WINTERVILLE - Despite the cool early morning temperatures, South Johnston didn't have enough red-hot individual performances Saturday morning in the NCHSAA 3-A East Regional Cross Country meet.

But while the Trojans failed to earn a team berth, they did qualify a pair of individuals to this Saturday's state meet at Tanglewood Park in Winston-Salem.

Based on their respective fifth- and ninth-place overall finishes, Cirilo Perez and Nathan Raynor will attempt to claim an individual state championship.

Perez, the Eastern Carolina Conference champion, completed the 3.1-mile H. Boyd Lee Park course in17:12.51, just under a minute of the winning time posted by Nash Central's William Bass.

"I ran a good race," Perez said. "I was trying to pace myself and had a 5:25 split on the first mile."

Perez said the top two places were out of striking range, but had a shot at third until the stretch.

"The first two runners were way ahead of me [at the mid-way point], but the next two [Brenden Johann of West Carteret and Josh Drew of White Oak] were with me until the final stretch," Perez said. "They began kicking and I couldn't keep up."

Raynor was timed across the line in 17:47.87, three seconds out of sixth place.

"It's kind of hot now, but it was cool for the race," Raynor said. "It was an easy course, and had two hills in the woods near the end.

"I wanted to run a 17-flat today, but I'm satisfied with what I did."

Bass was followed by teammate Tevin Richardson, who posted a time of 16:38.88 seconds in a one-two finish as they led the Bulldogs to the team title with a score of 57points. Nash Central was followed in the team standings by West Carteret, which tallied 89 points, Jacksonville White Oak third (135), meet co-host D. H. Conley fourth (136), Wilson Fike fifth (152) and South Johnston (155).

"Cirilo ran good," said Trojans coach Joe Loia. "He and Nathan did exactly what I asked for them to do on their splits - not them not to panic, not to go out too fast.

"I wanted them to go out in 5:20, 5:25 (on the first mile) make sure they were 10:40, 10:45 for the second mile - that was key."

Loia said the tandem was running around 30th at the half-mile mark and 15th at the mile and continued to move u through the field.

However, other runners expected to contribute had rough days, particularly Patrick Worthington, who is battling the effects of a recent illness. Worthington finished 26th overall in a time of 18:17.90.

"I feel bad for him," Loia said. "He had a lot of goals coming into the season, and he is still feeling weak from that [the illness]. I was hoping he would have his best race of the season, but it wasn't to be."

Trey Gay finished 58th overall for the Trojans in the 126-man field in a time of 19:39.80 while Davon Draughon, the fifth Trojan finisher, completed the course in 19:48.50 for 62nd overall.

Others entries for theTrojans were Phillip Clinton (74th, 20:11.29) and Joe Tinker (82nd, 20:52.65).