It hardly went by script. Still, Deep Run High’s girls enjoyed a happy ending to the Central Region track and field meet.

After losing all of what had been a 23-point lead, the Wildcats pulled away from Manchester in the end, prevailing 86-84.5 at Sports Backers Stadium.

“That’s why you run the meet,“ said Deep Run coach Lake Stockdreher. “All the program (based on preliminary results) gets you is lane assignments.“

Sophomore Madalyn Nuckols’ fourth-place finish in the 3,200 put Deep Run ahead by 4.5 points entering the final event—the 1,600 relay.

The Lancers took second (8 points), but Deep Run was fourth (5 points) to hold on, nervously.

Deep Run’s mile-relay foursome of sisters Julia and Samantha Drapec, Charlotte Spriggs and Madison Spagnola had just to enough to foil Manchester.

It also helped Deep Run that Prince George rallied to take first after Manchester—with Kacen Delphin surging to a leadoff 15-meter lead—led after two laps.

After two laps, Manchester was first and Deep Run sixth a combination that would have made the Lancers champs.

“Really, I never thought we had a chance,“ said Manchester coach Gene Bowen. “Even when we took the lead, I couldn’t understand how.“

Manchester last won the Region title in ‘94, but Bowen’s Lancers—a perennial bridesmaid—have been second five times.

Heavily favored Deep Run lost a possible 20 points when Jay’vonne Bowman—top seed in 200 and 400—pulled up lame in the quarter.

It’s unlikely Bowman will race at next weekend’s Group AAA championships in Newport News

Also, Deep Run got only six points in the triple jump when seeding indicated a 17 bonanza.

Stockdreher made no excuses.

“I’m sure Manchester was disappointed in some events, too,“ he said.

The Lancers’ star was sophomore Desiree Russell, the 100 and 200 champ in personal-record times. She also anchored Manchester’s third-place 400 relay.

“My mother and my brother told me it would be my day,“ said Russell. “I said ‘okay, good for me.‘“

Russell began wearing glasses this year in competition.

“It’s not as blurry, and I can see the competition,“ she said.

In this meet, however, she would have needed eyeglasses in the back of her head to see her foes.

Deep Run added the outdoor region title to the indoor crown it won in February.

The Wildcats placed in 11 of the 17 events and 20 different girls scored points in a 33-team event.

Every little bit helped.

Sophomore Courtney Dobbs, fifth seed at 1,600, took fourth. Dobbs didn’t run track last spring and is doubling this season in track and soccer.

“We’ve got sprinters, jumpers, long-distance runners—someone good in just about every event,“ said Joanna Hassell, second in the 100 to Russell.

This was the second straight year that Deep Run has been involved in a “photo finish” for the team title.

In ‘07, Deep Run fell by one point to Rachel Butler-led Lee Davis. Butler just finished her freshman year at Nebraska and attended last night’s meet.

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