Faces In The Crowd

AKILE JONES

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. > FOOTBALL

Akile, a 5'8", 150-pound senior running back at LeJeune High, rushed for 490 yards and six touchdowns in 35 carries to set the North Carolina single-game rushing record and surpass the 2,000-yard season rushing mark in a 47--30 win over Dixon High. The LeJeune High Devilpups are all children of active duty U.S. Marines, and this is the first year since Akile was a freshman that his father, Gunnery Sgt. Hal Jones, previously deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been able to watch his son play.

SARAH BAXTER

SIMI VALLEY, CALIF. > CROSS-COUNTRY

Sarah, a sophomore at Simi Valley High, ran the fastest girls' time at the 3-mile Mt. SAC Invitational (16:59) to repeat as individual champion and lead the Pioneers to the Divisions I and II team sweepstakes title. The reigning D-I champion, Sarah took the lead after the halfway point to win by 32 seconds. Last year she was named Gatorade's California girls cross-country runner of the year and also won the 3,200-meter track title with the season's top girls' time in the state and fifth in the nation (10:13).

EVAN LARATTA

GAITHERSBURG, MD. > CROSS-COUNTRY

Evan, a senior and co-captain at Quince Orchard High, ran a 16:00.82 to win the Montgomery County Championship 5K at Gaithersburg Farm Park for a personal record and his first-ever major varsity win. He dedicated his race to his mother, Judy, who is fighting cancer that has spread to her bones. She watched from the finish line as Evan pulled away from the race leaders with about 1,000 meters left after he heard his coach yell out, "Do it for your mother," and won by nearly nine seconds.

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