RHS Cross Country earns first-ever girls win
RHS Cross Country brought home a first place for the girls team from the 2nd Annual Hanceville Invitational and had six girls and one boy in the top ten. The program is in only its second year.
By Alison James for the FCT
Russellville High School Cross Country has achieved one of the goals set for them by Coach Kevin England: the girls’ team took a first place win.
“This was the first time the girls had won,” England said. Only in its second year as a program, RHS Cross Country grew from 12 runners last year to 21 this year.
This first-ever first place win for the girls took place at the 2nd Annual Hanceville Invitational Oct. 20. RHS had six of the top ten overall girls, which included Naydelin Romero, second overall; Carley Seal, third overall; Tristin Thomas, fourth overall; Haylee Hamilton, sixth overall; Cecilia Juan, seventh overall; and Katie Skidmore, tenth overall.
Two of those 21 runners are seniors: Thomas and Hayden Suddith. At this point, they are both focused on making it to state, which is set for .
“If I don’t get there, I’ll be fine with finishing the season out knowing I gave it my all,” Suddith said.
Thomas’ ultimate goal, of course, is state, but she said her fourth place finish at Hancecville and the team’s first place win are also proud accomplishments.
“We all worked as a team,” Thomas said. “It was all of us together. I know we worked hard to get there.”
At Hanceville, Daniel Montiel made seventh overall in the boys’ race.
At the Oct. 17 Good Hope Invitational, Carley Seal made fifth overall and Thomas made ninth overall, in the girl race. The girls team finished third.
At the Athens Bible School Invitational Oct. 22, the girls finished sixth out of 15 teams. Carley Seal was 27th overall; Tristin Thomas was 33rd overall; Naydelin Romero was 46th overall; Cecilia Juan was 54th overall; and Katie Skidmore was 55th overall. The boys finished 15th out of 17 teams. Montiel finished 29th overall. This was his personal record time. Suddith finished 74th overall, which was his personal record time.
Cross-country season, which began in August, will wrap for RHS with the last regular season meet at Oakville Indian Mounds Oct. 29, after which will be sectionals at Cold Springs in Bremen, Nov. 5.
The top three teams from sectionals, England said, make state, as do the next six individuals. England said he is hopeful he will have runners go to state again this year. He has promising prospects.
