March 29, 2024

Runner-up first-timers

Clarke takes second at home meet

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The pack of three continues to lead Clarke girls cross county.

Kylie Shields grabbed a sixth-place finish at Clarke’s home meet Tuesday, as Katie Donaldson and Chelsea Selsor pushed their way to seventh and 10th respectively.

The performance of those three and the work lower on varsity the depth chart helped Clarke to place second at its meet at East Lake County Park on Tuesday, Sept. 26

Davis County earned both the boys and girls titles.

Clarke’s team got in its repetitions on the course in the days leading up to the meet after having checked out the prospective racing area in August, and were fairly comfortable with what awaited them leading up to the race.

“They liked it right away because we came out in early August and were like ‘Yeah I think I like this,” Clarke coach Kayleen McCann said.

Race day had an exciting feel on an overcast day, with hundreds of middle schoolers, parents and high school racers hovering in camp around the finish in the lead-up to the varsity girls race.

Pop music bumped all around the starting line, and carried out over the course.

“It’s just a festive atmosphere here. It’s fun, it’s a lot of green, a lot of teams,” McCann said.

The trio led Clarke at the top, but depth in the middle propelled Clarke’s girls squad ahead of several teams in the thick of the team race.

Tori Olson continues to move up the pack in placing higher at meets, and took 22nd at this meet. Rebecca Van Buren took 50th.

On the boys side, Timber Kent paced the Indians once more with his 35th-place finish. Parker hardy was none too far behind in 43rd, about 42 seconds behind. Humberto Arellano stuck close with his placing of 47th.

McCann thanked Scott Kent, Clarke County’s Conservation Board executive director, who helped prepare much of the course for the meet.

“He did a fantastic job of making this happen,” McCann said.

I-35 was led by a fifth-place finish on the boys side by Wyatt Fitzgerald, and also garnered 14th (Zach Goering).

“Wyatt is really something special. He’s a coachable kid and he’s only a sophomore,” Roadrunner coach Desman Oakley said. “He’s really coming along. He’s got goals… Big things for him. I hope he has a shot at state.”

Goering, a senior leader on the team, also continues to give his coach reason for optimism.

Oakley, who likely has the benefit of a humongous group of middle school runners coming up to varsity in the next two years, saw reason to be excited about his guys and girls on Tuesday.

Lizzy Parrish took fourth and Briley Albers was 20th on the girls side.

“Lizzy running in the top 10 the last couple weeks is really helping her confidence. She is running strong,” Oakley said.

“We’ve been trying to get Briley that medal all year and she finally got it,” Oakley added.

Central Decatur was led on the boys side by Nick Bishop in 17th and Lauren Saxton on the girls side in 34th.

(Inconsistencies were found in some of the individual placings. There may be mistakes in the agate based upon the provided results.)

(Team point totals results were not available).

Girls individual varsity finishers — 1. Elise Emmick, SEW, 20:59.65; 4. Lizzy Parrish, I-35, 23:26.28; 6. Kylie Shields, Clarke, 23:42.80; 7. Katie Donaldson, Clarke, 23:47.05; 10. Chelsea Selsor, Clarke, 24:02.70; 20. Briley Albers, I-35, 25:04.78; 22. Tori Olson, Clarke, 25:07.56; 34. Lauren Saxton, CD, 26:11.09; 50. Rebecca Van Buren, Clarke, 27:32.87; 55. Blexley Burton, I-35, 28:47.38.

Junior varsity finishers — 1. Avery Byrd, DC, 26:35.38; 4. Hallee Ashby, Clarke 30:09.76; 5. Autumn Ashby, Clarke, 30:53.68; 10. Destiny Ashby, Clarke, 34:24.32.

Boys individual varsity finishers — 1. Josh Tibbits, MSTM, 18:30.57; 5. Wyatt Fitzgerald, I-35, 18:59.61; 14. Zach Goering, I-35, 19:45.59; 17. Nick Bishop, CD, 19:55.23; 35. Timber Kent, Clarke, 21:07.41; 43. Parker Hardy, Clarke, 21:49.41; 44. Brandon Vecchio, CD, 21:52.02; 45. Brody Patterson, CD, 21:52.27; 47. Humberto Arellano, Clarke, 21:58.14; 48. Brett Powers, CD, 21:59.38; 53. Cody Parrish, I-35, 22:40.17; 58. Avery Marvin, CD, 22:54.59; 60. Keaton Adams, CD, 23:04.62; 62. Logan Peterson, I-35, 23:27.80; 65. Evan Woosley, I-35, 23:53.40; 66. Seth Dickinson, I-35, 24:04.76; 68. Wyatt Hewlett, Clarke, 24:19.51; 69. Matt Stickels, Clarke, 24:22.33; 70. Ryan Truman, I-35, 24:27.87.

Junior varsity finishers — 1. Trey Coronado, EBF, 20:29.04; Cole Pontier, Clarke 24:07.92; Eisen Barr, Clarke, 25:00.19; Nick Hadley, Clarke, 25:00.63; 46. Sean Wilson, I-35, 26:07.52; 48. Joseph Van Buren, Clarke, 26:27.05; 50. Max Maiden, Clarke, 26:46.58; 57. Levi Snyder, Clarke, 33:28.24.

Middle school girls — 1. Clarke Kelly, VM, 13:24.88; 3. Abbi Goering, I-35, 14:17.71; 4. Lauren Bussanmas, I-35, 15:23.51; 6. Trinity Mothershed, CD, 15:50.00; 12. Macy Nelson, I-35, 17:23.28; 16. Payton Glasner, Clarke, 19:05.27; 21. Chloe Hamaker, CD, 20:035.00; 24. Riley Elsbury, Clarke, 22:43.65.

Middle school boys — 1. Tate Swartz, CD, 12:21.15; 8. Tyson McDole, CD, 13:20.03; 11. Diego Cavanzon, Clarke, 13:35.92; 12. Tyler Fitzpatrick, I-35, 13:53.52; 13. Colter Beck, I-35, 13:53.52; 15. Mason Maiers, I-35, 14:00.23; 17. Kale Day, I-35, 14:07.26; 18. Calhoun Lundquist, Clarke, 14:14.91; 19. Richie Donaldson, Clarke, 14:16.41; 25. Quentin Coffelt, CD, N/A; 31. Nathaniel Bishop, CD, 15:00.80; 32. Owen Festler, I-35, 15:06.08; 34. Alejandro Falla, Clarke, 15:16.93; 35. Aidan Weckman, I-35, 15:27.86; 37. Cannon Rivera, CD, 15:59.58; 41. Isaiah Brunk, CD, 16:34.23; 42. Carson Allen, I-35, 16:34.23; 43. Clay Savage, Clarke, 16:35.92; 44. Daniel Landeros, Clarke, 16:38.64; 48. Owen Dickenson, I-35, 17:34.91; 50. Brant Morris, I-35, 18:11.11;