Not since 1996 has Jones County swept both the boys and girls region cross country championships.
But history can at times repeat itself, and that was precisely the case on Saturday morning at Greyhound Park.
Jones County had a homecourse advantage and appeared to relish the chance to perform in front of those who cheer for and support them, winning the boys and girls region meets.
“That’s a goal we talked about. We felt like it was going to be a special year, but you never know until the day comes and you see what happens,” Jones County head coach Geoff Moore said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
The Greyhounds took seven of the top 10 finishing positions in the boys race with all but one of those finishers setting a personal record.
“It’s like I just told them, we didn’t win this today; it’s been coming for a long time,” Moore said. “They did exactly what they said they were going to do.”
As for the girls race, Camryn Wommack led a clean sweep of the top five spots, and as a result, Wommack’s name will be posted on the board at Greyhound Park alongside other region champions. Wommack’s win gives the Lady Hounds two individual region champions in a three-year span.
Wommack charged to the win with a time of 20:24.59 in front of Addison Robinson in second and Lilly Palmer in third at 21:11.94.
“She’s been getting stronger,” Moore said of Palmer. “She’s still not where she was (last year) but also understands that this was a team sport,” Moore said.
“Addison Robinson had the race of her life, and she was happy for her to have that.”
In fourth was Kaitlyn Malone in front of Anna Hinson to round out the top five with times of 21:59.79 and 22:18.07. Emily Patat ran to a seventh-place showing of 22:39.84 with Addison Newby’s 23:12.10 bringing her home 11th.
Wommack, Robinson, Hinson and Patat set personal records on Saturday.
“We don’t have a Laney Doster.
We have seven girls who are hard-nosed, tough and will lay it down for each other,” Moore said. “They’re gritty and won’t quit.”
And then there was the race run by the senior-laden Greyhounds. They took the course in Saturday morning’s first race and more than set the tone. As the field looped around the course for the first time, the Greyhounds were at the forefront of top runners, and that held true as runners began to be cheered by fans as they forged toward the finish line.
Leading the Hounds to the line was Austin Sullivan with one of three sub-17 minute times at 16:46.34 in second place, one ahead of Kyle Whipple with a time of 16:48.25 with Luke Thornton being fourth as he ran a 16:49.14.
Not to be outdone in any way or form, Tyler Marshall’s 17:02.09 was good for sixth, Joshua Barber was eighth as he ran a 17:08.12, Justus Boyd was ninth at 17:15.44 and Grady Newby timed in tenth at 17:04.04.
And with finishes near the top came a slew of personal records, too. Those were set by Sullivan, Whipple, Thornton, Marshall, Barber and Newby.
“Everything just came together just like I envisioned it would.
They were focused this week, more than they have been in the past,” Moore said. “This place, today, it was just different. With all the school system, administration and school board out here, kids notice things like that.” And as if the day could not have gone any better, the combined JV race was next, where the Greyhounds filled out the top 12 boys finishing positions, led by Gavin Robinson, Aaron England and Landon Steinmeyer with times of 17:30.62, 17:57.70 and 18:04.94.
In fourth was Andrew Marshall as he ran a 18:26.77 and Gunner Kent’s fifth-place time of 18:43.84.
Setting personal records from the JV boys roster Robinson, England, Steinmeyer, Ian Borsahole, Connor Monile, Clay Lacy, Connor Peterson, Hunter Pittman, Shaun Williams, Jacob Brennaman, Kendall Stewart, RJ Bryant, Chase Hamm, Miles Cavender, Fred Ogletree, Kristjan Adams, Owen Wommack, Anderson Gordon, Rylan Fuller, Avery Harden, Jaylen King, Lane Shomber and Tripp Arnold.
Of JV girls runners, Becca Durrett was second and Gabrielle Childs was fourth by way of times of 20:49.58 and 23:42.65. Both set personal records along with Mary Barnwell, Raelei Roeder, Audrie Brown, Banks Dyer and Grace Bryant.
