A Private Boys Team

17:03 Team Average for 3 Miles at the Atlanta Classic for 3rd Place. The defending State Champs stay at #1 this week as they defeated Whitefield (#3) at this meet. Coach Thorn’s group was once again led by Frosh sensation Zach Truitt (16:03) Kameron Jackson (16:32) and Jack Drury (16:53). They all can contend for All State honors (Top 10) in Carrollton. Truitt (the rising star) versus McCauley (former State XC Champ) for the State Individual Title will be a fun race to watch at both the Area 3 Meet and State Meet. The War Eagles still the favorites right now for the Single A Title but Hebron and Whitefield may make it close.

17:54 Team Average on the difficult Coach Wood Course for 7th place in the Varsity Gold Race. They handled Wesleyan (#4) easily at Coach Wood and once again become a State Championship contender. Coach Mike Beaudreau’s team has reac reached the mountain top before and we will learn more about them at the Athens Area Meet this week. Junior Brandon Potra (17:10) and Sophomore Ethan Selph (17:16) led the way for Hebron at Coach Wood. Both have legitimate All-State Potential this fall.

17:22 Team Average for 3 Miles at The Atlanta Classic for 5th place. Sophomore Devin Wade (16:20) is a strong contender for the top 7 at the State Meet. This team was third a year ago and may challenge both Hebron and Landmark for the State Title. Besides Wade, Whitefield is led by junior Zach Justice (17:08) and senior Nick Harris (17:34). They are the strong favorites in the Darlington Area meet later this week.

18:29 Team Average at The Coach Wood Invite for 17th place in the Varsity Gold Race. This squad- who did not make the State Meet in 2016- is having a strong comeback year but take a minor step back this week. The great thing for Coach McDaniel’s group is that the Athens Area Meet is quickly approaching and we will see where this team stands before the State Meet. Freshmen Mac Howie (17:27 at Coach Wood) and Senior Peter Hess (18:05) continue to lead the Wolves.

The Golden Bears had four people under 5 minutes for 1600 meters this year in their annual time trial. They had two last year when they placed 10th at the State Meet. They are peaking at the right time for Coaches Neugebauer and Jayaraj. The Area 3 Meet on the Georgia Meet of Champions course this week will give a hint of if they can compete for a podium spot or not. Junior Porter Null (4:53) and Senior Blake Morain (4:57) continue to lead HIES. Null has run 16:59 this fall and was 11th at the State Meet last year.

18:08 Team Average for 4th place at the Clarke-Oconee Area Championship Meet. Junior Alex Branch (16:59), Senior Ryan Iver (17:13) and Sophomore Graham Blanks (17:04) all finished in the top 10 at the Clarke-Oconee Meet. They all can contend for All-State honors (Top 10) this fall. The key for the Spartans to make the podium is for their 4 and 5 to stay near the top 50 at the State Meet. They seem to have the second best 1-3 punch after Landmark but lack the depth of the teams ahead of them. They will compete on their home course against Wesleyan and Hebron later this week so we will find out quickly how good this team can be at State.

Did not race this past weekend but they earn this spot thanks to State Favorite Griffin McCauley (15:31 at Asics) and junior Alec Tubbs (16:25 at Asics). Their low sticks should help Paideia get out of a tough Area 3 meet this week on the Heritage Church course (site of the GA Meet of Champs). Freshmen Elijah McCauley (17:24 at Asics) will help Coach Amanda Sautter as well this week.

The Patriots had a 19:21 Team Average at Coach Wood Invite (Cardinal Division) for 6th place. They earn this spot by beating Galloway head to head at Coach Wood. Strong Rock is led by the sophomore duo of Hank Guinade (17:49) and Justin George (18:03). Making it to the State Meet out of Area 3 is going to take a complete team effort for the Patriots this coming up Thursday afternoon.

19:39 Team Average at Coach Wood last week. Senior Alex Van Schoor (17:47 at Coach Wood) continues to lead the Scots. Galloway is going to need a great effort this week to maintain their long streak of qualifying for the State Meet. The Scots- under Coach Beatty- always seem to run their best at the State Meet so look for a very exciting and close Area 3 Meet this Thursday.

DNR this past weekend and they get the Final 10 spot going into the Area Meets based on the strong front running of their top 3. Landon King (16:54), Joel Duffie (16:58) and Luke Hudson (17:03) all had great races at the Asics/Alexander Invite a few weeks ago. Those three should allow Providence to get the last State bid out of the Athens Area later this week.