Milton High School defends Best Overall Program Title. 7th Championship in the last 10 Years
The Milton High School Cross Country Team hosted the 2013 Fulton County Public Schools Cross Country Championships Saturday & defended its Best Overall Program Title with wins in both JV Races and a 2nd and a 3rd in the Varsity races.
Lindsay Billings of Northview has separation from the 'Chase Pack' Image by Kendall Wilkinson
Varsity Girls
In the toughest contest of the day for Milton, the Lady Eagles defended their home course with vigor but succumbed to a much deeper and stronger Centennial team and the upfront presence of the Lady Titans of Northview. The Lady Knights put all 5 of their scoring runners in the top-17 to win the race (1st-50 pts) to easily dispatch 8 schools. In a close battle for runner-up honors, the front running finishes by the Lady Titans of Northview (2nd-75 pts) out placed the strong pack running of the Lady Eagles (3rd-78 pts). Roswell was 3rd (83 pts). Leading Milton was sophomore Riley Burr (10th-21:46) with her fastest time ever on the Milton course. Right on her heels was senior co-captain Abbey Jordan (11th-21:47). Junior Juanita Pardo kept the Lady Eagles in contention for the runner-up spot with her 14th place finish (22:02) and was backed up by a strong effort from junior Amy Ruiz (20th-22:41). A heroic effort by senior Kim Toscano (28th-23:29) put Milton up near the front. Strong races by senior co-captain Rachal Cronin (33rd-23:53) and junior Hallie Howell (36th-24:04) concluded the Lady Eagle effort. The third place team finish scored 2 points towards the overall best program trophy award.
Drew Kelley of Roswell the Bridge enroute to the Overall Boys Title Image by Kendall Wilkinson
Varsity Boys
In a huge turnaround from their 11th place finish a week ago at the WarPath Invitational the Eagles ran a strong team effort and matched the Roswell Hornets through their number 5 finisher but fell just short and placed second. Roswell (1st-39 pts) held off the Eagles (2nd-57 pts) who were 187 points behind them just a week ago at the WarPath Inv.
Leading Milton was the smart & steady race effort from sophomore Clay Marshall (4th-18:10). Marshall was in the hunt for the win even after the 3-mile mark as the top-4 finishers were only 8 seconds apart. Fellow sophomore Jack Bluth closed well to almost take Bjorn Leicher of Cambridge (Milton Time Trial winner) at the line (6th-18:21). The Eagles kept close to the Hornets with a strong group as their next 3 finishers were within a span of only 29 seconds. Senior co-captain Kevin McGorrey (10th-18:46) led this group with junior Connor Cole (13th-18:50) and sophomore brother Matt McGorrey (24th-19:15) closing out the scoring. Big race efforts from juniors Mikey Newell (26th-19:21) and Preston Meade (33rd-19:34) closed out the runner-up effort. Milton garnered another 3 points to the best overall program trophy with this 2nd place team finish.
JV Girls
The first race of the day set the tone for Milton with the Lady Eagles dominating the race with all 5 scorers in the top-11 places to win the meet and easily beat 9 schools in the process. Milton (1st-38 pts) fought off a stubborn Northview squad (2nd-49 pts) along with Centennial (3rd-65 pts). The Lady Eagles had another superb effort from senior co-captain Katie Robinson. Her 4th place finish (23:50) got the scoring rolling as sophomore Anna Renko backed up her good race from last week after going out hard to place 5th in 23:52. Milton then brought the pack into the mix with strong finishes from juniors Michelle Pick (8th-24:30) & Meagan Thistleton (10th-24:35). Next to follow was the amazing effort from senior co-captain Addie Luxton. Moving thru the field the entire race, Luxton was able to move into a medal winning position and conclude the scoring for Milton with her 11th place finish (24:42). Great efforts by sophomore Victoria Wagner (19th-25:19) & junior Hayden Estes (34th-26-flat) secured the win for the Lady Eagles. The win scored 3 points towards the best overall program award.
JV Boys
In a race that was never in question, Milton put 5 finishers in the top-11 but secured the top-3 positions in the race to easily defeat 10 schools. The Eagles (1st-25 pts) easily outdistanced Northview (2nd-53 pts) and Roswell (3rd-58 pts). Running from the front, a trio of Milton runners each took a shot at the meet win and when the barkchips settled sophomore Jacques DuPlessis pulled away in the last 300 meters to secure the overall win! (1st-19:10). A solid effort by fellow sophomore Brock Schutt (2nd-19:17) and freshman Michael McCarthy (3rd-19:21) put the Eagles in the driver seat. Senior Brendan Kemple finished well in 7th (19:35) and carried along with him sophomore John Fravel (12th-19:54). Milton closed out their team win with stellar efforts from senior Peter Randall (14th-19:58) and freshman Valera Stettner (15th-20:04) putting 7 runners in the top-15! The win also garnered 3 points towards the overall best program award.
Best Overall Program Award
Unique to this meet, this award goes to the school that scores well in ALL 4 races contested at the meet. The Eagles of Milton were able to defend their title with 11 team points to easily dispatch 3 other scoring schools. Northview had a strong showing (2nd-9 pts) with Roswell (3rd-7 pts) followed by Centennial (4th-7 pts). This is Milton’s 7th best overall program award in the last 10 years. Milton (2004-05, 2008, 2010-2013), Northview (2006-07), Centennial (2009).
