Clinton High School’s cross country program closed out its season with major positives, highlighted by two individual state qualifiers and multiple personal bests. Coach Perry Gillespie said Friday’s trip to the 4A NCHSAA regional championship showcased just how far the program has come.

“We actually were out for a state championship, and I had two runners that made it as individuals,” Gillespie said in a recent interview. “They both are juniors, Ruby Davila and Haley Matthis. They both did very well. They didn’t medal, but they both ran their personal best times, so it was amazing.”

Davila made the return trip after also qualifying as a tenth-grader. “Ruby started running for me as a sophomore so she placed last year. She qualified for states last year, and she qualified for states agai

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