By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Anna Sampson roared to a 12th-place finish to lead an injury-depleted
Calhoun cross country team at the Gilmer County Invitational at Cedar Creek
State Park Tuesday.
Sampson, a sophomore, had a season-best time of 23:38 for 12th (also her
best finish) and was less than a minute out of finishing sixth.
She started the race slowly against a powerful field that included Doddridge
and Ritchie; two of the state's top Class AA cross country programs.
But she
put on a spurt midway through the race and was closing fast at the end.
Following her was Carrie Graffius at 30:03 (25th place), Emily Brady 31:39
(26th place) and Maria Kisner 31:50 (27th place).
Calhoun is still without Elizabeth Duskey, who is sidelined with a knee
injury and Grace Keaffaber, who had a previously scheduled appointment.
On the boys side senior David Lee led the way with a time of 24:35 for 31st
place. He was hampered by a piece of glass in his shoe, which he had to
remove while trying to run.
Zach Stump was next for the Red Devils with a time of 39:58 for 34th place.
A new Calhoun runner, Josh Parsons, ran but was not allowed to score or
place. Had he been he would had probably finished somewhere between 25th and
30th place. He will be eligible to compete in next Tuesday's Calhoun
Invitational.
On the middle school side Luke Moore had a time of 17:46 (his best time of
the season) for 23rd place.
The Red Devils' other middle school runner was
out with a knee injury.
Calhoun will return to action with the Calhoun Invitational at the Calhoun
Park cross country track. The meet should start about 4 p.m.
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