10/24/2020 – Boling Park, Canton, GA – By Coach Andy Carr
The Milton cross country teams traveled to the friendly confines of Boling Park in Canton and came away with three team titles on the way to qualifying both the boys and girls varsity teams to the GHSA state championship meet.
Varsity Boys
The 8th ranked Eagles made easy work of the 6-team field to qualify for the state meet for the 12th consecutive season. Milton (1st-34 pts) turned back 5 schools to easily capture the Region 5-7A title. Roswell (2nd-58 pts) and Etowah (3rd-75 pts) trailed. Senior Hayden Marshall (1st-15:47) took the lead near the ¾ mile mark and went on to become region champion besting senior teammate Jack Petkash (2nd-16:10) who led early and then came back to get the runner-up spot. Joining them on the all-region team and individually qualifying for the state meet was fellow senior Connor Brunson (5th-16:18) who was in the top-5 the entire race. Junior Dylan Bowden (12th-16:56) ran an impressive race and brought along sophomore Cory Chambers (14th-17:04) to a new personal best. Personal bests were also recorded by senior co-captain Lorin Tady (19th-17:08) and freshman Zach Patel (21st-17:15) to bring home the region championship.
Varsity Girls
The Lady Eagles faced a tough challenge and rose to the occasion and qualified for the state meet for the 17th time in the last 19 years! Milton (3rd-62 points) gave 5th ranked Etowah (1st-40 pts) all they could handle. Arch-rival Roswell (2nd-61 pts) edged the Lady Eagles even after Milton had 6 finishers before the Hornets 4th finisher. Woodstock (4th-94 pts), Cherokee (5th-97 pts) and Alpharetta (6th-140 pts) trailed. Upfront freshman Ella Grace Malcom (8th-20:03) ran to a personal best to lead the Lady Eagles. Senior co-captain Audrey Nichols (9th-20:03) was next and was closely followed by sophomore Farrah Frith (14th-20:20), freshman Calista Cacciatore (15th-20:23) and junior Ellie Dickenson (16th-20:24) all in personal best performances. Closing out Milton’s state qualifying effort was junior Jessica Albregts (19th-20:43) tying her personal best.
JV Boys
Milton (2nd-40 pts) kept it close to eventual race winner Roswell (1st-20 pts) and the Eagles bested 4 schools. Freshman Hixon Rumph (1st-17:16) bided his time and made the pass for the lead in the closing 200 meters to win the race outright! Junior Charlie Reynolds (8th-18:00) and sophomores Pearson Gillam (9th-18:03) and Oliver Stone (10th-18:05) along with junior Faaris Moiz (14th-18:27) were the scorers for Milton.
JV Girls
In dominating team fashion, Milton (1st-23 pts) put 9 finishers in the top-11 positions to beat back 5 schools quite handily. Fellow juniors Megan Stechschulte (2nd-20:50) and Ella Katekovich (3rd-21:09) led the Lady Eagles as sophomore Gabby Beckman (5th-21:34) led the train of Milton finishers. Senior Clare Petkash (6th-21:43) and junior Sydnie Behrmann (7th-21:50) along with seniors Natalie (8th-21:54) and Samantha Ventura (9th-21:56) followed. All but Beckman, Petkash and Behrmann recorded personal bests.
Open Boys
Milton (2nd-50 pts) beat back two teams as Roswell (1st-15 pts) got the best of the Eagles. Milton was led by freshman Eric Rasmituth (9th-19:06), senior Brendan Trainor (11th-19:25) and freshman Luke Erbey (12th-19:26). Rasmituth ran a personal best performance.
Open Girls
The Lady Eagles put 10 finishers in the top-11 finishing positions to beat two schools. Milton (1st-19 pts) easily outdistanced Roswell (2nd-44 pts) and Etowah (3rd-85 pts). Leading wire-to-wire, junior Shelby Howerton (1st-22:07) was the clear winner as senior co-captain Rachel Clark (3rd-22:39) and junior Ella Rindt (4th-22:39) followed. Rindt ran an all-time best performance with Howerton just missing hers by a second.
Next up for the Eagles is the GHSA State Championship Meet, to be held Saturday, November 7th at the Carrollton Elementary School course in Carrollton, GA.
