There’ll be a new way for cross country to qualify for the GHSA state meet this year, and that path will literally run directly through Jones County.
In previous years, the top four teams from each region qualified for state. The region meet format is gone this year, replaced instead with a pair of sectionals in each classification. The top 12 teams from each sectional will qualify for the state meet, and Jones County’s Greyhound Park course, located off Highway 18, will serve as host on Nov. 2.
JCHS will host the sectional from not only its own AAAA classification but AAA as well. Since region meets are not being held this year, sectionals will also determine region champions by virtue of the top finishers from reach region. All told, 64 teams will be taking to the course on Nov 2.
“It will be the biggest sporting event that Jones County has ever hosted. There will be about 1,000 athletes on our course that day, and you are talking about schools from all over the state. It may be biggest event ever held in Jones County,” Jones County Schools Athletic Director Chad Alligood said. “It’s a big deal that we’re getting to host it, and it’s a testament to us having a facility like that that we can host a statewide event. It’ll be a big deal that Saturday when all of those athletes, parents and coaches show up.”
Hosting meets with high stakes is not unusual for the Greyhounds and Lady Greyhounds. In addition to the Greyhound Invitational, they have on occasion hosted the region meet, as was the case two years ago. Now, however, Jones County’s runners will take to the course close to home with even greater stakes.
“All of the publicity that’ll come with it, that’s a big deal for our kids and the community,” Jones County head cross country coach Geoff Moore said. “You only get once chance to make a great first impression, and we’ll knock this one out of the park.”
Being tapped to host sectionals has already had a residual effect on the Greyhounds and Lady Greyhounds by way to the Rancher’s Release The Hounds Invitational, set for Sept. 21.
Moore says that, at this time last year, about 20 teams were registered. There are more than 40 signed up as of now. The reason? So that teams from across the state can run the course prior to state sectionals. Teams entered so far are those from locations near Athens, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta and Albany. As a result, the meet will be broken up into more races, one for smaller schools and the other for teams from the larger classifications, making for a day around 16 races compared to just six in the past.
