Cartersville XC opens season at Pickens Preview

The Cartersville cross country teams got their 2021 season underway Saturday by competing in the Pickens Preview hosted by Pickens High School at Roper Park in Jasper.

The Cartersville boys placed ninth of 23 teams while the Lady Canes finished 14th of 20 competing teams.

Cambridge High School won the girls race followed by South Forsyth and Etowah.

Carmel Yonas of South Forsyth was the individual winner completing the 5K course in 19:28.6 ahead of 155 other runners.

Cartersville was led by freshman Kaylana Pennington-Brooke (51st, 23:04.4). She was followed by teammates: Samantha Herrera (58th, 23:35.1), Elizabeth Nelson (89th, 24:36.2), Trinity Atkins (93rd, 24:47.6), and Grace Smith (100th, 25:12.0) as the top five Lady Canes runners.

The boys race was won by West Forsyth ahead of Etowah and South Forsyth. Sequoyah, Gainesville, Cambridge, and Centennial placed just ahead of Cartersville with Lassiter rounding out the top ten.

Ben Bergy of South Forsyth won the individual race in 16:05.6. There were 205 harriers in the competition.

Sam Peters led Cartersville, placing 14th overall in 17:03.4. The remainder of the Canes’ top five included: Levi Booth (44th, 18:16.6), Malachi Vosburgh (55th, 18:27.4), Cainen Crowder (83rd, 19:01.7), and Paul Hyman (85th, 19:11.0).

Next on the Cartersville schedule is the 15th annual Run at the Rock on September 4 hosted on the campus of Woodland High School.