The expectations are very present when it comes to Jones County cross country, which takes the course for its first meet of the season Aug. 17 in the Peach State Preview in Hazelhurst.
That level of standard comes by way of what the Greyhounds and Lady Greyhounds have proven that they are capable of. Both teams are coming off of sweeping the boys and girls region titles two years in a row. Not only that, but the Greyhounds also finished sixth in the state last year with the Lady Hounds overcoming a depleted lineup in the same meet to finish 14th in the state.
What’s more? The Greyhounds’ top five runners from the state meet return.
“This junior group is very committed. These guys have been together since the sixth grade,” Greyhounds head coach Geoff Moore said. “These are the top four time-wise in Jones County history at state, and we have one more year with them. We’re expecting big things from them this year.”
There’s minimal attrition for the Lady Greyhounds with just one of their top five at state leaving due to graduation. Suffice to say, pieces are in place to match if not surpass what was done a season ago.
“Last year we had a lot of injuries,” Moore said. “This team has a lot to prove this year.”
The Greyhounds showed a season ago that they could run near the front and also find a next level at the most important time. Luke Thornton is among those returning after finishing second in the region and 22nd in the state. He’s part of a group of four runners that finished no worse than eighth in the region.
Gavin Robinson was sixth in the region and 28th in the state with Tyler Marshall finishing fourth in the region and 39th in the state and Grady Newby being eighth in the region and 49th in the state. With Andrew Marshall, whose 14th-place finish in the region that helped sew up a region crown also back, pieces are in line for the Hounds to be in the running for a three-peat.
“We definitely have a lot of pressure on us based on what we’ve accomplished,” Thornton said.
Led by last year’s region runner-up and 18th-place in the state finisher Lilly Palmer, the Lady Greyhounds will also be looking for a third region crown in a row as they lose just one of their top five runners from a season ago.
To win as a team in cross country, strong depth is needed. That’s a trait that the Lady Hounds appear to have with the return of Isabella Sanchez, Addison Robinson and Camryn Wommack, all of whom finished within the top five of the region last season.
The fact that the Lady Hounds fought through injuries to still finish among the state’s top 15 serves as means of motivation of what JCHS could be capable of if fully healthy.
“I would definitely say having injuries last year was a big struggle,” Palmer said. “It’s cool to think about if we did that good when we had our injuries, how good we could be if we stayed healthy.”
JCHS will once again host its home meet in September. The Rancher’s Release The Hounds Invitational has teams signed up from all over the state so far, but that won’t be the biggest event held in Greyhound Park this fall.
On Nov. 2, Jones County will host the sectionals for the AAA and AAAA classifications, in which the top 12 teams in each event will qualify for the state meet with region champions also being crowned.
“Now, sectionals are a big deal, we’re focused on getting a top 12 in sectionals and top seven in the state,” Wommack said.
