Hintz places second at Great American XC festival

CARY, N.C. – Cassie Hintz of Stillwater, a senior at Old Town High School, finished second Saturday in the prestigious Nike Race of Champions at the seventh Great American Cross Country Festival.

Hintz completed the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) course in 17 minutes, 35.1 seconds, trailing only defending champion and reigning Foot Locker national champion Aislinn Ryan of Warwick Valley High School in New York. Ryan, also a senior, was timed in 17:05.5.

Ryan and Cassie Hintz were among several runners who traded off the lead early in the race before Hintz took the lead during the third kilometer. Floridian Kelly Parrish then took the lead from Hintz before Ryan surged to the front on a downhill stretch late in the race.

Ryan quickly assumed control and moved out to a 30-second victory, with Hintz edging Keara Sammons of Aurora, Colo, for second place. Sammons was timed in 17:36.6.