Great Day Of Racing @ MS State Championships!

It was another great day way down in Cochran (Bleckley County) as almost 2000 runners and 98 schools were in attendance. Headed up by Race Director Coach Shelley Cranford, once again, the Runnin' Royals community of dedicated volunteers helped put on one of the best meets of the Fall with flawless organization, races running ontime, awards being presented throughout the event including their down home southern hospitality. (photos by Karl Brust and Bruce Taylor) Race Video is now available of all MS Races HERE

Small School Boys

Montana Archer from Social Circle completed an undefeated season taking the Individual Title

The Small school races kicked off the day as Montana Archer of Social Circle MS took control of the race from the gun and virtually ran away with the Overall win clocking a time of 11:33 completing a perfect season of 5 consecutive wins. Cavin Estep of St. Benedict's Espicopal was overall runnerup in 12:19 as he just nipped Andrew Rothwell of Mount Bethel Christian who was a couple steps back at 12:20 Christopher Morton of Loganville Christian placed 4th in 12:26 followed by Cole Harper of Paideia claiming 5th in 12:28

 Tucker Gleeson of Holy Innocents Golden Bears

Holy Innocents defended their title, dominating the team race having 3 athletes finish in the top 10 spots winning by 74 points. Tucker Gleeson was the top Golden Bear finishing in 7th overall at 12:32 with team mates Walton Sullivan 9th (12:34) and Byrnes Sudlow 10th (12:35) Central GA school Georgia Military Prep raced to team runnerup on the old flatbed Podium stage led by Joe Meier's 17th place effort. Host Bleckley County used their local course knowledge to claim 3rd teamwise with Briggs Dominey leading the way in 14th. Mount Bethel Christian won the 4th place team trophy behind Andrew Rothwell's 3rd place finish upfront

6th grader Hudson Harris of George Walton Academy won the JV Boys race in 12:59

Holy Innocents pounded the field in the JV boys race with 6 runners placing in the top 10 tallying 25 points as John Patrick harris led the Den taking 2nd overall in 13:15. Georgia Military climbed the stage seizing 2nd as a team and George Walton took 3rd behind Harris and Jake Stout's 3rd place finish at 13:16. 

Small School Girls

Claire Petersen of Mount Bethel Christian had the Best Overall performance of the meet going 12:16

Claire Petersen of Mount Bethel Christian proved there is no argument as to who is the best MS Girl runner in GA this season, as she took control of the race shortly ascending the first hill after the start and motored away from the field posting the fastest time of the day going 12:16 (and 17th fastest including all boys!)  Ella Gibbs of Bleckley MS got the hometown fans fired up with her runnerup performance of 13:04 (but the best was yet to come..) Marissa Kimple from Armuchee MS had the long trek to Cochran pay off posting a 13:11 for 3rd, Azalea Snell (7th grader) of Loganville Christian finished 4th overall at 13:37 with Sarah Kate Bailey of George Walton 5th in 13:54

Ella Gibbs of host Bleckley County was Overall runnerup in 13:04

it was a tenacious contest to determine the Small school girls team champ, but Bleckley MS took advantage of their home course knowledge and rabid fanbase, making the difference as the Royals' emerged triumphant by 3 points over 2018 champ George Walton. Gibbs led the way in 2nd place, with Johna Bowen 7th (14:03), Ava Herrington 11th (14:14) and Ellen Arnold 12th (14:15) GWA had a solid effort coming up just short behind Bailey's 5th place overall. Holy Innocents landed in 3rd with Wesleyan moving up to 4th (after a camera review)

Ashlyn Smith of Prince Avenue was victorious in the JV girls race clocking a 14:25

7th grader Ashlyn Smith of Prince Avenue Christian was the Overall winner in the JV girls contest in 14:25. Brooke Hausmann led Holy Innocents to the team win with her 2nd place finish of 14:40 followed by fellow bear Clarissa Lander in 3rd at 14:46; GWA was 2nd in the team standings followed by Prince Avenue. 

Medium School Boys

Gavin Ollis just held off a late charge by John Dodson of St. James Catholic securing the Boys title as both pushed each other to the fastest times of the meet!

It was a fantastic race for the Individual and Team titles in the Medium School boys Championship race. Gavin Ollis (New Hope MS with no race results in the database) ran unattached and just managed to hold off a late charge up the finish hill taking the Overall title in 11:30.05 besting a game John Dodson of St. James Catholic at 11:30.46! Sawyer McGinnis of Crisp MS had a strong race placing 3rd overall at 11:59, with Timothy Cole of Holy Redeemer 4th in 12:14 and Malachi Vosburgh from Cartersville MS taking 5th overall going 12:24

John Dodson of St. James Catholic heads towards the  Mile mark

Charlie Kollman and Ben Davis (r) of Jefferson MS led the Dragons to the team title

Jefferson MS successfully defended their 2018 title cruising to the win with a victory margin of 55 points over runnerup Marist. How they did it was more impressive, as 2018 Individual Champ Brock Brush and top runner all season was not a factor in the race. In his stead, Ben Davis went 'Drogon" stepping it up a notch placing 6th in 12:29 with Charlie Kollman 12th (12:38), Jay Josh 17th (12:47), Jacob Hall 19th (12:49) and Garrison Lee 20th (12:49)  Marist held off a feisty Fannin County squad to claim 2nd led by Bobby Tong (16th) and Pablo Palmisano (18th). Fannin County had 2 harriers in the top 10 including Gavin Davis 8th (12:32) and Zachariah Prater 10th (12:33) Central MS of Carrollton was a strong 4th paced by Tyler Rodin's 14th place finish.

Aiden Trammell of Jefferson MS (L) won the JV boys title in 13:18

Jefferson MS made it a sweep of the Medium school Boys team titles defeating Marist by 10 points. 6th grader Aiden Trammell was the Overall winner posting a time of 13:18. 2 more 6th graders followed Trammell across the finish line including Michael Kelleher of East Jackson MS at 13:23 and Logan Roberts of Jefferson Parks & Rec in 13:29.  

Medium School Girls

Ruby Little of Marist is the Medium School Girls Champ

It was an intense race between 2 high powered Atlanta private schools, as Marist and Pace Academy made this an exciting race from start to finish. Ruby Little of Marist improved upon her 2018 runnerup finish this time taking the Individual crown clocking a 12:45 helping the War Eagles defend their title with a victory margin of 18 points. Also factoring in with top 10 finishes were: Claire Walsh 4th (13:35), Grayson Rogers 7th (13:46) and Stella Chambless 8th (13:47)

Caroline Hood of Pace MS was a strong 2nd overall posting a 12:59

Pace Academy had the 2nd fastest team average of the day at 13:49. Caroline Hood had a nice race taking runnerup honors in a time of 12:59. Also making the top 10 for the Knights' were Harriett Blaha taking 5th overall at 13:37 followed by Olivia Resnick in 7th at 13:40  Alex Fallon of Greater Atlanta Christian raced to 3rd as an individual posting a 13:23. Jefferson MS was the top 'Public' squad coming out 3rd in the standings led by Lauren Hailey's 9th place finish of 13:47. North Hall MS out of Gainesville went home with the 4th place trophy as Abi Moore was 10th overall in 13:57 JV- In the Girls JV race, 6th grader Courtney Cameron from East Jackson (no pic) took the individual honors going 14:25. Marist easily won the team title led by Lilah Kennedy 2nd (15:16) and Anna Cochran 3rd (15:22)

Large School Boys

Teddy Meredith of Georgia Elite Youth (r) won the Boys Championship race

There was no disputing that the Large School boys race turned out to be the largest, fastest, most competitive race of the meet having 228 runners toeing the start line.  Seven runners went sub 12 minutes in a split of under 18 seconds and 34 went sub 13:00  Teddy Meredith of Georgia Elite Youth came out on top, earning the Overall title posting the 4th fastest time of the day going 11:41. Hayden Nicholason represented South Forsyth MS well earning individual runnerup bragging rights going 11:44 as he outleaned Ryan Sewczwicz of Mill Creek MS by .50 in a Fast Feet photo finish! Reid Latimer of South Forsyth claimed 4th overall at 11:46 while Jackson Hogsed of Riverwatch MS rounded out the top 5 at 11:49

Kain Tanturri led Woodland Euharlee to the Large School Team title

There was a frantic race happening after the top 10 finishers, with Woodland Euharlee surviving the fray having better depth at 4,5 postions than runnerup Richmond Hill. Kain Tanturri led the way placing 15th overall at 12:26 with Zachary Wiggins crossing 18th at 12:31. Augusta school Richmond Hill was only 12 points back sparked by Memphis Rich's 8th place effort of 12:06. Taylor Road MS came up big placing 3rd in the team standings, key for the Cougars were Seth Balsky placing 19th (12:34) along with Thomas Pomian 22nd (12:34) 

Large School Girls

Sarah Fassinger of Teasley MS surprised many runners winning the Large School Girls Championship

There may have been a few runners in the field with more wins and faster times, but on this day, Sarah Fassinger of Teasley MS was feeling it, and had already crossed the mats before another runner made the final turn. Fassinger turned in the 2nd fastest time of the meet posting a 12:39. Catherine Thompson of Sutton MS raced to runnerup honors going 12:58. Rounding out the top 5 were Eva Murphy from Inman MS in 13:12 and the twin sister duo of TeamFusion swept the 4/5 spots with Abigail Hotard 13:25 and sidekick Audrey Hotard at 13:28.

Abby Reiner led Dean Rusk MS to the Large School Team title

It came down to 2 squads battling for the final team title of the meet between metro schools Dean Rusk and Taylor Road. Rusk took the win by 17 points with Abby Reiner setting the pace placing 9th overall in 13:58 with Rebeckah Rogers 12th and Lily Savage 16th. But, Taylor Road's runnerup team finish earned the Cougars' program the combined 'Grand Championship' award. Isabel Munson was their top runner taking 8th overall in 13:53 with Helen Miller finishing 17th overall. 

Large School JV

6th grader Michael Berry of Woodland Euharlee raced to the JV boys win in 13:24

Woodland Euharlee's JVs captured the team title scoring 25 points with Michael Bell taking the overall win and Cam Williams placing 2nd at 13:35. Taylor Road once again showed the strength of their program led by Coach Sinco, as the Cougars were 2nd in the team standings placing 3 harriers in the top 10 including: 

Eleanor Franchak of Taylor Road MS (L) won the Overall title in 15:32 with Audrey Eaves (r) 2nd at 15:35

Taylor Road easily won the JV girls team honors placing all 5 girls in the top 10. Renfroe MS took 2nd led by Nola Sester in 5th place. 

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