Under what screaming fans think is simply part of late summer, but what runners feel is claggy, there was an aura of anticipation, anxiety, and allegiance as runners competed in the Chestatee War Eagle Invite on August 29.
The Tallulah Falls Middle School and varsity cross country teams competed.
TFS MS XC highlights
Over 1100 legs pumped adrenaline and oxygen through the vessels of middle school harriers running a double loop grass and forest two-mile Chestatee Academy course.
TFS runners held their own on the course.
Jenna Chesser placed tenth of 254 in 14:46.5, running strategically excellent, passing more than a dozen peers in the second half of the course. Josie Chesser (negative splits) and Haygen James finished in tandem in the top 75% in the competition. Rounding out the final two TFS scoring spots were Maggie Shelton and Dani Prince.
Blair Moore led the TFS boys, placing 106th of 299 in 15:56.6. QiangFeng William Xu, Timothy Beck, Henry Rickman, and Dalton Gelts rounded out the scoring. Moore and William ran even splits.
The middle school runners are focusing on even or negative splitting the second half of races, setting goals, learning simple competition strategies, and progressively getting tougher by pushing through discomfort and managing energy levels during the race.
Results: https://ga.milesplit.com/
Next race: Wed, Sept 4 at Summit 4:30
TFS Varsity XC highlights
The varsity boys and girls enjoyed the later 6:50 and 7:20 evening race starts, feeling the slight lowering of temperatures and humidity as they completed the double loop open air and forest trail 5k course at Chestatee Academy.
Replete with tee shirt and Frozen Frenzee vendors, an inflatable finish line arch, throngs of well wishers, and solid competition among the 40 plus scattered school tents, the TFS Tribe performed well for the initial 2019 5k season opener.
After moving up from fifth at the halfway point, Sophomore Evan Prince ran the 5k course in 17:02.9 to place third of 179 varsity runners and 363 overall to lead TFS to an 11th place finish out of 22 scoring schools. Senior Chris Geiger (23rd), junior Chathan Clouatre (84th), and sophomores Henrry Xiiong (98th) and Zi Wang (113th) rounded out the TFS scoring.
Senior Sophie Alexander ran her second best 5k time ever (23:05) to place tenth of 113 varsity harriers and 184 overall to lead the Tribe to a fourth place finish out of 14 scoring schools. Sophomore Lucy Alexander placed one spot behind while teammates Kate Trotter ran strategically stellar in the second half of the race to place 43rd. Fellow frosh Emma Jackson also ran her best 5k to score in the top half. Sophie Herrera rounded out the scoring for TFS.
Senior Maria Whitson and sophomore Macy Watts were running well together as a pack when a girl from another school went down in front of them during the race. Both realized the unresponsive girl needed immediate medical help so they ran off course to summon assistance. Paramedics were called and the girl ended up okay. At the time, both of our Lady Indians were running well and their score would have moved the team up to #2 for the day. Maria and Macy made an important decision to forego personal and team glory so that a young lady could get quicker emergency attention and possibly avert a tragedy. That is doing GREAT when needed most! We applaud their decision!
Top five boys JV runners included inaugural harrier Canon Books and veteral runners Eli Sims, Ethan Wanner, Chaz Mullis, and newcomer Walker Bailey. The quintet finished 8th of 19 JV boys teams and pushed each other to run better.
Results: https://ga.milesplit.com/
Next race: Thur Sept 5 at North Hall Invite
