By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
The Calhoun Middle-High School cross country teams had their first timed runs of the season this week and the 20-minute barrier came very close to falling.
First-year runner Justin Gerwig had the top time on the 3.2-mile course at 20:10. Gerwig, who came out for cross country this year to help develop speed and stamina for basketball, is shooting to shave a minute off his time in the Red Devils' next timed run which will probably take place next Wednesday.
Gerwig was backed in the timed event by sophomore first-year runner Zach Hanshaw, who had a time of 21:17. Hanshaw is also a member of Calhoun's ultra-successful wrestling team and is using the cross country training to get in shape for wrestling.
Cai Clothier, who also plays basketball or the Red Devils during the winter months, was third with a time of 21:29.
Team male captain Josh Parsons had a time of 23:22 while Anthony Richards, another first-year runner and CHS basketball player, posted a time of 25:27.
On the girls side Anna Sampson, who finished 14th in the state meet last fall, had a time of 24:40. Sampson is the girl's team captain.
She was followed by Tracy King with a time of 32:07. King is trying to run through the effects of a sore knee that kept her out of practice for a while.
Freshman Rochelle Gerwig, a first year runner and also a member of the CHS varsity volleyball team, was next at 35:55.
She was followed by Kerry Graffius at 36:53; Athena Wagoner at 39:58 and Barbara Richards at 44:54.
The Red Devils are still looking for runners for both the high school and middle school teams.
The high school girl's team already has seven runners but needs a couple more in case of injuries. The same is true with the boy's team which has six runners.
The middle school boy's team has four runners and needs at least one more to have a full team while the middle school girl's team currently has only one runner.
If you are interested in running please contact Coach Melinda Fitzwater at 354-6148 or via e-mail at melindafitzwater@yahoo.com
Two runners missed the timed runs. Maria Kisner was out-of-town for while Noah Sweeney suffered a cut on his foot and was unable to run.
The teams open the 2008 season on Aug. 30 in the Autumn Classic in St. Marys.
The Red Devils tentative schedule is:
Aug. 30 at Autumn Classic (St. Marys)
Set. 14 Chik-Fil-A (Mineral Wells)
Sept. 16 Doddridge Invitational (West Union)
Sept. 23 Calhoun Invitational (Mt. Zion)
Sept. 27 Dual at Sherman (Seth)
Oct. 1 Charleston Catholic Invitational (Sissonville)
Oct. 4 West Virginia Insurance Classic (Ellenboro)
Oct. 16 LKC Meet (St. Marys)
Oct. 23 Regional Meet (Sissonville)
Nov. 1 State Meet (Barboursville)
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