Cross Country squads win all-team races in dominant fashion
8/27/22 | Chestatee HS | Gainesville, GA | By Andy Carr
The Milton Cross Country teams travelled for the first time to the 18th War Eagle Invitational hosted by two-time 4A State Champions Chestatee HS and were able to win all four team races contested.
Varsity Girls
In very warm and humid conditions, the Lady Eagles turned back 4 schools in the final race of the meet. Milton (1st-30 pts) was the overwhelming winner with Gainesville (2nd-60 pts) and Forsyth Central (3rd-63 pts) closest. Junior Ella Grace Malcom (1st-21:53) used a mid-race surge in the hilly section of the race to move to the front and eventually pull away for the overall race win! Senior Sydney Anderson (2nd-22:07) followed Malcom and moved from 4th place to eventually finish as the runner up to help pace the Lady Eagles up front. Junior Emerson Armistead (7th-23:18) maintained contact with the front group the entire race and with senior co-captain Gabby Beckman (8th-24:07) moving up 17 places during the race, Milton was able to turn back the Red Elephants of Gainesville. Others running in the varsity race included sophomores Macy Schadt (12th-24:36), Ivy Rindt (13th-24:43) and Grace Lochman (14th-24:45), senior Emmaline Kelley (20th-25:44) and sophomore Janelle Hagel (29th-28:00).
Varsity Boys
The Eagles faced a very strong and stubborn Chestatee team that is the 2-time defending 4A state champions and early on the War Eagles were right with the Milton team. As the race progressed, Milton (1st-28 pts) began to assert itself and eventually finished all-5 scoring runners in the top-10 overall positions. Chestatee (2nd-72 pts) and region-rival Forsyth Central (3rd-85 pts) trailed as the Eagles turned back 11 schools in total. Senior captain Cory Chambers (1st-17:16) took a shot at the course record but the rising heat and humidity were a factor in his performance. Milton’s team title came with top-10 finishes from sophomore Justin Sevel (4th-18:17), junior Zach Patell (5th-18:26), senior co-captain Oliver Stone (8th-18:42) and junior Danny Murray (10th-18:58). Factoring in the scoring for the Eagles included seniors Keller Wilson (15th-19:23) and Jack Rea (16th-19:25). Also running on the varsity squad were senior Pearson Gillam (22nd-19:57) and juniors Martin Sand (36th-20:33) and Luke Erbey (37th-20:34).
JV Girls
With revenge on their minds, the Lady Eagles turned back last week’s meet winner Gainesville and 7 scoring schools to win the meet! Milton (1st-24 pts) put all their scoring runners in the top-10 overall places to turn back Mt Pisgah (2nd-71 pts) and Hebron Christian (3rd-83 pts) who were closest to the Lady Eagles. Just before the 1st mile of the race Milton had no runners in the top-10 and used the 2nd half of the race to take command and get the easy team victory. Leading finishers for the Lady Eagles included senior Ella Butler (2nd-25:32), sophomore Alyssa Monje (4th-25:56) and freshman Hollis Thompson (6th-26:11).
JV Boys
As the first race of the meet progressed, the Eagles showed their dominance by slowly putting more runners in the top-10 and at one point was looking to score a perfect 15 points and eventually did but with one finisher(5th) from anther school spoiling the perfect top-1-2-3-4-5 individual finish for the Eagles. Milton (1st 15 pts) easily dispatched 9 scoring schools with East Hall (2nd-70 pts) and Gainesville (3rd-75 pts) the closest to the Eagles. Taking the lead just past the 2-mile mark, junior Jayson Faupel (1st-20:50) held off freshman teammate Malin Schadt (2nd-20:51) to get the overall race victory! Closely behind these two were freshman Ryan Greathouse (3rd-20:54) and junior Parker Boys (4th-21:03). Freshman Jaylin Batra (6th-21:17) closed out the Milton scoring.
The cross-country teams next see action on Saturday, September 10th with the hosting of the 9th Milton Cross Country Invitational-Run for the Eagle Cup-with 28 schools scheduled to compete on the Eagles on-campus home course.
To purchase photos from the meet, click here.
