For the third straight season, Jack Anstrom has won the N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A boys cross country state championship.

Anstrom, a senior at Seaforth, was the only runner to finish with a time under 16 minutes, crossing the finish line in 15:52.89 — comfortably ahead of second-place Zeb Mathis of West Stokes, who finished in 16:07.48.

This marks the first time since 1992 that a 2A boys cross country athlete has won three straight state championships. Tommy Trehern of Swain County won three consecutive titles in 1990, 1991, and 1992 at McAlpine Park in Charlotte.

Anstrom’s time on Saturday was just 12 seconds off the 2A state record at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville.

Brevard had two runners finish in the top five. Avan Hinkle placed third with a time of 16:21.15 and Keaton Campbell finished fourth with a time of 16:24.93.

Anstrom’s Seaforth teammate Will Cuicchi rounded out the top five with a time of 16:33.06.

Hinkle and Campbell led Brevard to the 2A team title. The Blue Devils accounted for 37 points. Ezra Stubbs finished 12th with a time of 16:56.01 and Max Bailey placed 16th with a time of 17:04.50.

Brevard has now won two straight state championships and three of the last four. The Blue Devils have titles in 2021, 2023, and 2024.

Seaforth finished second in the team standings with a score of 89. Anstrom and Cuicchi led the Hawks to their second place finish. Henry McFall finished 17th for Seaforth with a time of 17:05.20.

Owen (111), West Stokes (156), and Franklin Academy (161) finished in the top five of the team standings as well.