Cross country runners place well at Hawley meet

By Sam Waller

The Albany cross country programs endured wet conditions Wednesday, Sept. 13, with nearly 30 runners hitting the course for the Hawley meet.

The teams will compete Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Dublin in their final outing before district.

At Hawley, five high school runners were joined by a bevy of junior high runners competing in their first meet.

“It was a competitive meet and good to see the course (Twisted Oaks Golf Course) they will run at district,” coach Lauren Peacock said. “We were missing two of our girls to injury or sickness but are hoping to have them back and healthy for the Dublin meet.”

In the varsity boys race, Jonathan Coody was 16th among 82 runners, covering 5,000 meters in 19 minutes, 10 seconds. Jerrod Moses was 62nd in 22:32.

In the two-mile varsity girls race, Ashlyn Miller was 33rd among 105 runners, clocking a time of 13:57. Avery Everitt was 52nd in 14:23 and Sidney Russell was 55th in 14:32.

“We were concerned going over there that it was going to be a muddy mess after the rain we received, but it was perfect. We were able to get through the girls race without any rain, but it wasn’t the case for the boys. Coody and Moses ran their entire race in the rain.”

In the junior high divisions, two Albany teams placed in the top five of the team standings.

Albany was third in the seventh grade girls competition behind Jim Ned and Wylie. Tinley Hefner finished 17th individually out of 127 runners, covering 1.5 miles in 11:14, with Hattie Fikes 19th in 11:16. The rest of the lineup consisted of Keeley Britting   (26th, 11:45), Haiden Niell (48th, 12:22), Hailey Gleitz (56th, 12:34), Kynlee Milligan (65th, 12:45), and Avery Gleitz (82nd, 13:30).

In the eighth grade girls race, Cayla Green placed 43rd in 12:47.

Albany’s combined boys team placed fourth in the team standings. Lyle Wheeler earned an individual medal, finishing 12th out of 152 runners with a time of 12:53. Blake Britting was 13th at 12:54. The rest of the lineup included Trevor Bellah (21st, 13:10), Bentley Boyett (42nd, 14:01), Henry Wright (43rd, 14:02), Slayton Parsons (60th, 14:34), and Levi Murphy (63rd, 14:40).

Other participants for the boys were Ace Townson, Aiden Vickers, Ben Russell, Graham Ceder, Zaiden Dockins, and Landon Edwards.

“I am beyond proud of all of the junior high cross country runners,” Peacock said. “I honestly didn’t think they would all make it when they originally told me they wanted to run, but they’ve shown up with smiles on their faces and have worked extremely hard. With volleyball and football, our practices are limited, but there are a few of them that have been running on their own, and it shows.”