Greyhounds soak up elite experience at Running Lane Championships
With rain soaking much of the southeast, Saturday’s New Balance Running Lane Championships didn’t provide a course that was conducive to comfort or ease in a field full of staggering competition.
But for Jones County’s boys runners, the day was about more than a final result or time. Rather, the bigger picture was being able to line up against elite runners in a top-of-line setting featuring teams from across the country.
In the midst of those teams, there was Jones County, which actually lined up in the starting box alongside IMG Academy. The Greyhounds finished 19th as a team with an average time of 16:34, roughly at the same place where they were seeded.
“It was a great experience. They got all the Gold Race gear, the backpacks, and hoodies. It was almost like a bowl game,” Greyhounds head coach Geoff Moore said. “Just to be in that race, it was huge. It’s humbling but also a great experience. It’s just a reward.”
The Greyhounds were led by Luke Thornton, whose time of 16:28.30 carried home a 148th-place finish. Coming in 208th was Tyler Marshall at 16:28.30 ahead of Gavin Robinson in 232nd on a time of 16:43.36. Clay Lacy’s run of 16:47.91 earned a 241st-place finish in front of Grady Newby and Rylan Fuller in 261st and 284th on times of 17:10.31 and 18:14.04.
“It’s just crazy and humbling how talented people are. The teams there, it’s insane. You have all-region and all-state kids not even in the top 50 or top 80,” Moore said. “Just to be able to be in the race, it was an accomplishment.”
Ian Boresahole also ran in the event’s bronze race, finishing 268th on a time of 18:28.80.
