Region 8-AAAAAA Brookwood Boys, Girls Stampede the Horse Park

Region 8-AAAAAA Championship
Bruce Taylor

                                       Region 8-AAAAAA  Brookwood Boys, Girls Stampede the Horse Park  (Contributions by Mike Demarest)

                                                                                                                           (all Images by Jonathan Speights)

                                                                                                             Varsity Boys

                                                      
                                                              Brookwood's David Giuliano holding off Grayson's Jonathan Ernst just before the finish mats.           
 
It's fairly evident that, barring a catastrophe, Marietta's boys will be difficult to compete with, but don't count out Brookwood -- they could have a strong showing at State next week after their region performance.  Archer got out to the early lead with several runners leading the pack through the first 800m.  Parkview, Grayson, and Brookwood all followed.  A little after the mile mark, it was still a pack of around 20 or so guys - mostly Brookwood, Parkview, Archer, and Grayson at that point.  That's the way it remained until around 800m to go when it became clear that it was a Brookwood vs. Parkview duel up front (around 11 guys - 6 Brookwood, 3 Parkview, Jonathan Ernst of Grayson, and Axel Avelos of Central).  O'Brien made a move up the final hill to make his bid for the championship with Herrera, Ernst, and Guiliano covering the move the most.  Down the final hill Ernst made his bid to win and Guiliano tagged behind and eventually outdueled Ernst for the region championship.  
 
                                                    
                                                             More of the Broncos' herd heads to the finish line including Patrick Smith and Chris O'Brien
 
The Broncos took 4 of the top 5 spots enroute to topping an improved Parkview squad by 33 points. Holding the reins for them was sr. David Giuluano as he won the Overall race in 16:44. Teammates Patrick Smith (16:51), Chris O'Brien (16:53) and Ben Cook (16:55) were also impressive in cold, windy conditions. Parkview, under young coach Mike Demarest (another Andy Christie pupil), clawed their way to 2nd as a team behind the pack running of seniors Kumail Kazmi 6th (16:59), Luis Herrera (16:59) and Jackson Wise (17:00). The Rams of Grayson are state bound, having placed 3rd led by the 2nd place effort of Jonathan Ernst at 16:45. Archer coach John McCartney (a prolific long haired distance runner back in the day) whipped his troops into shape for a 4th place team finish.
 
                                                                                                               Varsity Girls
 
                                                  
                                                           Brookwood's Lauren Flynt won the Individual title leading the Lady Broncs to the team title
 
The Girls race was a bit tighter than the boys, with Brookwood risin' up running to another team title and defeating a game Parkview squad by only 4 points.. Flynt of Brookwood and Gomez of Grayson took the early lead with Weiler of Parkview in close quarters.  The top 3 never changed throughout the race.  Weiler lost some ground to Gomez and Flynt in the second half of the race.  Somewhere in the woods during the final mile, Flynt gapped Gomez and won fairly handily.  Weiler charged late and came up just short of catching Gomez for the top 3.  Knudsen of Archer was running in a chase pack for the first half of the race and separated somewhere in the second half and hung on for 4th in front of 2 charging Broncos of Brookwood.  
 
                                                   
                                                                               Yanely Gomez of Grayson HS hoofs it placing 2nd for the Rams in 19:26
 
The girls' team battle was great.  Brookwood, Grayson, and Parkview all entered the race with legitimate chances of winning.  Parkview's 2-4, Brookwood's 2-5, and Grayson's 2-4 were all battling it out in a pack for most of the race.  Brookwood would prove to the the strongest as they put 3 in front of Parkview and Grayson's 2 to do enough damage to win the meet.  Parkview fought a strong effort to finish 2nd only 6 points back and ahead of Grayson only 11 points back of 2nd. The key to victory was placing 3 ladies in the top 6 spots including Overall Champ soph Lauren Flynt, clocking a 19:17 with juniors crossing the line in unison at 20:27, including Maria Coughlin and Ashton Askew. Parkview's team was sparked by soph Melody Weiler's 3rd place effort in 19:28 and Rachel Hurst's 7th in 20:29.  Grayson's gals join the boys q'ing for State in 3rd, led by overall runnerup jr. Yanely Gomez at 19:26. Dacula secured the final team nod in 4th, led by Emily Butrum's 13th place run. McKenzie Knudsen from Archer Q'd as an individual, placing 4th in 20:22.
 
                                                   
                                                                Parkview Sophomore Melody Weiler led the Panthers to a strong 2nd place team finish  
 
 
 

Below are the performances entered for the meet that met the national silver standard.

HS Girls
5,000 Meter Run 19:17.24 Lauren Flynt Brookwood
5,000 Meter Run 19:26.57 Yanely Gomez Grayson High School
5,000 Meter Run 19:28.10 Melody Weiler Parkview High School

3 National Elites. 16 Elites.