:40.58 and placing second at regionals, Summers was in a lane of her own in 2023. The senior finished first in every MEC race she competed in this fall, ending the season with a fourth-place finish in the NCHSAA 4A state championship.

2023 StarNews All-Area Girls Cross Country: First Team

Elise Hunneyman, freshman, Hoggard: The freshman started her career fast, finishing fourth in the MEC Championship and setting a personal best time of 19:10.98.

Danner Harrison, sophomore, Ashley: Harrison placed seventh in the Mideastern Conference Championship and 30th at regionals.

Amelia Medlin, freshman, Hoggard: Medlin is the only area girls runner (besides Summers) to break 18 minutes this fall, finishing second in the MEC Championship. The freshman also finished fourth at regionals.

Annie Mulligan, senior, Hoggard: Mulligan earned a personal best 5K time of 18:53.66, placing third in the MEC Championship and 15th at regionals.

Camryn Oates, junior, Laney: The junior was the only non-Hoggard girls runner in the top 27 finishers at regionals.

Miranda Short, freshman, Coastal Christian: Short set a personal best of 18.39.26 as she placed first in the Coastal Plains Independent Conference Championship.

2023 StarNews All-Area Girls Cross Country: Second Team

Sophia Bush, Laney; Emma Gibbs, Cape Fear Academy; Ellie Harrington, South Brunswick; Mary Katherine O’Malley, Laney; Samantha Keeler, Hoggard; Kendall Harrell, Laney; Kylie Petrides, Cape Fear Academy;Ella Warren, Laney; Ayla York, Hoggard;

2023 StarNews All-Area Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year: Daniel Kelmer, Laney

Kelmer's senior season proved to be his best, earning a second straight MEC title and running the area's best time of 15:43.15. The Buccaneer runner finished third at regionals and 14th in the NCHSAA 4A state championship.

2023 StarNews All-Area Boys Cross Country: First Team

Aedon Schroeder, sophomore, Hoggard: Schroeder exploded this postseason, posting the area's best boys finish at regionals (2nd) and in the state championship (13th).

Luke Adams, senior, Hoggard: Adams built off an incredible junior season by posting the area's third-best time of 15:45.52 in the New Hanover County Championship.

Owen Reece, junior, Topsail: Reece surprised some at the MEC Championship as he beat out Schroeder and Adams to take second place thanks to a personal best time of 15:44.82.

Pierson Guerrant, senior, Hoggard: The senior broke 16 minutes for the first time this fall, placing third in the MEC Championship.

Corban Cazier, sophomore, Coastal Christian: Cazier finished third in the NCISAA state championship, breaking 16 minutes in his second high school season.

Lukas Malek, junior, Laney: Malek's best performance came in the MEC Championship, where he placed sixth with a time of 16:12.42.

2023 StarNews All-Area Boys Cross Country: Second Team

George Adams, Laney; Aiden Andrews, Hoggard; Connor Andrews, Hoggard; Bryson Hollis, West Brunswick; Ryan Ibarra, Hoggard; Riley Kiziah, Hoggard; Christian Miller, Cape Fear Academy; Thad O'Neil, Coastal Christian; Dylan Park, Ashley; Isaiah Perry, Ashley.

All-Conference

Mideastern Conference Girls

Player of the Year: Ashlei Summers, Hoggard

Coach of the Year: Rhonda Schilawski, Hoggard

Team Sportsmanship: Entire Mideastern Conference

First Team

Amelia Medlin, Hoggard; Annie Mulligan, Hoggard; Elise Hunneyman, Hoggard; Camryn Oates, Laney; Catalina Veldwijk, Hoggard; Danner Harrison, Ashley; Savannah Moore, Hoggard

Second Team

Mary Katherine O’Malley, Laney; Ella Warren, Laney; Samantha Keeler, Hoggard; Ellie Harrington, South Brunswick; Ayla York, Hoggard; Kendall Harrell, Laney; Sophia Bush, LaneySavannah Moore, Hoggard

Second Team

Mideastern Conference Boys

Player of the Year: Daniel Kelmer, Laney

Coach of the Year: Billy Mason, Hoggard

Team Sportsmanship: Entire Mideastern Conference

First Team

Owen Reece, Topsail; Pierson Guerrant, Hoggard; Aedon Schroeder, Hoggard; Luke Adams, Hoggard; Lukas Malek, Laney; Gabriel Archibald, Hoggard; Ryan Iberra, Hoggard

Second Team

Connor Andrews, Hoggard; Isaiah Perry, Ashley; Riley Kiziah, Hoggard; Dylan Park, Ashley; Bryson Hollis, West Brunswick; George Adams, Laney; Aiden Andrews, Hoggard

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 2023 StarNews All-Area Cross Country: Hoggard's Ashlei Summers