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THEY'RE OFF...
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Led by Anna Sampson's 6th place finish the Calhoun High School girls cross country team took third place in the Second Annual Calhoun Invitational at Calhoun County Park Tuesday afternoon.
Running in a highly competitive field the Red Devil girls had 65 points to finish behind Charleston Catholic (29) and Doddridge (39).
The boys, meanwhile, were one point behind Ritchie County as the Rebels edged the Red Devils 68 to 69. Doddridge won with 28 points while Charleston Catholic was second with 51.
Justin Gerwig led the boys with a strong third-place finish in a time of 18:21. It was his best time of the season.
He was backed by Josh Parsons in 15th place with a time of 20:16. It was Parson's best time of the season. Zach Hanshaw was next in 16th place with a time of 20:21 - his best time of the season.
Eight teams came to Calhoun Park for invitational
Team members take time before start ...
... to offer a prayer on a beautiful park hilltop
Sponsor Tim Moore encourages Calhoun runners
Cai Clothier was 22nd with a time of 21:01 and Anthony Richards was 25th with a time of 22:35.
Daniel Clevenger of Doddridge won the meet with a time of 17:46. It was the first sub-18-minute run on the course which features a rugged hill called "Big Momma" and several smaller hills.
Second place went to his Doddridge teammate Cuyler Edgell, who had a time of 18:00.
Randy Price of Roane took fourth and John Perry of Ritchie rounded out the top five.
On the girls side Ally Hoyer led a Charleston Catholic charge that saw all five of its runners in the top 13 places.
Hoyer, who won with a time of 20:47, was followed by Leslie Thomas of Riverside (21:08) in second, Aly Carpenter of Ritchie (21:42) in third, Bethany Carroll (22:18) of Doddridge in fourth and Erica Hayes (22:37) in fifth.
Sampson was sixth. She was backed by Tracy King (26:57) in 27th, Maria Kisner (30:52) in 32nd, Athena Wagoner (32:22) in 34th and Carrie Graffius (50:17) in 36th.
Overall the girl's race had 46 runners while the boys had 44.
There were eight high schools competing.
The biggest race of the day was the middle school boys' race with 54 runners and seven teams.
Charleston Catholic won with 41 points, closely followed by Doddridge with 45 and Elkins Middle with 50. Ritchie Middle School was next with 123.
Johnny Hogue of Ritchie took individual honors with a time of 11:48.
Calhoun's top runner was William Baker in 42nd with a time of 15:27. David Overbay (19:20), Cody Parsons (21:05) and Hunter Thomas (21:06) rounded out the scoring for the Red Devils.
On the girls side The Elkview's Mikayla Shamblin defended her title with a time of 12:37.
Coach Melinda Fitzwater (left) welcomes schools and gives
rules with coach Gaylen Duskey (L) reviewing stats (right)
Elkins Middle School won the team title with 21 points while Ritchie (65) was second and Doddridge (71) third. Charleston Catholic was next with 73.
Calhoun's Monica Heiney was 21st with a time of 16:41.
Teams competing included Doddridge, Ritchie, Charleston Catholic, Elkins, Gilmer, Geary, Elkview and Calhoun.
The meet was sponsored by Tim Moore State Farm Insurance.
Calhoun is idle until Saturday when it travels to Boone County to run in a four-team meet at Sherman High School.
RUNNER'S SCRAPBOOK
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