Marissa Atha places 4th at Riverside.
By Allen Hamrick
The CCHS and CCMS cross country teams opened their season at the Riverside Corn Field Crawl Invitational on Saturday. The high school teams stretched their legs first as the day got started and only got hotter. By the time the races started, the humidity was already weighing in on the event – literally. This cross-country meet was full of large teams from AAAA schools as well as AAA and AA. To win here, you couldn’t bring your chicken legs to run with.
The boys were up first, and Isiah Woods and Toby Yeager toed the mark for the Panthers. By the time the heat-drenched run was over Woods placed 48th and Yeager was 50th. Now one may look at this and say, “Wow, that’s not a good run,” but keep in mind these schools are some of the top cross-country schools in the state with , so, yes, they had a good run.
The girls were up next, and this year looks like it will be the year of the cat for the Lady Panthers. Marissa Atha from middle school fame joined the team this year and has already made her mark on the trail beating some of the best female runners from some of the biggest schools. Atha placed 4th overall with a time of 21:51.70. Right behind her was running phenom Sophia Berberich who finished the race in 11th place with a time of 22:45.90. Abigail Grandon, the running musician, finished the race in 30th place followed by Tara Conley at 45th and Miranda Morris at 56th. Again, the times were good considering they beat most of the AA runners.
The teams have been running the hills and valleys and putting Clay on the map as far as extreme sports. Cross Country isn’t just track and field but an extreme show of guts and determination, and in this heat from the pits of Aralu, it makes it even worse.
The middle school runners were up next. Holden Reed, the only Mustang cross country runner, stepped up to the mark to represent the Mustangs. In a field of 116 runners, he stood alone and made some waves by crossing the finish line in 30th place with a time of 11:35.40. That wasn’t bad at all. Three Lady Mustangs participated in the middle school girls’ event. Among the 77 female runners, Danae Stricker of the running Stricker clan crossed the line, finishing 17th overall with a time of 13:12.00. Lillian Goebel finished the race in 44th with a time of 15:40.40, and Dolores Poland finished in 45th place with a time of 15:44.30.
This meet was a good start for the teams as they stretched their legs against some of the best teams in the state. This Saturday, they travel to Calhoun County for the Calhoun Invitational, a good event for the team with a lot of regional action. Coach Matt Stricker has high hopes that this season will be a great one for the teams. The Clay teams will only get better now that they have established themselves as a force in the extreme sports world. If you get the chance, come out and watch pure grit and strength of mind in action. We have some fantastic runners who, with just a little more practice, could have a foot race with the deer. CCHS and CCMS teams are on their way to becoming a powerhouse in the cross-country world.
Don’t forget that the Buffalo Creek Invitational will be held Sept. 9 at Dundon. Clay will also host the Elk River Trail race on Oct. 7, and there will be some fast times, I’m sure. Dundon would be a good place for you to come and support the teams as the season gets underway. Also, don’t forget that Panther Football will begin regular season on the road at Midland Trail this Friday night, and Mustang Football has a scrimmage at home on Wednesday. Come out and see if the Panthers can retain their glory from last season and check out the Mustang team.
