Maura McDonnell, Bakri Abushouk win Tri-9 cross country again

By J. Mike Blake, mblake@newsobserver.com

CARY - It was déjà vu entering Wednesday’s Tri-9 Conference cross country championships as Maura McDonnell and Bakri Abushouk were favored to win and defend their titles. But to them, things felt different.

Green Hope’s McDonnell had little reason to doubt herself, but winning the conference for the second straight season came as a relief as she helped give the Falcons their fifth straight league title.

Abushouk, on the other hand, could’ve had plenty to worry about. Injuries suffered during and after this stage of the year have derailed state championship hopes in previous seasons. But he was carefree while crushing the field at WakeMed Park, winning by 46 seconds en route to his third straight conference championship and his school’s first team title in more than a decade.

As a senior who’s been hampered by injuries in each of the last two state championships, Abushouk knows anything can happen in the next few weeks.

Because he’s seen that play out in person, he’s at peace with what the future holds.

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Maura McDonnell, Bakri Abushouk win Tri-9 cross country again