Battle of Atlanta Preview
This season marks the 6th edition of the wildy popular Battle of Atlanta that has grown in size every year. The meet is held at Nash Farms Battlefield, a former Civil War battlefield which was part of Grant's Union Army campaign and the site of a portion of the Battle of Atlanta. Last year's meet attracted close to 2000 runners. The Nash Farms course is a 2.5 loop 95% grass course. Most consider the course moderate and it is the most spectator friendly course in Georgia and one of the most beautiful open courses in the state. One can stand almost anywhere you like. This course is very viewer friendly from just about any spot on the course. If you stand on the hill in the middle of the course, the narrowest part , you can watch almost every step of the race. As long as you can identify your athletes you can pretty much get each mile split without moving from your spot. The Nash course has become popular through out the cross country world. GISA hosts several meets there each year. Ga State hosts their invitational at Nash and has hosted their conference meet there. Last year Emory hosted the Division 3 NCAA regional meet at Nash.
Coach Claude Spinks informed us, "The county built a lawn mower dirt track in the middle of the previous start field. I wasn't happy to learn of it 2 weeks before the meet but it did force me to make some changes that I think do make the course even better. The new start field offers a lot more space and the finish area is a big improvement. It is now essentially a 200m long 10m wide track."
This season marks the 6th edition of the wildy popular Battle of Atlanta that has grown in size every year. The meet is held at Nash Farms Battlefield, a former Civil War battlefield which was part of Grant's Union Army campaign and the site of a portion of the Battle of Atlanta. Last year's meet attracted close to 2000 runners. The Nash Farms course is a 2.5 loop 95% grass course. Most consider the course moderate and it is the most spectator friendly course in Georgia and one of the most beautiful open courses in the state. One can stand almost anywhere you like. This course is very viewer friendly from just about any spot on the course. If you stand on the hill in the middle of the course, the narrowest part , you can watch almost every step of the race. As long as you can identify your athletes you can pretty much get each mile split without moving from your spot. The Nash course has become popular through out the cross country world. GISA hosts several meets there each year. Ga State hosts their invitational at Nash and has hosted their conference meet there. Last year Emory hosted the Division 3 NCAA regional meet at Nash.
Coach Claude Spinks informed us, "The county built a lawn mower dirt track in the middle of the previous start field. I wasn't happy to learn of it 2 weeks before the meet but it did force me to make some changes that I think do make the course even better. The new start field offers a lot more space and the finish area is a big improvement. It is now essentially a 200m long 10m wide track."
Last year Brad Hort of Mcintosh gave us an early glimpse of his Footlocker form when he broke Bailey Roth's course record in 15:46/ Older sibling of current Lakeside Evans harrier Christian Bowles, Anna, still holds the girls course record of 18:47.
The Varsity Championship races should be very exciting to watch with a number of power programs running. With Marist running their jv the boys race looks to be a battle between Mcintosh, Lagrange, Marietta, Blessed Trinity, Whitewater, Lakeside Evans and Union Grove. The girls varsity race will be a showdown between perennial powers Blessed Trinity, St. Pius, Lakeside Evans and Mcintosh being challenged by Bolles, FL.
The girls individual title will be a battle between Kathryn Foreman of Landmark and Bolles' top 2 girls Mackenzie Wilson and Ally Hajda with Nicole Fegans of Landmark in hot pursuit. The lead pack of boys will include Christian Bowles of Lakeside Evans, Matt Munns of Blessed Trinity, Austin Decker of Bolles, John Raville of Whitewater and Lagrange's front runners Sam Bowie and Andrew Coggins.
Race Schedule
8:00 am: Varsity Boys 5K (top 10)
8:30 am: Varsity Girls 5K (limit 10)
9:10 am: JV Girls 5K (unlimited entries)
9:50 am: JV Boys 5K (unlimited entries)
10:30 am Varsity Awards
10:50 am: Middle school/youth boys and girls 3K (3000m, unlimited entries)
11:30 am JV and Middle School Team awards (medals awarded in the chute)
The Varsity Championship races should be very exciting to watch with a number of power programs running. With Marist running their jv the boys race looks to be a battle between Mcintosh, Lagrange, Marietta, Blessed Trinity, Whitewater, Lakeside Evans and Union Grove. The girls varsity race will be a showdown between perennial powers Blessed Trinity, St. Pius, Lakeside Evans and Mcintosh being challenged by Bolles, FL.
The girls individual title will be a battle between Kathryn Foreman of Landmark and Bolles' top 2 girls Mackenzie Wilson and Ally Hajda with Nicole Fegans of Landmark in hot pursuit. The lead pack of boys will include Christian Bowles of Lakeside Evans, Matt Munns of Blessed Trinity, Austin Decker of Bolles, John Raville of Whitewater and Lagrange's front runners Sam Bowie and Andrew Coggins.
Race Schedule
8:00 am: Varsity Boys 5K (top 10)
8:30 am: Varsity Girls 5K (limit 10)
9:10 am: JV Girls 5K (unlimited entries)
9:50 am: JV Boys 5K (unlimited entries)
10:30 am Varsity Awards
10:50 am: Middle school/youth boys and girls 3K (3000m, unlimited entries)
11:30 am JV and Middle School Team awards (medals awarded in the chute)