The Commerce High School boys’ cross-country team ended its season on a high note after earning a sixth-place finish at the GHSA Class-A Cross Country State Championship meet last Saturday, Nov. 3.
The Tigers rose bright and early on Saturday morning, en route to the 9:00 a.m. meet at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon.
Thirteen of the strongest Class-A teams in the state were on hand to compete with each other in their final 5K races of the year.
Commerce placed ran a total team time of 1:45:00, securing a sixth-place finish in the Tigers’ first trip to the cross-country state championship.
Top Tiger runner Jose Rodriguez ran a 19:30:70, placing 20th in individual times. Several other Tigers also set personal records at the event.
“I was very pleased,” said Commerce coach Mark Hale. “Four of the seven who ran had their PR and that’s not including Jose, who tied his. So really, five of our runners ran their best times of the year.”
Hale made special mention of DiKerrio Ramsey and Parker Moon, who bested their previous best times by over a minute.
“I feel like we did about as well as we could have done down there,” added Hale.
After a phenomenal season, Hale stressed that he wants his returning runners to work in the off-season so the Tigers can return as a strong contender next year. Although many of the runners are graduating seniors, Hale expects the Commerce cross country program to continue to grow and have success.
“Only four of the runners are coming back, so we are going to have to rebuild our team, but I feel good about it. Hopefully we can replace whom we lost and we will be just fine."
Personal times from the meet are: Jose Rodriguez, 19:30.7; DiKerrio Ramsey, 20:45.3; Parker Moon, 20:47; Johnny McAbee, 21:15.9; Jake Schramm, 22:17; Justin Langston, 22:35.9; and Nick Henderson, 22:37.8.
