10/7/17 By Andy Carr – Photos by Angie Butzow
Furman Univ, Greenville, SC
Georgia-based schools & top-individuals continued to dominate the results at the 45th running of this iconic race on the Furman University golf course.
VARSITY GIRLS
On the individual side, senior Anna Marian Block (1st-19:23) of Athens Academy (GA), took control of the lead just about halfway on the 3-loop course and powered away for the easy victory. Block ran her first competitive effort of the season and is a multiple-time winner of this race over the last 3 years! Breanna Roy (2nd-19:35) of David Crockett HS (SC) was runner up and led a few times in the early going with Macey Morgan (3rd-19:45) of Mauldin HS (SC) outkicking sophomore Abby Rindt (4th-19:45) of Milton HS (GA) for 3rd. Rounding out the top-5 was junior Taylor Cushman (5th-19:56) of Milton for a course personal best! With 3 finishers in the top-8 and 6 finishers in the top-19 and only a 42-second spread among their top-6, the Lady Eagles of Milton (1st-45 pts) easily dispatched 13 schools. David Crockett (2nd-98 pts) and JL Mann (3rd-112pts) trailed. Milton put its 7 scorers ahead of almost every team’s number 4 finisher to win the team title for the fourth year in a row.
VARSITY BOYS
The individual battle upfront took an interesting twist a Milton (GA)-ranked 10th in the US ran the race as a workout opening the door for a surprise winner! Following suit a Georgia-based runner was again the champion as junior Calan Gizelbach (1st-16:04) of Forsyth Central (GA) pressed the pace from just after the mile mark to pull ahead for a decisive 6-second victory. Gizelbach will be a contender for an individual qualifying spot for the GA State meet in 2 weeks. Andrew Hamel (2nd-16:08) of Christ School (SC) was runner-up followed by Coen Roberts (3rd-16:13) of Greer HS (SC).
As noted earlier, the Eagles of Milton let their 7th man lead the team effort and that held to form all the way to the finish line as freshman Hayden Marshall (9th-17:00) paced Milton (1st-58 pts) to the team victory. The Eagles used a 3-second spread among its top-5 runners to turn back a gallant effort by Providence Day School (2nd-71 pts) (SC) that put 3 runners in the top-10 and ahead of any Milton finishers. Eventually the Eagles were able to place all 9 of their finishers ahead of Providence Day’s 5th and final scorer. Forsyth Central (3rd-134 pts) took the final podium spot over Archer HS (4th-146 pts) (GA).
Junior Varsity Girls
In the most thrilling & compelling team race of the day, the Lady Eagles of Milton (1st-28 pts) just edged-out JL Mann (2nd-30 pts) as both teams put all their runners in the top-10! Madison Meurer (1st-21:58) of JL Mann took command early and was the overwhelming winner as Maggie Gibson (2nd-22:55) of Milton gamely hung on for 2nd as JL Mann’s Mary Featherstone (3rd-22:58) followed. JL Mann had 3 finishers before Milton’s 2nd but the Lady Eagles put 6 total finishers before JL Mann’s 4th runner to snatch the team victory!
Junior Varsity Boys
For only the 7th-time in their school history, Milton (1st-15 pts) recorded a perfect score in winning the final race of the meet and completing another sweep of all the team races for the 4th consecutive year of this meet. JL Mann (2nd-64 pts) and St Josephs (3rd-141 pts) trailed as the Eagles bested 10 schools. Milton put 7 runners in the first 7 overall positions to achieve the rare feat with senior captain Andrew Blizzard (1st-17:54) capturing the title followed by fellow seniors Austin Mueller (2nd-18:15) and fellow captain Jack Rush (3rd-18:27).
