By Allen Hamrick
The CCMS and CCHS cross country teams ran their legs off this past week at the LKC Championships and the Liberty Raleigh Invitational. Clay’s teams have grown into a formidable bunch of runners. Cross country is one of those endurance sports that demand every ounce of determination and discipline a runner can muster from start to finish. CCMS has some dedicated XC athletes. For the first time, they tested their skills at the middle school LKC championship. Marissa Atha and McKinley Mahan are quickly becoming household names in the world of Cross Country. Marissa placed 5th overall and was given the 1st team All LKC award. McKinley placed 11th overall and was also given the 1st team All LKC award. These ladies have excelled in running sports whether it’s cross country or track.
It was on to compete in the Liberty Raleigh Invitational – here both CCMS and CCHS competed in the event. The CCMS Lady Mustangs put a whippin’ on all the teams tying just Greenbrier East at 51 points. Due to Greenbrier East having more runners, 1st place was awarded to them. However, Marissa Atha took top spot at 1st place with a time of 13:12.5. McKinley Mahon was on her heels placing 4th overall. For the Lady Panthers, it was Cheyanne Taylor leading the team and placed 6th.
The Panther boys’ team placed three in the top 10 in the event and placed 1st overall with 38 points. Sawyer Dobbins placed 3rd to lead the Panthers in a neck and neck finish. This Saturday, the CCMS team will be running in their final cross country meet this season at the CWVAC championship held in Ravenswood, and the CCHS team will compete at Doddridge County Congratulations to Marissa Atha and McKinley Mahan for being selected as part of 1st team and to the CCHS boys’ team for taking 1st place.
