Tallulah Falls excels at Eagle Invite, both middle and high school

Tallulah Falls competed at the Eagle Invite on Saturday, with both the middle and high school cross country teams finding success.

PHOTOS: E. LANE GRESHAM | MICHELE EUBANK

MIDDLE SCHOOL – by Scott Neal

Hurricane Irma week was the longest lasting weather related change of school routine we’ve ever experienced. Many in the community were without power, water, WiFi, or cellular service for various amounts of time.  In short, it certainly was a life interruption, but it also brought out so many GREAT opportunities in our community.  

The MS Indians are taking to heart the advice from Coach Nichols concerning pacing, course goals, and hill strategies.  The improvements seen in this meet clearly demonstrate how keeping an active mind – especially when “fatigue makes cowards of us all” – can fuel fun through better racing.  Active and positive thinking on inclines and declines, around corners, and when needing to pass people at the right moment significantly affects performance and a feeling of pride when finished.

Top TFS finishers include Lucy Alexander (7th of 31 runners) and the trio of Tyler Farmer, Brit Shaw, and Ethan Wanner, who ran very well as a pack to not let anyone between them (only two seconds separated them).

TFS MS results can be found here:  http://ga.milesplit.com/meets/278662/teams/20834

Full results can be found here: http://ga.milesplit.com/meets/278662/results/540385/raw

HIGH SCHOOL – by Scott Neal

TFS varsity boys finished sixth of nine scoring teams at the Eagle Invite on the Lamar Murphy Park 5k course.  The slightly reconfigured (wider) lanes slowed the course 10-20 seconds from last year but it is still a fast course.

Perry Gresham was TFS Harrier of the Meet for her fine performance in the girls varsity race (7th of 54 runners).  Sarah Catherine Fordham ran a personal 5k record as the only other TFS female varsity runner.  Sophie Alexander finished sixth of 38 JV runners.

Chris Geiger was the top TFS male harrier, placing 24th of the 71 who scurried the double looping all grass, steady undulating path.  Will Jackson was the only other veteran who ran faster at this meet compared to 365 days earlier.  The week, as much as we don’t want to admit, did disrupt our training, and it showed.  We fell short (or ran slow) of our quest for GREAT development and our commitment to our season theme of We Stride for XCellence, but I believe we will use this missed opportunity to strengthen our resolve.

What we do recognize is the deep satisfaction of the pursuit through physical and mental discomfort whether we succeed or fail.  The journey being more important than the destination is not just a cliche or a hope, it is a reality we joyfully endeavor as we look in the mirror without excuse or justification of our performance.

TFS results can be found here: http://ga.milesplit.com/meets/278662/teams/4745

Full meet results can be found here: http://ga.milesplit.com/meets/278662/results