ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Freddie Mercado

Randleman, cross country

Mercado was the winner of the boys’ race in the Piedmont Athletic Conference championships last week at Wheatmore’s 3.1-mile course. Mercado, a senior, finished in 18 minutes, 48 seconds for a 10-second edge on teammate Jedidiah Dake.

Providence Grove won the team title by one point on Randleman.

Earlier in the month, Mercado was 61st out of 182 runners in the Hagan-Stone Cross Country Classic in Pleasant Garden.

The PAC girls’ race was won by Providence Grove junior Laurel Bernhardt in 21:51. The runner-up was Wheatmore’s Scarlett Hildreth (22:55). Wheatmore was first in the team standings with Providence Grove in second place.