There were two invitationals contested this past weekend in the metro area including the Hoya 2 Mile, LCA Invitational, and a scaled-down version of the Pickens Preview renamed 'Pickens Peek' with 8 schools competing.
Hoya 2 Mile
Riley Perlakowski roared to a win in the girl's fast stage. (photo by Mrs. Moody)
Harrison's Riley Perlakowski was the overall girls champ turning in quick time of 11:56 leading the now 7A Lady Hoyas to second place team-wise. The defending 7A state champs Hillgrove raced to the team crown besting Harrison by 9 points.
Sarah Burwell of Walton leads a tight chase pack. (photo by Mrs. Moody)
Leading the way for Hillgrove was Ava Brooks placing 6th overall in 12:23. Rounding out the top 5 were Ciara Miles of River Ridge (12:11), Laura Arenth of Pace (12:16), Sarah Burwell of Walton (12:21), and Lily Cincola of Cherokee (12:22).
Collin Jones of Carrollton (file photo)
Carrollton's Collin Jones won his first race of the season at the Hoya 2 Mile clocking a 9:50.38. The Blaha twins duo of Edward and George led Pace Academy to the team win over Harrison by 2 points. Edward was overall runner-up at 9:54 with George taking 4th in 10:04. It should be noted that Sully Shelton did not race Saturday. Noah Connelly placed 6th and Kayden McVey 8th leading the Hoyas efforts.
Edward Blaha (file photo by Dan McCauley)
Noah Connelly hung tough placing 6th leading Harrison. (photo by Mrs. Moody)
Pickens Peek
(photos by Paul Vaupel)
Four seniors were in the mix early in the varsity boys race, but Tyler Doty of West Forsyth pulled away from the pack taking the overall win posting a 16:54 leading the Wolverines to a 4 point win over feisty Kennesaw Mountain. Rounding out the top 5 were Zane Pizzuti of Pope (17:09), Riley Kerstine of Kennesaw (17:13), Seth White of Pickens County (17:22) and soph Dru Moore of Etowah (17:27)
Riley Kerstine of Kennesaw Mountain finished 3rd overall
Sophie Boice of Pope leads Makenna Calbert of Etowah in the varsity girls race.
Sophie Boice from Pope HS pulled away later in the race, winning with a :22 cushion clocking a strong time of 19:32. Makenna Calbert of Etowah earned runnerup honors in a time of 19:54. Filling out the top five spots were Lorel Golden of Pope (20:35), Rachel Murray (who led West Forsyth to the team crown going 20:38) and Charlotte Dunn of Pope (20:39) The varsity girls race was very competitive as 3 squads battled it out including West Forsyth, Pope, and Dawson County. Pope had three finishers in the top 5 scoring only 31 points. Etowah took second place 11 points back with West Forsyth 3rd.
Full Results