Region 7-AAAAAA ReCap Mill Creek Boys Seize Title
On a brisk cool morning with temps in the mid to upper 40s at race time, Region 7 determined their champs and qualifiers for state. Kevin Mills of Peachtree Ridge won the overall title in 15:42 leading his squad to 2nd place. Mill Creek's boys came back strong from Coach Wood taking the team title placing 3 runners in the top 5 positions. The Ridge Girls easily won the girls title placing 5 in the top 11 as Addy Lippitt took the overall win in 18:37.
Boys
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Kevin Mills, Tyler Woodrome and Daniel Ellis round a corner in the Boys race Image by Jonathan Speights
Kevin Mills led pretty much from start to finish winning the overall title at 15:42. Mill Creek's Tyler Woodrome was 2nd early, then faded a little and teamate Eric Westog took over 2nd for the majority of the race. The team race seemed to be in Peachtree Ridge's hands, but a couple of Collins Hill runners passed their #3 and 4 towards the end, Woodrome outkicked Daniels Ellis, and MC senior Josh Arceneaux passed Robert Bevins of Mountain View in the last 400 meters, all which formulated to lead to a 2 point victory for Mill Creek over Peachtree Ridge.
Mill Creek placed 3 harriers in the top 5 including seniors Eric Westog placing 2nd behind Mills in 15:56, Tyler Woodrome in 3rd at 16:07 and soph Sam Costa 5th in 16:10. Collins Hill placed 3 runners in the top 9 finishing 3rd in the team standings led by senior Daniel Ellis in 4th at 16:08. Also congratulations to Mountain View, who qualified for State and for the first time in their school history led by Donald Shelton in 15th.
Girls
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Addy Lippitt (l) of Peachtree Ridge and Lauren Hovis (c) of Mill Creek had a classic duel in the Girls race Image by Jonathan Speights
The region 7 girls field went out aggressively with most of top 10 through the mile mark in well under 6:00. It quickly turned into a classic duel between Ridge's Addy Lippitt and Mill Creek's Lauren Hovis as they separated from the field Hovis held a slim lead early, with Lippit pulling up next to her later, and they pretty much were together until 1K to go. Hovis made a move and looked to be pulling away, but with around 400 to go, Lippitt began gaining on her and in the last 150m unleashed a massive kick to win going away clocking a 18:37 to Hovis' 18:44. Finishing in the top 6 were Mill Creek's Hannah Lopez in 19:14, Courtney Czerniak in 19:18, Caroline Williams of the Ridge in 19:20 and Rebecca Winslow of Mountain View 19:22.
Peachtree Ridge easily won the girls title placing 5 in the top 11 behind Lippitt and Williams top efforts. Collins Hill was 2nd scoring 66 points led by Mariah Maring's 9th in 19:37 and Lenore Luce's 10th in 19:44. Mill Creek came in 3rd with 88 paced by Hovis and Lopez and North Gwinnett punched their ticket as well to state next week.