Running in the midday heat, Jones County’s middle school cross country runners thrived on their home course in Saturday’s Rancher’s Release The Hounds Invitational, combining to win nine individual medals as both teams took second overall.
The girls’ race saw Madison Marshall deliver a breakout performance, setting a course record with a time of 13:19.21, taking first overall. Phoebe Palmer was two spots behind, taking third at 14:41.34. Kennedy Marshall, Sydney Vaughan, and Lili Cook finished 12th, 16th, and 18th with times of 15:46.84, 16:14.77, and 16:31.82.
In a showcase of the team’s depth, Kaitlyn Flickinger (20th), Baleigh Gowen (23rd), Kloe McMillan (24th), and Mia Feizet (30th) all finished inside the top 30.
Easton Belshan’s time of 13:18.51 was good for second overall in the boys race, giving Jones County two top-five finishes along with the fifth-place 13:30.85 from Colton Gordon. Peyton Simmons and Brooks Scott finished 12th and 17th with runs of 14:01.50 and 14:17.32.
Other top finishers were Cruz Hudgins (22nd), Rhett Renner (28th), Bentley Cook (29th), and Cole Brown (30th).
