EHS XC AT CHICKASAW TRAIL

The Running Red Devils were at the Oakville Indian Mounds park for the Chickasaw Trails Invitational this past Saturday.  It was a typical day – hot, humid and over 2800 runners anxiously awaiting their race!  The day started early with the team meeting in Athens at 6:30 am to caravan to the Indian Mounds. 

The first race for EHS was the Girls JV at 8:30 – and it was already HOT and HUMID!!  Our girls running the JV races persevered through the heat and every single one of them improved their time!!

Gracie McMahan was the first finisher for the Red Devils in the 2.1 mile race with a time of 18:43, improving her PR by 29 seconds.  She was followed by Alex Green (18:46 – a 16 second improvement), Elizabeth Sims (18:53 – a 58 second improvement), Mia Farris (19:49 – almost a 2 minute improvement) and Brianna Barnett (20:31 – a 49 second improvement).

Next up – at 8:45 - was the Boys JV race (2.1

Miles).  Several of the JV Boys also improved their time.  Elkmont’s first finisher was James Walts, who chopped over 2 ½ minutes off his 2.1 mile time, coming in with a time of 15:38!  Alex Armstrong finished in 15:58, a full minute faster than his previous PR.  Braden Long also showed a huge improvement, cutting his PR down by over 2 ½ minutes with a time of 17:26!  Lane Roberts, a first year XC runner finished with a time of 19:34. 

With no rest for the weary parents, who go from the starting line to various spots along the course and back to the finish to cheer on the runners, the Small Schools (1A-4A) Varsity Girls started at 9:00!  The varsity runner compete on a 5K course – which is 3.1 miles.  Sammi Jo Pressnell was the first of the Red Devils to cross the finish line with a season best time of 25:09.  She was followed by Ruth Ann Bates (25:37 SB), Claudia Allen (25:39 SB), Hannah Hanback (25:28), Britney Clem (27:08), Stephanie Clem (27:18 SB), Nikki Ristau (27:35 SB), Jazmin Ristau (27:55 SB), Adriel McMahan (28:32) and Ameia Davis (28:32 PR).

After a slight break in the schedule, the Red Devils Varsity Boys lined up at the start at 10:10.  Out of curiosity, I checked the weather and the temperature was 88 degrees but felt like 94 at the start of this race!  Definitely NOT the kind of temperatures I care to run in – but wait…this isn’t about me!  Chance Bailey led the Red Devils finishing with a time of 18:25.  He was followed by Chase Prater (19:34 SB), Tiyler Walts (21:12), Christian Green (21:29), Ethan Shores (23:25), Jacob Ezell (23:25), Brantley Hammock (24:21) and Jacob Armstrong (24:55).

These Red Devils have a full very full schedule over the next week and a half, with 4 meets in 10 days! 
September 11 – McFarland Dash  (Florence)
September 13 – Good Hope, AL
September 16 – Randolph Classic @ UAH Campus (The MUD run!  Fun race to come watch and it is close by!!)
September 20 – Fairview, AL

Come out and support these hard working EHS Athletes!

Coach Pugh's Corner:
XC team had a good, hard work out tonight. Watching the effort these kids put forth is very encouraging. Brings you back up when you see kids out working and sweating hard to reach their goal. To them it doesn't seem like a lot, but to have them encourage me through their efforts goes along way in making my day better. That's true in most anything in life. We never know who we are influencing whether good or bad. Try to smile, try to laugh and above all just as my kids did tonight, strive for that part of you that is destined to be great. It's in all of us! Glad I have the chance to see it almost daily in the kids!