Cross country runners from Tallulah Falls School honored their personal heroes during the school’s latest Invite. Before the 8th Annual Heroes Cross Country Invite started, each runner wrote down the name of their own personal hero and placed the name in a basket. They then gave a brief description of who their hero is and why.
‘Mom’ was the most mentioned hero, says TFS XC coach Scott Neal. He says other harrier heroes included family members, servicemen and women, a coach, and a friend who has led by sacrifice and love.
During the ceremony they read a tribute that included these words: “We run today with gratitude, with all of our might, and with distinct memory of those we honor today.”
After that, it was off to the races.
Team and individual results
Of the seven schools represented, TFS earned runner-up banners in the varsity boys, varsity girls, and JV boys races. TFS did not run a girls JV race. North Oconee won all divisions.
Positive results followed a solid week of tough training. Of the 28 TFS harriers, 17 set personal course records on what is considered by all to be a deceptively challenging trail. Evan Prince placed second, two seconds off the winner, followed by tenth placer Grey Bourlet. Zi Wang moved up to #5 on the team by running a personal record. To show how close 5k races can be, Kale Corbett edged out teammate Collin Kelly by .05.
Sophie Alexander (fifth) and Lucy Alexander (sixth, moved up to #30 all time on the course Legacy List) received a certificate for finishing in the top ten. Kate Trotter (PR), Maria Whitson, and Emma Jackson (PR) all finished in the top half of competitors.
Personal course record setters Chaz Mullis, Ethan Wanner, Walker Bailey – all top ten finishers – along with Eli Sims and Canon Brooks, scored for TFS.
“The purpose of the eighth annual Tallulah Falls School Heroes Cross Country Invite is to honor those heroes in our lives whose significance continues to ripple in our heart and our communities,” says Neal. He says Team Leader and senior Laurel Smith “superbly coordinated the event, gave the invocation and directions, and created an uplifting evocation for all involved.”
TFS results https://ga.milesplit.com/
Varsity Boys results https://ga.milesplit.com/
Varsity Girls results https://ga.milesplit.com/
JV results https://ga.milesplit.com/
