SAMPSON, PARSONS LEAD RED DEVIL RUNNERS

(09/04/2007)
By Gaylen Duskey

Calhoun cross country competed in the season-opening Autumn Classic at St. Marys Saturday and came away with improved results from a year ago.

Although neither the boys or girls were able to field a full team, the invididual leaders posted improved times from last year's race.

Junior Anna Sampson led the girls with a time of 25:30 with a mile pace time of 8:13. She finished in 56th place.

She was followed by junior Maria Kisner with a time of 29:20. Senior Kayla Hixon was next for the Red Devils with a time of 31:33 while junior Carrie Graffius had a 32:08. Overall 148 competed in the girls division.

The Red Devils should have a full team by the Chick-Fil-A meet since three additional runners joined the squad late and did not get their mandatory 14 practice sessions in, in time.

On the boys side Parsons, a junior, had a time of 21:06 with a 6:48 mile split. He finished in 79th place in a race that had all classes -- AAA, AA and A -- running together.

Calhoun's other runner was freshman Will Oshe with a time of 24:47. In the middle school division Calhoun sixth grader Cheyanna Oshe had a time of 17:00 while on the boys side sixth grader David Overbay had a time of 19:35.

Middle school runners have a 2 mile course while high school runners have a 3.1 mile course.

Calhoun returns to action Tuesday in the Roane Invitational. Following that the Red Devils travel to the Doddridge Invitation on Sept. 11 and the prestigious Chick-Fil-A at Mineral Wells on Sept. 15.