THE ROCK, Ga. (August 30, 2008) –
The Rock Ranch hosted The Rock Ranch Invitational cross country meet Saturday September 6 from 8am to 12:30pm. 24 high schools and 5 colleges competed in the first running of this new event. The top three colleges in men’s competition were Gordon College with an average time of 19:09, Clark Atlanta University (19:21) and Andrew College (20:09). The top college individual times recorded were by Mathew Lottes (17:25) of Gordon College in the men’s race and Phyllis Shelman-Ford of Clark Atlanta University (21:44) who led the Clark Atlanta women to 1st place in the team competition with an average time of 23:22.
High School Men’s
In the high school men’s overall competition, Oconee County placed first with an average time of (17:59) followed by Luella High (18:34) and Chamblee (18:44).
· The following schools received trophies for accomplishment within in the men’s competition within their class:
A: 1st place – Schley Co., 2nd place Marion Co. / AA: 1st place Pike Co., 2nd place Callaway /
AAA: 1st Place Oconee Co., 2nd place Eastside / AAAA 1st place Chamblee, 2nd place Ola /
AAAAA: 1st place Luella, 2nd place Shiloh
High School Women’s
In the high school women’s overall competition, Oconee County placed first with an average time of (22:13) followed by Luella High (23:13) and Landmark Christian (24:14).
· The following schools received trophies for accomplishment within in the women’s competition within their class:
A: 1st place Landmark Christian / AA: 1st place Pike Co., 2nd place Cross Keys /
AAA: 1st Place Oconee Co., 2nd place Eastside / AAAA 1st place Sprayberry, 2nd place Ola /
AAAAA: 1st place Luella, 2nd place Newnan
According to Adam Pugh, event coordinator at The Rock Ranch, “this event fits our purpose of uniting families with the land and each other. We must all be good stewards of the resources we are entrusted with and hosting a cross country meet on this beautiful 1250-acre piece of countryside seems like an excellent use of our resources. We look forward to developing this as an annual event.”
Justin Osteen, coach of Pike County High, was the coach that presented the idea of a cross country meet to The Rock Ranch and helped plan the event. Coach Osteen said, “This is a great course – A continuous 5k loop with no backtracking and great scenery. The course had rolling hills and was moderately difficult. Some of the runners were surprised to find they were running across real country with cows, horses, donkeys, geese, corn fields, hay fields, tractors, a locomotive train, many ponds, a windmill and unique Conestoga wagons.”