2020 AAC Cross Country Championship

Yesterday, under a big hard sun, Bri Worrell’s fleet feet knew no quarter as she raced unencumbered to victory over hill and dell to lead The Cottage School Cougars to an unprecedented fifth consecutive Atlanta Athletic Championship (28:45). Ms. Worrell was quickly followed into the finish chute by up-and-comer Skylar Brown for bronze at 33:01 as returning runner Malia Richards burst across the line in 33:03 for fourth.  Neophyte, Addison Bowlin earned a hard fought sixth place in 36:21 as Eleanor Gaffneystone garnered seventh for the ladies’ contingency.  Unfortunately, Hannah Katz suffered from an upset stomach and was unable to finish the course. She shall return!

The boys’ race was won by a stellar student-athlete from Mill Springs Academy, Jody Cleveland, who claimed, “I ran well, but the Cougar team raced to victory.”  Our veteran Senior Stoltan (Stoic/Spartan) Nicholas Daugherty pressured Jody from the gun for Silver at 20:03.  Runner of the Week Winner Camden Michaud, demonstrated incredible tenacity and guts for his bronze finish in 20:36, despite battling both knee and back pain all season.  Nick Helm and Nick Smith placed sixth and seventh, respectively in 22:47 and 25:04. Eighth grade Phenom, Ryan Gaffneystone, stormed across the finish line for eighth in 26: 16.  Alex Yager and Mike Janyska placed tenth and eleventh with times of 28:04 and 28:14, respectively.  Charlie Kish fought off a queasy stomach to finish in twelfth at 29:16.  Jackson Barnes raced into fourteenth place with a time of 32:35, as Jonah Lorman kicked into the chute for nineteenth at 36:22. Please assist me in congratulating these young student-athletes in their quest for excellence.  The Cottage School Cougars seek to hone the blade for GISA region and state this Saturday at the venerated Dominion Invite beginning at 9:00am with the girls varsity competition.  Up, up, up!