Milton runners record many personal bests at National-level Meet
Huntsville, AL | September 12th | By Andy Carr
The Eagle cross country teams traveled to John Hunt Park in Huntsville, AL this past Saturday to race many regional and nationally ranked teams and came away with many individual records and some top-team finishes in the most competitive meet this season.
Varsity Girls
The Lady Eagles began the day racing nationally ranked teams from Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and North Carolina. Milton (18th-341 pts) was able to turn back 6 schools in the championship division of the meet. Senior captain Caroline Spain (27th-19:08) led for the Lady Eagles just missing an all-time top-10 performance for Milton while recording close to a 16-second personal best. Sophomore Sadie Katekovich (41st-19:40) and junior Lucie Gallagher (86th-20:25) followed with sophomore Kenley Sirras (116th-20:55), junior Aarushi Dhawan (122nd-21:01), freshman Sloane Robers (138th-21:16) and junior Ava Kane (139th-21:16) all recording personal best performances.
Varsity Boys
Milton (14th-436 pts) held their own in the very competitive field while upending 20 scoring schools in the championship race of the meet. Junior Will Chambers (34th-15:50) ran to another personal best, his 3rd this season to just miss the all-time Eagle record board. Senior co-captain Everett Lawder (75th-16:22) made his season debut after being out with an injury and was followed by senior co-captain Jayin Batra (100th-16:37) and fellow senior Ryan Greathouse (124th-16:53) in a season’s best. Senior co-captain Veer Upadhyaya (184th-17:27) and junior Boston VanBelle (184th-17:57) recorded big personal bests as junior Logan Bradway (244th-18:26) also competed for Milton.
JV Girls
In a very competitive team race throughout, the Lady Eagles just missed out on a team trophy but recorded a slew of personal best performances. Milton (4th-109 pts) knocked off 15 schools but was bested by SE region ranked Harpeth Hall (TN) (3rd-87 pts) for the last trophy spot. Junior Cara Tenhundfeld (18th-22:47) led a strong and tight group of Lady Eagle finishers that included sophomore Samantha Megenity (20th-22:54), and juniors Rachela Weitzel (21st-22:54), Emily Chambliss (27th-23:21) and Claire Falor (32nd-23:35) with Megenity and Falor running personal bests.
JV Boys
In a field of 24 schools, Milton (6th-173 pts) secured many personal bests while racing near the front the entire contest. Freshman Noah Jenkins (22nd-18:09) led the Eagles as junior Tyler Nix (29th-18:26) followed. Solid performances by senior Malin Schadt (39th-18:43), freshman William Gilbert (53rd-19:10) and sophomore Eli Longstreth (57th-19:14) concluded the scoring for Milton. Jenkins, Gilbert and Longstreth all recorded personal best times.
Open Boys
The last race of the day proved to be the best for the Eagles as Milton (2nd-50 pts) turned back 7 schools to finish as the runners-up and secure the team’s only award at this prestigious meet. Coming from behind in the last mile, freshman Chase VanBelle (4th-19:55) passed many teams top-runners to lead the Eagle effort. Senior Braxton Herndon (7th-20:03) followed with freshman Philip Jakubecy (11th-20:41), Samson Porritt (15th-20:58) and junior Evan Cade (17th-21:00) closing out the Milton trophy-winning effort!
The Eagle cross country teams next see action Saturday evening, September 20th at the 11th Wingfoot Cross Country Classic at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville, GA where the Milton harriers will race under the lights against many southeastern US ranked teams.
