Well, it was yet another installment of the Alexander-Asics Invitational this past Saturday at the quick Foxhall Sporting Club layout with 101 teams and over 3000 athletes registered to compete. Temps were kind early, in the low 70's with cloudy skies and a 5 mph breeze in which the Championship races used to full advantage producing possibly scores of pr performances by individuals. This course has been 'weighed and measured' (A Knight's Tale reference) many times and still the community cries out 'it has been found wanting' I trust Taylor Ford's wheeling of the course, as he has been a major contributor to MileSplit GA the past decade.. Go watch the Boys Championship video If you don't believe these guys weren't moving
Championship Boys Race (all photos by Marc Logan)
Justin Wachtel of Mary Persons had a blazing final kick taking Individual honors in 14:26
It was an intense race to say the least, as the Championship Boys jumped off the gun with state bragging rights on the line. Jr. Justin Wachtel used his footspeed down the stretch, passing 2018 Foot Locker National Finalist Silas Winders, securing the win in an insane time of 14:26. Winders had to settle for 2nd overall cranking out a 14:29. It's a real possibility, that GA may have 3 HS boys capable of qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals depending on their post HS season training. Myles Collins of Archer held on for 3rd overall in 14:37, Devin Wade was 10 meters back going 14:39 with Christian Gonzalez of Decatur having a great race clocking a 15:05. Broughton (NC) a nationally ranked squad put a hurtin' on the Georgia schools sweeping the 6-8 spots scoring 71 points. Archer was team runnerups led by Collins and Sebastian Rodriguez in 14th (15:44) and frosh Steven McCartney's 17th place effort of 15:48 #9 ranked 7A Norcross raced well as a squad placing 3rd led by Miguel Schlicht who finished 12th in 15:39.
2018 Foot Locker finalist Silas Winders of Henry County (TN) had to settle for runnerup going 14:29
Myles Collins of Archer outlasted Devin Wade for 3rd place overall
Championship Girls Race
The Championship Girls lead pack is very focused early in the race.
The Championship Girls race was completely off the chain with Mckenna Croft of Douglas County, McKenna Trapheagen of Woodland, Erin Fegans of Landmark and Dinah Winders of Henry County (TN) mixing it up throughout the race. Its going to be interesting to follow all of these girls' progress through the GHSA State Championships and see where it shakes out for Meet of Champions, Foot Locker South or NXN Regionals. It was a battle upfront between multiple 'ROWS' honorees as 3 Georgia gals went sub 18: including Overall winner McKenna Trapheagen of Woodland who had a fast last mile sealing the Overall win clocking a 17:32 McKenna Croft of Douglas County led much of the race but had to settle for runnerup behind Trapheagen posting a 17:36 with Erin Fegans of Landmark Christian hanging tough taking 3rd overall at 17:39. Sophomore Dinah Winders of Henry County (TN) crossed the mats 4th in a time of 17:45 followed by Wingfoot XC Champ Hannah Miniutti of Blessed Trinity 5th (18:07) and Laney Doster from Jones County 6th (18:09) 4A Blessed Trinity raced great claiming the team title with a victory margin of 33 points over runnerup 6A Cambridge. The Titans' were charged by Miniutti's 5th place finish and a great race by soph Kelly Ann Sutterfield seizing 7th place going 18:19. Cambridge was led by Ashley Sechrest's 8th place finish of 18:22 and 3A Westminster displayed signs of putting it all together taking 3rd as a team led once again by Mira Srinivasa who placed 12th overall at 18:36.
McKenna Croft of Douglas County (sans specs) leads Dinah Winders of Henry County
McKenna Trapheagen of Woodland seals the deal taking the Individual crown in 17:32
Erin Fegans of Landmark Christian was solid placing 3rd overall in 17:39
Hannah Miniutti holds off Laney Doster of Jones County taking 5th overall
Varsity Boys 1A-4A Race
Kameron Jackson (KamJam) of Landmark Christian cruised to the 1A-4A Boys win at 16:16
Varsity Girls 1A-4A Race
Abbie Clark of North Cobb Christian triumphed in the 1A-4A Girls race clocking a 20:08
Varsity Boys 5A-7A Race
Thomas Hotard from Habersham Central won the 5A-7A boys race going 16:06
Varsity Girls 5A-7A Race
Ashley Thompson of Gainesville left it all on the trail winning the 5A-7A Girls race in 18:44
MS Boys 4K Race
Jackson Hogsed of Riverwatch MS won the weird MS 4K race posting a 13:37 as the runners ran the wrong way ??
MS Girls 3K Race
Shari Brown of Landmark Christian ruled in the MS Girls 3200? race posting a 13:10