Georgia Schools and Top Individuals Dominate at Furman Gene Mullin (SC)

Photos by Angie Butzow

Furman Univ, Greenville, SC

Georgia-based schools & top-individuals continued to dominate the results at the 45^th running of this iconic race on the Furman University golf course.

 

VARSITY GIRLS

On the individual side, senior Anna Marian Block (1^st-19:23) of Athens Academy (GA), took control of the lead just about halfway on the 3-loop course and powered away for the easy victory. Block ran her first competitive effort of the season and is a multiple-time winner of this race over the last 3 years!  Breanna Roy (2^nd-19:35) of David Crockett HS (SC) was runner up and led a few times in the early going with Macey Morgan (3^rd-19:45) of Mauldin HS (SC) outkicking sophomore Abby Rindt (4^th-19:45) of Milton HS (GA) for 3^rd.  

Rounding out the top-5 was junior Taylor Cushman (5^th-19:56) of Milton for a course personal best!  With 3 finishers in the top-8 and 6 finishers in the top-19 and only a 42-second spread among their top-6, the Lady Eagles of Milton (1^st-45 pts) easily dispatched 13 schools. David Crockett (2^nd-98 pts) and JL Mann (3^rd-112pts) trailed. Milton put its 7 scorers ahead of almost every team's number 4 finisher to win the team title for the fourth year in a row.

 

Team Champion Milton HS Girls

VARSITY BOYS

The individual battle upfront took an interesting twist a Milton (GA)-ranked 10^th in the US ran the race as a workout opening the door for a surprise winner!  Following suit, a Georgia-based runner was again the champion, as junior Calan Gizelbach (1^st-16:04) of Forsyth Central (GA) pressed the pace from just after the mile mark, to pull ahead for a decisive 6-second victory. Gizelbach, will be a contender for an individual qualifying spot for the GA State meet in 2 weeks.  Andrew Hamel (2^nd-16:08) of Christ School (SC) was runner-up followed by Coen Roberts (3^rd-16:13) of Greer HS (SC).

As noted earlier, the Eagles of Milton let their 7^th man lead the team effort and that held to form all the way to the finish line as freshman Hayden Marshall (9^th-17:00) paced Milton (1^st-58 pts) to the team victory.  The Eagles used a 3-second spread among its top-5 runners to turn back a gallant effort by Providence Day School (2^nd-71 pts) (SC) that put 3 runners in the top-10 and ahead of any Milton finishers.  Eventually the Eagles were able to place all 9 of their finishers ahead of Providence Day's 5^th and final scorer.  Forsyth Central (3^rd-134 pts) took the final podium spot over Archer HS (4^th-146 pts) (GA).

Top 10 Varsity Boys

Milton may need to build a new trophy case after this season, as the Boys rolled again..

Junior Varsity Girls

In the most thrilling & compelling team race of the day, the Lady Eagles of Milton (1^st-28 pts) just edged-out JL Mann (2^nd-30 pts) as both teams put all their runners in the top-10! Madison Meurer (1^st-21:58) of JL Mann took command early and was the overwhelming winner as Maggie Gibson (2^nd-22:55) of Milton gamely hung on for 2^nd as JL Mann's Mary Featherstone (3^rd-22:58) followed. JL Mann had 3 finishers before Milton's 2^nd but the Lady Eagles put 6 total finishers before JL Mann's 4^th runner to snatch the team victory!

Junior Varsity Boys

For only the 7^th-time in their school history, Milton (1^st-15 pts) recorded a perfect score in winning the final race of the meet and completing another sweep of all the team races for the 4^th consecutive year of this meet.  JL Mann (2^nd-64 pts) and St Josephs (3^rd-141 pts) trailed as the Eagles bested 10 schools.  Milton put 7 runners in the first 7 overall positions to achieve the rare feat with senior captain Andrew Blizzard (1^st-17:54) capturing the title followed by fellow seniors Austin Meuller (2^nd-18:15) and fellow captain Jack Rush (3^rd-18:27).