Both the girls and the boys teams place fourth at the GHSA State meet on the muddy course at Carrollton Elementary School – 11/8/15, By Andy Carr
The Eagle cross country teams concluded one of their most successful seasons by placing both the boys and the girls teams on the podium in 4th place at the GHSA State Cross Country Championships in Carrollton, GA. After days of steady rain the course was very muddy and tough but the Milton teams persevered to reach the podium for the 2nd consecutive year.
Varsity Boys
The Eagles handled the slow and muddy course conditions to repeat as the 4th place team. Milton (4th-121 pts) outdistanced 27 schools but was surprised by Peachtree Ridge (3rd-100 pts). The Lions were predicted to finish 6th at best. The Blue Devils of Marietta (1st-27 pts) repeated as state champions followed by Brookwood (2nd-77 pts). Running his final cross country race, senior Jack Bluth (7th-16:36) again led the Eagle effort. Bluth remained in the lead pack for the first half of the race before losing contact. Sophomore Sam Bowers (8th-16:37) again moved through the field as he was not in the top-20 as the race entered the final mile. Bowers strong kick brought him to the finish just behind Bluth putting two Eagle runners on the state meet podium, the first time in over 12 years! Fellow sophomore Ryan Beitzell (27th-17:11) ran a strong effort and moved up steadily through the field over the muddy & sloppy course to surprise many. Senior captain Matt McGorrey (40th-17:22) and sophomore Michael Malkowski (41st-17:23) concluded the scoring for Milton and earn a second consecutive podium position & state trophy. Fellow seniors Jacques Du Plessis (83rd-18:02) and Clay Marshall (107th-18:20) followed and Marshall becomes the first Milton cross country runner to run in four consecutive state meets in at least the last 12 years.
Varsity Girls
In a wide-open race for the state title, the Lady Eagles of Milton (4th-136 pts) fought and ran a tough race in sloppy & slow conditions to reach the podium for the second consecutive year besting 26 schools. The War Hawks of Mill Creek (1st-85 pts) won their first title holding off a strong upfront effort by South Forsyth (2nd-93 pts). The Lady Titans of Northview (3rd-125 pts) proved their runners up near the front could carry them back to the podium.
In her most impressive race of the season, junior Marie Repasy (6th-19:43) passed many during the last half of her race to reach the state meet podium & lead the Eagles! Repasy’s strong final kick brought her by 7 runners in the last 400 meters. Senior captain Riley Burr (14th-20:00) remained in the top-10 for most of the 2nd half of the race until the last final course section. Freshman Taylor Cushman (38th-20:51) was the 4th freshman to finish the race on a course that ran very slow due to the conditions. Moving steadily through the field after a slow start, senior Charlotte Matt (47th-21:04) ran her strongest effort of the season and brought along sophomore Emily Bowers (50th-21:10) to get the Lady Eagles back on the state meet podium. Fellow seniors Emily Velez (75th-21:49) and Victoria Wagner (114th-22:40) concluded their high school careers as members of this very successful state meet team effort.
