Stewart leads Albany runners with district gold
The Albany cross country teams competed Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the district meet in Haskell, with strong performances across all levels, highlighted by Chance Stewart’s first place finish that earns him a spot at the regional meet in Arlington on Oct. 20.
“Chance coming away with a gold after not being able to train or compete for the entire month of September was huge for him,” said Coach Ryder Peacock. “He put up his best time of the year and felt like he could have gone much faster. As we get him going again on his training, he’s definitely looking like he can get on track and get himself in a position to qualify to the state meet.”
Stewart finished first in the high school boys race with a time of 17:53. Teammates Seth Barrett and Rylan Dabney also posted season-best performances, with Barrett finishing 17th in the high school varsity race at 21:37 and Dabney taking first in the JV boys race at 20:32.
“Rylan and Seth both put up season bests to end their seasons, which is what you’re hoping for in your final event,” Peacock said.
Hattie Fikes was Albany’s lone varsity girl and finished 11th with a time of 13:47. “Hattie was one spot out of qualifying as a freshman. She ran a strong race, put up a season best, and put herself in position to qualify,” Peacock said. “Looking around at the other districts, she would have qualified in several; we just happened to have some of the stronger times.”
The meet also featured strong participation from junior high athletes, with support from Superintendent Daryl Stuard, who has assisted with the junior high program this season.
Peacock said that the future of Albany’s cross country program is promising.
Varsity Results
HS Boys: Chance Stewart – 1st, 17:53; Seth Barrett – 17th, 21:37
HS Girls: Hattie Fikes – 11th, 13:47
JV Results
JV Boys: Rylan Dabney – 1st, 20:32
Junior High Results
8th Grade Girls: Paxton Pipes – 17th, 11:29; Burkley Yeates – 20th, 11:40
8th Grade Boys: Rhody Stewart – 2nd, 12:48; Paxton Slaughter – 6th, 13:14; Parker Rose – 23rd, 15:47; Wyatt Alexander – 24th, 16:01
7th Grade Girls: Harper Hargett – 11th, 10:47; Zamiah Dockins – 16th, 11:00; Addisyn Peacock – 20th, 11:20; Mia Smith – 22nd, 11:35; Rainey Nitschke – 24th, 11:51; Madison Swert – 35th, 12:49; Laramie Oliver – 36th, 12:50
Coach Peacock praised the 2025 participants as a whole. “Overall, I was happy with the progress we saw this season from all the runners. Each of them competed well in their final meet of the season. The high school runners competed very well in district overall.”
Albany will send Stewart to the regional meet in Arlington Oct. 20, where he aims to finish among the top 10.
“That has been Chance’s goal all season,” Peacock said. “He really wants an opportunity to run at state.”
