New team time trial format imposed due to COVID-19
10/10/20 – Cartersville, GA – By Andy Carr
The Milton cross country teams traveled to Sam Smith Park in Cartersville, GA for the 6th edition of the Wingfoot meet hosted by Atlanta Track Club and ran in a completely new and different-style race format and came away with many personal all-time bests. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the meet was run in a team time trial where each school started their race together at designated starting times, 10 minutes between schools and five minutes between team members (boys and girls) if needed.
BOYS
The Eagles were the 2nd team to race in the meet and would not know their team placing or results until all the other 20 high schools at the meet were finished with their races. Milton (13th-378 pts) ran their junior varsity runners and were still able to defeat 7 schools varsity squads on the day. In his first race as a high schooler, freshman Zach Patell (61st-18:54) led the Eagle contingent the entire race and was first across the line for Milton. Patell has been injured most of the season so this is a great addition to the team as Milton heads toward the region meet in two weeks. Scorers for the Eagles included sophomore Keller Wilson (108th-19:43) in another strong outing, senior co-captain Payton Massey (116th-19:50), freshman Eric Rasmituth (125th-19:59) and senior Brendan Trainor (150th-20:24). Senior Sean Runner (152nd-20:25) and junior Nolan Thompson (153rd-20:26) contributed to the team scoring effort. There were 444 finishers.
GIRLS
Milton (11th-297 pts) also ran their junior varsity team and beat back 8 scoring schools varsity teams in another solid team performance. The Lady Eagles were led by the late-race surging effort of senior Clare Petkash (49th-23:09) who made up as much as 100 meters on her teammates to record the top-Milton finish. Right behind her the entire way, junior Shelby Howerton (56th-23:22) stayed with Petkash until the last few hundred meters. Fellow junior Sydnie Behrmann (59th-23:28) was next and led most of the way in the early going. Scorers for the Lady Eagles also included the senior twins Natalie (77th-24:07) and Samantha (78th-24:08) Ventura. Senior co-captain AnneMarie Lessig (79th-24:12) and junior Genevieve Trainor (84th-24:16) also figured in the scoring for Milton. 265 finishers were recorded.
The Milton cross country teams will be at full strength this Saturday as the Eagles travel to the McIntosh Nature Preserve in Whitesburg, GA for the annual Coach Wood Invitational, the last regular season meet before the region championships on October 24th in Canton, GA.
