August 12th – Milton High School Trail – by Andy Carr
Milton’s cross-country teams open the season with a race on their home course.
After 2 weeks of practices, the Eagle cross country teams began their 2023 campaign Saturday with their annual Time Trial meet held on their very difficult home course. In foggy and oppressive humid conditions, the Milton girls & boys teams raced for 5 kilometers to see how their summer training & recent practices have set them up going into the season.
GIRLS
Under a heavy fog, 70 Lady Eagles towed the line to traverse the arduous home course on the Milton campus. The battle up front saw junior Macy Schadt (1st-22:46) and senior captain Calista Cacciatore (2nd-23:36) trade the lead for the first half of the race with Schadt eventually pulling away for a comfortable victory. The race for third was also a close one throughout the contest with junior Ella Franke (3rd-24:38) finally outdistancing senior Leelah Dennis (4th-25:26) in the last kilometer. The remaining top-10 were:
5. Rowan Katekovich (jr)-26:15
6. Ivy Rindt (jr)-26:18
7. Lucie Gallagher (fr)-26:18
8. Makenzie Schadt (sr)-26:19
9. Grace Lochman (jr)-26:22
10. Hollis Thompson (soph)-26:40
In the team competition, 10 teams scored led by the Zipping Zebras (1st-69pts) captained by Leelah Dennis.
BOYS
The high humidity did not deter the boys’ race as close to 70 lined up to take on one of the toughest courses in the state. Senior captain Zach Patell (1st 17:54) went straight to the front and was never challenged as he tried to produce a top-10 mark on the home Milton course but falling just short of getting a magnet in the gym. Patell will get one more chance at the team’s home invitational on September 16th. Running a strong & steady race, junior Justin Sevel (2nd-18:11) kept Patell in sight the entire race to get the runner-up spot. Senior Danny Murray (3rd-19:22) also ran unchallenged with senior captain Luke Erbey (4th-19:42) rounding out the top-4. The remaining top-10 were:
5. Chris Murray (sr)-19:51
6. Parker Boys (sr)-19:55
7. Ryan Greathouse (soph)-19:58
8. Jayin Batra (soph)-20:01
9. Everett Lawder (soph)-20:09
10. Will Chambers (fr)-20:12
The team competition saw 10 teams score with “Cory Chambers Fan Club” (1st-80 pts), captained by senior Carver Curtin, getting the win.
The Eagle cross country teams next see action this Saturday in Winder, GA at the annual Apalachee Season Opener Meet on the campus of Apalachee HS where 20 schools are expected to compete.
