By Ashley Hargrove
For the second time in a matter of weeks, another trophy will be making its way back to Athens Bible School.
On Saturday, the Trojans’ girls’ cross country team finished runner-up for the second year in a row in the Class 1A-2A state championship meet at Oakville Indian Mounds. The Athens Bible boys finished third.
“The girls were actually picked to finish third,” Athens Bible cross country coach Bill Murrell said. “ We had two younger ones that hadn’t raced in many 5K’s this season and had slower times, but I knew if they improved that something good could happen.”
Allie McCurry paced the Lady Trojans, finishing 11th individually with a time of 22:22. Other ABS results include: Ashley Riggins, 12th, 22:27; Amelia Harwell, 22nd, 23:06; Sarah Bobo, 23:08, who set a career personal record; Becca Harwell, 35th, 24:10; Krys Eubanks, 36th, 24:13; Aubrey Hagewood, 62nd, 26:04; Katharine McGee, 65th, 26:19; and Kelsey Overton, 92nd out of 107 participants, 29:31.
Cliff Denton of Athens Bible finished fourth individually with a time of 17:42. Blake Jackson was 10th with a time of 18:08, setting a career personal record. Jacob Hagewood was 28th with a time of 19:24 while Weston Johnson, who also set a career personal record was 34th with a time of 19:34. Brandon Fisk was 39th with a time of 19:56. Colton Palmer, Ryan Crews, Jeb Hagewood and Alex Dunaway also set career personal records. Palmer placed 48th with a time of 20:17,Crews placed 49th with a time of 20:20, Hagewood was 56th with a time of 20:39 and Dunaway was 63rd with a time of 20:59. Teammate Andrew Pittman was 73rd out of 123 runners with a time of 21:18.
Other local schools participating in 1A-2A were Clements. The girls placed 10th out of 11 teams while the boys placed sixth out of 10 teams.
Alison Jay finished third individually in the girls race with a time of 21:06. Teammate Sarah Page finished 66th with a time of 26:27. Victoria Holland was 93rd with a time of 29:39, Cora Browning was 94th with a time of 29:47 and Rebecca Holland was 96th with a time of 30:16.
For the boys, Roger Good placed fifth individually with a time of 17:42. Robert Altgilbers was 25th with a time of 19:22. Will Patrick was 31st with a time of 19:29 followed by teammate Garrett Browning at 46th with a time of 20:13. Trey McMeans placed 62nd with a time of 20:56. Zach Hoffman finished 71st with a time of 21:12. Luke Moore was 79th with a time of 21:43. Adam Starnes placed 102 with a time of 23:23, Ethan Burt was 106 with a time of 23:45 and Dage Starnes was 112 with a time of 24:10.
In Class 3A, the West Limestone girls placed eighth out of 11 teams while the boys placed ninth out of 12 teams.
For the girls, Kenley Crouch placed 30th individually with a time of 22:25. Jenna Tyler was 42nd with a time of 23:01. Destiny Stanley was 52nd with a time of 23:40 followed by teammate Katelyn Jarrell at 88th with a time of 25:54. Chelsie Saylors was 96th out of 118 runners with a time of 26:55. Kasey Thornton was 106th with a time of 28:41 followed by Kati Martin at 115 with a time of 31:38.
Ceria Sandlin and Ashlin Bailey qualified individually for Elkmont. Sandlin placed 91st with a time of 26:31. Bailey was 92nd also with a time of 26:31.
In the boys race, Jordan Romine of West Limestone was 43rd with a time of 19:40. Breck Johnson was 54th with a time of 19:50. Thomas Peek was 77th with a time of 20:46, followed by Kyle Thornton at 113 with a time of 22:17. Jeremy Romine was 124 with a time of 23:12, Cody Farr was 130 with a time of 23:55, Brent Stark was 134 out of 136 with a time of 25:17. Nick Townly was 135 with a time of 25:19 and Clint Enfinger was 136 with a time of 27:16.
Qualifying individually for Elkmont in the boys race were Joel Swanner and Tyler Helms. Swanner was 81st with a time of 20:58 and Helms was 85th with a time of 21:12.
Individually qualifying in the girls’ 5A race, Maria Torres of East Limestone placed 49th with a time of 22:39. Terry Brown of Athens was 71st with a time of 23:45. Teammate Katherine Baker was 85th with a time of 24:39. Whitney Brown and Francis Conway, also of Athens, placed 97th and 98th with times of 25:09 and 25:13.
Cameron Dorning of Athens qualified as an individual and placed 28th with a time of 18:10. Teammate Patrick Marshall was 56th with a time of 18:51. Luke Mould was 60th with a time of 18:57 and Alex Holt was 70th with a time of 19:15.
