(all photos by Matt Almand)
AAA Boys
Collin Bertram of Augusta Prep leads a pack of runners early as he took 7th in 18:39.
Jack Collier eyes the finish line with a smile, knowing his team mates packed it in behind him.
In what was basically a 'tempo run' for Jacob McLeod, leading from the gun, never looking back, earning another Individual title in AAA clocking a 16:20. McLeod's training now will be focused on Foot Locker South, as he will aspire to repeat as a National Finalist and All American.
Trinity Dublin's Quillian Holland earned Overall runnerup honors posting a 16:54.
Hans Troyer's 3rd place effort of 17:34 led Trinity Sharpsburg's Boys squad to 2nd place as a team.
The 2017 GISA AAA Boys Champs, Augusta Prep.
The 2017 AAA Boys runnerup team was Trinity Christian Sharpsburg.
AAA Girls
Augusta Prep came full circle after placing 2nd in 2016, easily winning the GISA AAA Girls title by 28 points over 2016 champ Trinity Christian Dublin. The Lady Cavaliers placed 3 Girls on the All-State squad, led by veteran harrier Jamie Holodak who finished 4th Overall in 21:11. Grace Ellis chipped in with a 6th place run of 21:16, while Molly Joseph took 9th in 22:25.
4 Augusta Prep Ladies in 1 frame, assured a winning snapshot.
Jamie Holodak placed 4th, leading Augusta Prep to the GISA AAA team title.
Janie Samson and Karmen LeRoy of Trinity Christian Dublin led the race thru the mile.
It was a battle for runnerup honors after Samson pulled away..
Janie Samson, separated from the chase pack, posting the fastest Gals time of the day in 20:23.
Camryn Bridges from Deerfield-Windsor (Albany) powered to 2nd Overall going 20:52.
Its hard to lose when your top 5, places in the first 11 team spots, as GISA AAA Girls Champ Augusta Prep did Saturday.
AA Boys
Fugees Academy left no doubt to their superiority in GISA AA, as the other 'Boys of Clarkston' dominated the field, earning their 2nd consecutive GISA AA Boys team title. Most, if not all, of the team, are also Soccer players, as its the only Sport mentioned on their school website. Fugees took 3 out of 4 of the top places, led by Aseli Adum going wire to wire taking the Overall win in 18:27. Asad Bashir closed the final mile on Aseli taking runnerup honors in 18:32. At 4th was Thadee Barge posting an 18:47.
Aseli Adum, took a commanding lead and held on for the Invidual AA title.
Fugees duo mixes it up early with host Monsignor Donovan.
Asad Bashir came on strong the final mile closing in on Adum before running out of trail..
Sam Potter of St. George's Episcopal eyes a 3rd place Individual finish, leading his school to 2nd as a team.
Its Fugees Academy for the win by 40 points taking the AA Boys team title. I wonder if some of these guys train with Clarkston in the off-season...
St. George's Episcopal was all smiles after earning 2nd in the Boys AA race.
AA Girls
I may be wrong, but the Fugees Academy Girls team, did not race in the GISA AA meet last Fall.. But, the gals from Clarkston, did not let that deter their goals, as they raced to the AA State team title, winning by 22 points over Brentwood (Sandersville). Leading the way for Fugees, was Eman Haji Essa, who was in the chase pack much of the race, placing 6th along with Anuka Gurung adding a 9th place finish.
Eman Haji Essa in the chase pack early in the race.
It was an all out sprint to the finish in AA Girls, as (163) Omeka Bhatia of Monsignor Donovan gave the home crowd something to scream about, arriving 1st in 24:07. Anna Bartlett of Oak Mountain was 2nd at 24:09.
Jamie Lester from Briarwood Academy took 3rd Overall in 24:48.
Gabrielle Mann of Citizen's Christian was 4th Overall at 25:07.
Must be something in the water in 'Clarkston' as Fugees Academy's Girls raced to the GISA AA Girls team title.
The Brentwood Girls team ran well enough to take 2nd place team wise in AA.