Green Hope's girls cross-country team has won the last two 4A state championships, and if their performance at Wilmington's Seahawk Invitational on Saturday is any indication, they're likely to win it all again.

The Falcons placed five runners in the top 10 of the girls championship event - scoring 23 points, which was well ahead of second-place Carrboro (71) - led by first-place finisher Erica Amatori (18:33).

Maura McDonnell (3rd, 18:58), Lauren Colberg (4th, 18:59), Sarah Alexander (6th, 19:13) and Jessi Rossabi (10th, 19:30) also added to Green Hope's victory over 32 other top cross-country teams.

In the boys championship event, Cary finished third behind only Cardinal Gibbons and Charlotte Ardrey Kell. The Imps' top runner was Bakri Abushouk (6th, 16:31), but also saw Abel Tecle (8th, 16:34) finish in the top 10.

The Green Hope boys, led by Tom Nobles (14th, 17:08), took fourth in the Seahawk Invitational, while Apex was seventh.

The Apex girls finished eighth, while Cary was 17th.

There was another competition at the Seahawk Invitational for the next flight of varsity teams. Middle Creek was the only area team in either "varsity" competitions, and the Mustangs won them both.

The boys team were led by first-place finisher Chilton Birdwhistle (17:02) and runner-up Jamal Avery (17:34), while the Middle Creek girls were led by Emilee Hensel (3rd, 20:53).

Falcons awarded Wachovia Cup: At halftime of Saturday's UNC-Chapel Hill home football game, Green Hope was officially awarded the state Wachovia Cup trophy for the best overall athletic program among N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A schools in the 2010-11 athletic season.

The award is given to the school which has the best postseason success, and the Falcons won two state titles last year.

Gaffney to decide: Green Hope girls basketball player Kristen Gaffney will announce where she will attend college today at a press conference at 3:15 in the school media center.

Gaffney, a two-time all-state selection, had committed to Virginia Tech before her junior season, but re-opened her recruitment when previous coach Beth Dunkenberger resigned.