Milton XC Runs Strong at Zach Wansley Clash

(Article by Coach Bill Marra, photos from Butzow & Meng)

The Milton Cross Country team opened its 2018 season on Saturday with many strong individual performances at the Zack Wansley XC Clash in Villa Rica at the Clinton Nature Preserve.  While resting its top seven runners from last weekend’s time trial, the rest of the team stepped up to fill the void.

In the girls’ varsity race, the Lady Eagles placed 3^rd overall (104 pts) out of 12 scoring schools. Host Chapel Hill (1st-50 pts) won easily while defending state champions in Class-A, Landmark Christian (2^nd-91 pts) barely edged Milton for a team trophy.  The Lady Eagles were led by senior Olivia Lawson with a 15^th place finish (22:18) in her very first race for Milton.  Junior Katy Dickenson (17^th – 22:45) followed close behind, and then a pack consisting of junior Peyton Schuchart (23^rd – 23:02), sophomore Paige Chambers (24^th – 23:06), and freshman Jessica Albregts (24^th – 23:07) closed out the scoring.

In the boys varsity race, the Eagles (7^th-135 pts) out-paced 6 schools as 13 total programs competed. Region-rival South Forsyth (1^st-62 pts) was the overwhelming winner.  Milton was led by freshman Dylan Bowden (17^th – 18:23) and junior Liam Wagenbrenner (18^th – 18:25).  Freshman Davis Hobbs (24^th – 18:40), senior Kyle Meng (38^th – 19:09), and sophomore Lorin Tady (40^th – 19:14) whose performance was an all-time best, closed out the scoring.

In the junior varsity races, Milton dominated both the boys and girls races taking the top seven spots in the girls’ race and six of the top eight spots in the boys’ race!  The Lady Eagles (1^st-15 pts) completed a rare PERFECT SCORE (only the 8^th time in school history and only the 2^nd where the Eagles secured the first seven overall finishing positions)!  Milton dominated the race field with South Forsyth (2^nd-54 pts) a distant runner-up.  The Lady Eagles were led by freshman Regan Ward (1^st – 23:31).  Natalie Ventura, Quinn Swidorski, Audrey Minton, Sophie Waters, Chloe Steinbeck, and Claire Chojnacki completed the sweep and earned medals for the Lady Eagles.  In the boys’ race, Milton (1^st-23 pts) bested 6 scoring schools in their overwhelming victory!  Junior Joe Pick (1^st-18:23) took the top honors, running the fastest time of the day for a Milton athlete.  Andrew Baum, Jack Petkash, Brendan Trainor, Josh Krak, and Max McMurry all took home medals.

The Eagles will travel to Whitesburg next Saturday to compete in the Bob Blastow Early-Bird Invitational.