Cross Country teams qualify for state championship with top-6 Area Meet finishes
10/19/19 – Boling Park, Canton GA
By Andy Carr
Milton’s Girls and Boys Varsity Cross Country teams placed 3rd and 5th respectively to qualify for the Georgia State Class 7A Meet to be held November 2 in Carrollton, GA.
Varsity Girls
The Lady Eagles bested nine schools and qualified for the state championship meet for the 9th time in the last 10 years! Milton (3rd -82 pts) held close with South Forsyth (1st -52 pts) and West Forsyth (2nd -73 pts) while holding off Walton (4th -93 pts). Senior Nyah Hernandez (3 rd -18:54) again led the Lady Eagles and was in a tight battle for runner-up honors most of the contest. Freshman Annalise Crow (10th -19:26) produced a 13-second personal best while individually qualifying for the state meet! Junior Audrey Nichols (18th -19:44) ran an all-time best and was followed closely by senior co-captain Abby Rindt (21st – 19:47) to give Milton the edge and with the big personal best of junior Clare Petkash (30th -20:09), the Lady Eagles are once again headed to the state championship! Big races from sophomore Jessica Albregts (42nd -20:44) and senior Ella Langley (43 rd -20:49) helped Milton secure the 3 rd place spot.
Varsity Boys
Milton (5th -140 pts) qualified for the state meet for the 10th -straight year while besting 7 schools in the Area Championship meet. The Eagles had a balanced attack to best Roswell (6th -185 pts) by putting 3 finishers in front of Roswell’s first finisher. Walton (1st-57 pts) edged South Forsyth (2nd -59 pts) with West Forsyth (3 rd -64 pts) right behind them and Lambert (4th -79 pts) also besting the Eagles. Junior Hayden Marshall (8th -16:09) ran in the front group of the race the entire way while running his 2nd best
performance. Senior co-captain Spencer Watry (18th -16:30) gave Milton a strong 1-2 with junior Jack Petkash (25th -16:42) running an all-time best solidifying Milton’s top-finishers. Senior co-captain Joe Pick (40th -17:06) moved steadily through the field and brought along junior Connor Brunson (49th -17:24) and fellow senior captain Alex Braswell (52nd -17:26) in a big personal best! Sophomore Dylan Bowden (54th – 17:33) closed out the Eagles in also a personal best performance.
JV Girls
The Lady Eagles concluded their season as Milton (6th -123 pts) defeated 4 schools in one of their best team races of the season. Junior Audrey Minton (19th -21:14) and sophomores Ella Katekovich (21st -21:20) and Ellie Dickenson (26th -21:44) led the Lady Eagles.
JV Boys
Just like their girl counterparts, Milton (6th -131 pts) bested 6 schools to conclude their season running their best team average time with many personal best performances. Sophomore Davis Hobbs (20th – 17:46), junior Lorin Tady (22nd -17:46) and freshman Corey Chambers (27th -17:55) all ran personal best times for the 5-kilometer distance to lead the Eagles.
Open Girls
The Lady Eagles moved up well during their race and surprised some very strong programs to garner the race victory! Milton (1st -36 pts) defeated 8 schools to capture the lone team win at the meet for the Eagles! Big races by sophomore Shelby Howerton (3 rd -22:06) and juniors Anne Marie Lessig (5th -22:12) & Samantha Ventura (7th -22:15) led the Milton contingent.
Open Boys
Milton (5th -138 pts) bested 4 schools to finish off the meet in the last race of the day. Senior Noah Braswell (26th -18:48) along with juniors Joe Shelley (32nd -18:54) and Will Buchanan (35th -18:55) led the Eagles.
