Local cross country teams compete in Wingfoot Classic

Five local varsity cross country teams were represented Friday and Saturday at the Wingfoot Classic held at Sam Smith Park in Cartersville. The annual race is hosted by the Atlanta Track Club and this year attracted more than 125 teams and running clubs from eight states.

Auburn (AL) won the overall girls championship against a field of 23 other teams. Ruby Little of Marist was in girls individual winner in 18:08.50.

Brentwood (TN) won the 24-team overall boys championship race with Lambert placing fourth to be the top team from Georgia. Joe Sapone of Holy Innocents’ was the boys overall race winner in 15:06.20.

Tyler Jones of Woodland ran to a 47th place finish in the overall championship race. He completed the 5K course in 16:27.

The Woodland girls placed 12th in the 21-team Girls Varsity A Division which was won by Richmond Hill. Emma Segars (45th, 21:26), Danielle Thayer (49th, 21:34), Miranda Pelow (70th, 22:05), and Olivia Berry (71st, 22:08) led the Lady Cats in a field of 206 runners.

The Cartersville girls were led by Meredith Gaines (157th, 24:09), Samantha Herrera (159th, 24:17), and Vivi Vest (166th, 24:27).

The Cartersville and Woodland boys teams competed in the Varsity Boys Division A race and finished back-to-back. Cartersville was 17th and Woodland — without the counting score of Jones — was 18th. The division, which included 26 teams, was won by Dalton.

Malachi Vosburgh of Cartersville finished fourth of 241 runners in 16:25. Barrett Stepp and Hayden Mitchell followed in 76th and 78th, respectively in 17:59 and 18:00.

Woodland was led by a 21st place finish by Drew Thayer (17:01). Landon McSwain placed 58th for the Wildcats in 17:41 and Juan Mendoza was 86th in 18:06.

The Cass boys team ran to a 12th place finish of 27 teams in the Varsity Boys Division B race.

Critton Gearhart led the Colonels with a 46th place finish (18:17) out of 202 runners. He was followed by teammates Adam Pierce (58th, 18:48) and Jake Wright (86th, 19:36).

Next for Cartersville on the schedule is the Alexander/Asics Invitational October 1 in Douglasville while Cass will run that same day in Cumming at the Rangers Invitational. Up next for Woodland is the Atlanta Classic in Douglasville on October 8.