6A Boys blast off trying to get the 'holeshot' and turn one.
This was going to be the most interesting race of the day. It was a challenge to rank 6A every single set of team rankings this season, so blame me for that. A race with no clear cut team favorites with up to 8-9 individuals having a shot to seize an overall title.
It was all going green Friday for Evans' Jonathan Greene 'carpe diem' winning the individual crown.
As the crowd swelled to its largest point in the day, the air was full of anticipation of what would be the fastest field of the day. I detected NO 'walkers' and the slowest team average was just 21:08. From the gun, it was an all-out jam-packed scrum until the runners crossed the street after flying down the horseshoe hill. Carrollton's Collin Jones led a large pack of runners by a few meters as he split mile one at 5:02. Coming back across the horseshoe Jones extended his lead to 12 meters with a pack of six runners chasing him. the mile two split was10:36 as Jonathan Greene caught up with Jones with Patrick Motes moving into 3rd. After running by the creek on the backside of the course, circling the band field, and charging up 'Separation Slope' Greene had a 40-meter lead and held onto it for dear life crossing the finish line at 16:36. Motes surged hard the final 300 meters closing fast on Greene but ran out of turf taking 2nd place at 16:40. Will Jennings of Carrollton led the Trojans picking up the pace as Jones dropped back seizing 3rd place in 16:47.
Patrick Motes of Rome had a great race clocking a 16:40 for runner-up honors.
Will Jennings of Carrollton had the best race of his career placing 3rd overall.
Tyler Phillips of South Effingham handled the hills of Carrollton taking 4th overall in 16:51.
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Caelen Jones and Cole Suplee of Cambridge.
Caelen Jones and Cole Suplee of Cambridge.
Cambridge shocked some good teams as the Bears mounted a balanced attack having no real front runners. What they did possess however was an absolutely amazing 1-5 team split of SIX SECONDS with a team average time of 17:51 for a nine-point win over even more surprising South Effingham. Caelen Jones and Cole Suplee led the hunt for the hungry Bears.
Junior Cailan Howard was key for South EFF placing 5th at 16:54
Kaden Harris of Alexander led the Cougars to a 3rd place team finish posting a 17:25
Junior Cailan Howard was key for South EFF placing 5th at 16:54
South Who ?? Yeah, that's right, The South Effingham XC Mustangs from Guyton brought their 'A' game to Carrollton and proved they weren't afraid of a few hills. Their top two runners went 4, 5 as frosh Tyler Phillips went 16:51 with junior Cailan Howard at 16:54. We should be seeing them again in 2021 as four of their top five are underclassmen... Region rival Richmond Hill earned the final team podium spot led by freshman Memphis Rich.
Kaden Harris of Alexander led the Cougars to a 3rd place team finish posting a 17:25
