More than 5,500 runners brought top teams from not just Georgia but also bordering states like Florida, Alabama and North Carolina to Saturday’s Alexander/Asics Invitational.
That loaded field was a challenge in itself for Jones County, and an even greater task was in place with one of the Greyhounds’ top runners, Grady Newby, out sick.
“We had some adversity, but they kind of knocked it out of the park. They’re seniors, and honestly, I probably worry more than them,” Greyhounds head cross country coach Geoff Moore said. “They just handle it. They are just so mature. They’ve had this one circled. They know this was a very fast course and knew this was their last chance to run a fast time.”
Jones County, however, was not rattled, finishing fourth behind Huntsville and Holly Springs, the top teams from Alabama and North Carolina, as well as Harrison, Georgia’s top-rated team in Class AAAAAA. The Greyhounds also finished ahead of Nease and Chiles, two top teams from Florida, and seven spots in front of Pace Academy, one of the top AAAA teams in Georgia as well as Denmark, a state champion in Georgia last year.
Not only did the Greyhounds have an impressive three runners with times below the 16-minute mark, but they also put two runners in the event’s championship race top-50 and five within the top 115.
“They just showed up.
Our goal for the weekend was to run a sub-16 minutes, because you never knew who’ll be in the meet,” Moore said.
“With Grady sick, and for them to go do what they did on that stage, that’s a big deal going forward and sets us up nicely.”
Luke Thornton was 24th as he ran 15:21.82, and Gavin Robinson ran 15:41.38 to take 41st.
Jones County’s third runner to be below the 16-minute mark was Shaun Williams in 71st with a time of 15:57.47.
Tyler Marshall’s 16:04.25 earned a spot of 93rd and Clay Lacy’s 112th-place showing came on a time of 16:09.47, with all five runners also setting the five fastest times in Jones County history.
“We’ve never had three guys run under 16:00,” Moore said. “To average 16:50, that’s incredible.”
With Saturday’s big weekend in tow, the Greyhounds will focus on both getting healthy and fine-tuning ahead of the Oct. 18 Coach Wood Invitational in Whitesburg that leads into the GHSA sectionals in Gray on Nov.
1 and the GHSA state meet the weekend after.
“We have to get Grady healthy, and we want to win Coach Wood. All of the (private schools) and Starr’s Mill will be there.
It’ll be a good preview for sectionals,” Moore said.
“Nothing matters until that second weekend of November, but it makes you feel like you have a really good chance.”
Multiple Lady Hounds set personal bests as Asics Invitational
The fast course in Fairburn for the Alexander/ Asics Invitational lent itself to fast times on Saturday. Slotted in the massive event’s Girls Red Race, the Lady Greyhounds seized on the opportunity with all but one of Jones County’s runners setting a personal record time. As a team, Jones County outran teams such as Lovett, Cambridge, Newnan and Midtown.
Addison Robinson, as she has been on many race courses this season, was near the front, finishing third with a time of 19:04.41. Tanner Watts claimed a top-30 finish amid a talented field with her time of 20:39.54.
Other Lady Hounds top finishers were Macie White in 59th on a time of 21:28.37 with finishes of 89th and 93rd by Makenzie Snook and Catelen Myers via times of 21:52.74 and 21:56.21.
