Atlanta Track Club Weekly XC Wrap
There were many meets this week during SAT Saturday, including some large weekday events that had some significance on rankings in the Small School classes. Featured meets have been covered like Great American, Cobb County Championships, Westover Invitational, Mountain Invitational and Florida's Bale n' Trail. Let's take a look at some of the smaller events including Athens Academy Meet 10-2, GISA Southland Invitational, Fayette County Championships, Cobb County MS Championship, and the Wesleyan Invite #2.
Athens Academy Home Meet 10-2
We overlooked the results submitted by Coach Walton, and discovered them Sunday, but Athens Academy hosted a big weekday meet on Thursday as HS/MS squads duked it out under hot conditions slowing down times quite a bit on the tough Spartan course. North Oconee won both HS races as their girls edged Collins Hill (6A JV squad) and their boys squad romped to a 62 point victory margin over Archer (not sure they ran their V Boys) Emily Measel led the 3A ranked Titan ladies posting a 21:23 with teamate Allie Dominicalli 100 meters out in 21:43. NOHS boys (without Harper Sigler who's out w/ injury this Fall) were led by Tyler Jones in 17:03 and Thomas Moore placing 3rd in 17:18 Athens Academy's Adam Hearn took 2nd on his home course in 17:11.
Clarke MS was impressive winning the MS Boys race with 51 points. Gabe Mantione-Holmes was 1st in 11:26 edging George Walton's Jesse Reid at 11:29 The Athens Academy MS Girls have the potential to win the team title down in Cochran and are spot-on faves to takke the Ga.MileSplit.com MS Challenge this Wednesday. The Spartans scored 21 ponts securing 5 of the top 8 spots sparked by Anna Marion-Block's swift 11:30...
Cobb County MS Championships
Its a crazy thing that counties as populous as Cobb and Gwinnett do not support school teams for the least expensive sports like Cross Country and Track...as scores of these young kids become future stars at their rising high schools. Despite that, kudos go out to Coach Jason Scott at Harrison HS as he does a tremendous service in organizing and timing meets for all these MS athletes and their Club teams. Congrats, and good luck to all the athletes competing down in Cochran in 2 weeks!
Andrew Scott (7th grader) of the Jr Hoyas took the overall Boys title clocking a strong 11:27 on the newly renamed Allatoona Creek Course (formerly Cobb County Corps) The Junior Mustangs from Kennesaw Mtn. dominated the team race scoring 25 points led by the duo of Will Bullock in 11:44 and Nicholas Thompson at 11:50 Kira Stanley was the overall champ on the girls side repping Lovingood MS clocking a 12:28 with Erin Hobbs of the Jr Hoyas 2nd in 13:01. In a shocker, Mount Bethel Christian took the team title led by Talia Staude who came in 5th at 13:40.
Wesleyan Invite #2
Wesleyan's home course is more than likely one of the top 5 toughest xc courses in Georgia. Don't expect athletes to pr/sb even after the midway point this season. Clarkston has been the 4A Boys surprise squad this Fall, and these guys kicked some butts in Norcross this past weekend scoring a mere 28 points placing 5 dudes in the top 8 spots. Clarkston was led again by Muhozi Aimable in 3rd place at 17:46 followed closeby by teamate Hussen Sadik a few strides back in 17:48. Logic would suggest host Wesleyan did not go full bore on this day..Shane Sullivan of Mount Pisgah was the overall champ in 17:12 chased by Northview's Josh Salter crossing 2nd in 17:22.
The Girls race it was very clear the Lady Wolves rested their #1 ranked AA gals as Northview took an ez win scoring 31 points. Parkview's JV squad was 2nd in the team scoring. Tayler Tuttle of Providence Christian, again raced (surprisingly) working her way around a much tougher layout taking the overall girls title posting a 19:11 with Lindsay Billings of Northview 2nd in 19:35
Fayette County Championship
In an incredible duel at the beautiful Heritage Christian Church course, Jon Raville of Whitewater nipped Joshua Mattingly of McIntosh at the finish line in 16:32 taking the boys overall title. Starrs Mill took the team title with 40 points for a 11 point victory margin over Whitewater. Hailey Gollnick of Starrs Mill ran unchallenged taking the Girls overall win in 19:42 McIntosh claimed the Girls team title pushed by Allyssa LeClaire's 2nd place finish in 20:24 followed by frosh teamate Rachel Ward in 20:31. Starrs Mill's #2 was out sick which could have amounted to a 21 point swing, but that's XC for you.
Southland Invitational (GISA)
Last week there wasn't enough data to revamp GISA rankings but the Southland meet had a couple of strong squads competing this Saturday. Southland's Boys defended their home turf easily besting Covenant Academy from Macon by a comfortable margin placing 4 in the top 6 spots. Wright Calhoun took the boys overall win in 17:26 and Westminster Augusta's Evan Downs was 2nd in 17:49. In the Girls race Covenant ttok a narrow win over Southland by 7 points. Mary Alice Smoot of Valwood continues to race every weekend and show marked improvement smoking all in the Girls race clocking a 20:02