The 5th annual North Georgia Championships had over 60 schools entered, but with Fulton and DeKalb County schools unable to compete, will still host a strong field of 54 squads, including 18 middle schools. The Lamar Murphy Park course will once again be the setting, its fairly quick, though an accurate layout and very popular amongst runners, coaches, and fans despite a minimum-security correctional facility overlooking it.
Legendary Coach, Tomy Sitton began the meet in 2016 after the NEGA Championships went on a sudden hiatus and the meet has grown in popularity each season. Last year, the finish line was moved closer to the tree line, eliminating the long very fast downhill finish, allowing lapped runners to continue their race, and not to interfere with the leaders who were finishing hard. The North Georgia Championships will be MileSplit Georgia's 'Featured Meet of the Week' as we will be shooting video of every race by Matt Almand and a photo gallery to be posted on Sunday by Karl Brust.
The races have been expanded to include more races and fewer runners in each to be in compliance with the recommendations set forth by the GHSA two weeks ago. The finish line will be roped off and pushed back many meters to avoid congestion. Fans are encouraged to wear masks and social distance when at all possible. There will not be an Awards ceremony, instead, they will be packaged up and delivered to the coaches before they depart.
Boys Varsity Races Team:
It should be very tight for the team title at Lamar Murphy Park. Notably, it's going to be a 'hoedown' between several top 7A squads, including Norcross, Denmark, and Archer. The depth these teams possess from 1-5 is too much of a match for any of the lower class powers to challenge for a top 3 team finish. Look for North Oconee and Lakeside Evans to make a push to contend for some team hardware.
Boys Individual Race:
Sam Rich of Lakeside Evans
There are some fast harriers that will be contending for the overall championship at North Georgia Saturday morning. Below is a shortlist of top runners:
Sam Rich of Lakeside Evans
Andrew Jones of North Hall
Miguel Schilicht of Norcross
Sebastian Rodriguez of Archer
Ethan Ashley of Demark HS
Karthik Kochuparambil of Denmark HS
Steven McCartney of Archer
Davis Potts of North Oconee
Once again, it's going to be a fight between potential top 10 7A girls squads come the team rankings which begin after Carrollton Orthopaedic on 9-12. South Forsyth seems to have the advantage coming in, though the Eagles have no established frontrunner. Denmark's girl's program continues to grow stronger every week, and the Great Danes could be Podium contenders in November. North Gwinnett is consistently strong with a very large program and Norcross' girls seem to get better every year. Hebron Christian is a contender to win the A Private title at state.
Girls Individual Race:
Cara Joyce of Atlanta International (photo by Daniel McCauley)
Cara Joyce of Riverwood International (first race of the year)
Brooke Browning of Hebron Christian
Caylee Wagner of North Hall
Carmel Yonas of South Forsyth
Morgan Grace Sheffield of Denmark
Emma O'Connor of South Forsyth
Karsyn Rodney of Dacula
Ellie Brewer of Hebron Christian
We hope to have race video posted early Sunday morning, followed by a photo gallery. A complete meet summary /recap will follow.
Race Schedule and Box Assignments
Varsity #1 Boy's Race (7:45)
1.Archer, 3. Denmark, 4.Mtn. View, 5. Hart County,7.Lakeside Evans, 9.S. Forsyth, , 11.North Gwinnett, 13.N. Hall,15. Tallulah Falls,17. Grovetown, 18.Loganville, 19.N Oconee
Varsity # 2 Boy's Race (8:05)
1.Buford, 2.Madison Co. 4.White County,6. Appalachee, 8.East Jackson, 10.Hebron Christian, 12.Peachtree Ridge, 14.Dacula, 15Loganville,16 N. Forsyth,17. Barrow Arts 18.Norcross, 19.Banks Co.20. Greenbriar
Varsity # 3 Boy's Race (8:25)
1.Kings Academy,2. Lanier Christian Academy, 4.Duluth, 6.Washington Wilkes, 8.Clarke Central,9. Fideles Christian,10.Horizon Christian, 12.Jackson Co.13. Monroe Area, 15.Winder Barrow, 17.Habersham Central, 18.Horizon Christian
Varsity # 1 Girls Race (8:45)
1.Archer, 2.North Gwinnett,3. Lakeside Evan, 4.S. Forsyth, 5.Greenbriar, 7.Grovetown 8.Buford, 9.Clarke Central, 10.N. Hall,11. Mtn. View, 12.Peachtree Ridge,13. Loganville,14. Habersham Central, 15.North Oconee, 17.Denmark,19. N. Forsyth, Atlanta International (1 athlete)
Varsity # 2 Girls Race (9:10)
Appalachee, 2.Horizon Christian,3.East Jackson,4 Hebron Christian, 5.Jackson County, 6.Duluth, 7.Hart County, 8.Clarke Central, 9.Kings Academy, 10.Fideles Christian,11. Monroe Area, 13.Madison County,14. Dacula,15. Lanier Christian,16. Winder,17. Norcross,18. Appalachee,19.Horizon Christian,20. Banks County
J.V. Boy's #1 Race (9:35)
1.Archer,2. Denmark, 3.Hart Co., 4.Lakeside Evans, 5.S. Forsyth, 6.Greenbriar, 7.North Gwinnett, 8.N. Hall, 9.Tallulah Falls, 11.Grovetown, 13.East Jackson, 15.Loganville #1 17.North Oconee, 18.N Forsyth
J.V. Boy's # 2 Race (9:55)
1.Buford, 2.Madison Co., 3.White County, 4.Appalachee, 5.Hebron Christian, 6.Peachtree Ridge, 7.Winder Barrow,8. Dacula,9. Loganville #2 10.Norcross, 12Habersham Central,14. Horizon Christian,15. Banks Co 17.North Oconee
J..V. Boy's # 3 Race (10:15)
1.Kings Academy, 2.Lanier Christian Academy, 3.Duluth, 4.Washington Wilkes, 5.Clarke Central, 7.Fideles Christian,9.Horizon Christian, 11.Jackson Co. 12.Monroe Area, 14.Winder Barrow, 16.North Gwinnett Group #2, 17.Archer
J.V. Girl's # 1 Race (10:35)
1.Archer, 2.North Gwinnett, 4.Lakeside Evan,6. S. Forsyth, 8.Greenbriar, 9.Grovetown 10.Buford,11. Clarke Central, 12.N. Hall, 13.Greenbriar, 14.Peachtree Ridge, 15.Denmark, 16.Loganville # 2 17.Group Horizon Christian, 18.Appalachee, 19.Banks County,20. North Oconee
J.V. Girl's # 2 Race (11:00)
1.Hebron Christian,2. Jackson County,3. Hart Co., 4.Central,5.Kings Academy, 6.Fideles Christian,7. Monroe Area, 9.Madison Co.10.,Duluth, 11.Dacula, 12.Tallulah Falls,13. Lanier Christian,`14. North Gwinnett Group # 2, 15.East Jackson,16. Norcross,17. Habersham Central ,18. North Oconee,19. North Forsyth
Middle School # 1 Boys (Top 10 on their team) (11:25)
1.Dacula M.S., 2. .DEAN rusk M.S. 3. East Jackson M.S. 4. Great Strides, 5. Greenbriar M.S., 6. Habersham Central M.S. 7. Hart Co. MS. 8.Oglethorpe County M.S, 9.. Run Zero 2 Hero, 10., Summerour, 11. Tallulah Falls MS., 12., West Jackson M.S., 13. White Co. MS., 14., Hebron Christain M.S., 15., Lanier Christian; 16. Fideles Christian, 17., North Hall MS, 18., King's Academy; 19. Loganville MS 20. Roswell Jr. Hornets
Middle School # 1 Girls (Top 10 on their team) (11:45)
1.Dacula M.S., 2. .DEAN rusk M.S. 3. East Jackson M.S. 4. Great Strides, 5. Greenbriar M.S., 6. Habersham Central M.S. 7. Hart Co. MS. 8.Oglethorpe County M.S, 9.. Run Zero 2 Hero, 10., Summerour, 11. Tallulah Falls MS., 12., West Jackson M.S., 13. White Co. MS., 14., Hebron Christain M.S., 15., Lanier Christian
16. Fideles Christian, 17., North Hall MS, 18., King's Academy, 19. Loganville MS 20. Roswell Jr. Hornets
Middle School # 2 Boys (12:10) (This race is for an additional 10 runners per team)
1. Dacula M.S., 2. .DEAN rusk M.S. 3. East Jackson M.S. 4. Great Strides, 5. Greenbriar M.S., 6. Habersham Central M.S. 7. Hart Co. MS. 8.Oglethorpe County M.S, 9.. Run Zero 2 Hero, 10., Summerour, 11. Tallulah Falls MS., 12., West Jackson M.S., 13. White Co. MS., 14., Hebron Christain M.S., 15., Lanier Christian; 16. Fideles Christian, 17., North Hall MS, 18., King's Academy, 19.Loganville Ms 20..Roswell Jr. Hornets
Middle School # 2 Girls 12:35 (This race is for an additional 10 runners per team)
1.Dacula M.S., 2. .DEAN rusk M.S. 3. East Jackson M.S. 4. Great Strides, 5. Greenbriar M.S., 6. Habersham Central M.S. 7. Hart Co. MS. 8.Oglethorpe County M.S, 9.. Run Zero 2 Hero, 10., Summerour, 11. Tallulah Falls MS., 12., West Jackson M.S., 13. White Co. MS., 14., Hebron Christain M.S., 15., Lanier Christian; 16. Fideles Christian, 17., North Hall MS, 18., King's Academy, 19. Loganville Jr. Hornets Roswell Jr. Hornets
Middle School Combined Boys and Girls 12:55 (This race is for any middle schooler that was not in the first 4 races)
1. Dacula M.S., 2. .DEAN rusk M.S. 3. East Jackson M.S. 4. Great Strides, 5. Greenbriar M.S., 6. Habersham Central M.S. 7. Hart Co. MS. 8.Oglethorpe County M.S, 9.. Run Zero 2 Hero, 10., Summerour, 11. Tallulah Falls MS., 12., West Jackson M.S., 13. White Co. MS., 14., Hebron Christain M.S., 15., Lanier Christian; 16. Fideles Christian, 17., North Hall MS, 18., King's Academy; 19.Loganville MS; 20. Roswell Jr Hornets