East Jackson Second, Fourth At Oglethorpe

The girls ran a team best time of 22:25 to break the old record set at the state meet in 2009.

“We ran well, but we can improve and we will improve,” said coach Bob Roller. “Sherri Blalock ran out of real estate in trying to catch the winner of the race as she placed second. She was closing fast, but she
has got to keep closer in the race the last 500 meters so she can use her finishing speed to overcome the runners in front of her.”

Cale Pirtle paced the boys, finishing ninth out of 106 runners. Stuart Robinett placed 21st with a personal best time of 19:00, with Edward Stone 30th with a personal best of 19:21, Michael Adair 35th with a personal best of 19:40, Tyler Cone 39th with a personal best of 19:45, Cory McClure 61st with a personal best time of 20:30, Kyle Wood 71st, Dylan Anderson 93rd and Jake Thaxton 97th.

“The boys ran well and several had their personal best,” Roller said. “This was the best we have run this season as a team. The cooler weather, the flatness of the course, and seeing most the region’s competition in the race inspired our boys to push themselves harder. The number of teams in the meet was close to what we will experience at region on October 28 at Jefferson. I was proud of all of them.”

For more on this story, see Wednesday's edition of The Commerce News or The Jackson Herald.