Beech Tree News Network

The Cross Country team has changed classes to start off their season. Last season they were class 2A region 2, this year they moved down to class 1A region 2. The boys and girls teams both have a wonderful shot at winning region this year, with the girls having a chance to have back to back state appearances and the boys first time, as a team. Head coach for the team this year team is Stan Murphy, who was the assistant coach last year. His assistants are Stacha Murphy and Gary Ladewig.

The boys’ varsity team has all of their runners back from last year, and they have one new face to add. Ethan Jenkins and Drew Henderson are the boys’ only seniors. Helping these seniors out will be two juniors, Matthew Embry and Jacob Mudd. The new face to the boys’ team is sophomore Nolan Johnson; he will be a big asset to the team this year. The rest of the sophomores are Cameron Price and Caden Cardwell. The only middle school runner on the boys’ varsity team right now is 7th grader Garrison Odle. These guys have a lot of big hopes for this season.

The girls’ varsity team has everyone back as well, but just like the guys, they have a new face to add as well. The lone senior runner is Chanda Hampton. Chanda is accompanied by three sophomores, Maranda Pierson, Olivia Neighbors, and Whitney Phelps, a freshman, Hannah Perry, two 8th graders, Hannah Logan and Kierra Neighbors, and two 7th graders, Delaney Embry and Reece Robbins. Phelps is the new runner for this year’s team. She is looking to help the team out and get them back to state.

There are five girls on the cross country team that will primarily be running in the elementary school races. Three of the girls being 6th graders and the other two being 4th graders. The sixth graders names are Samantha Henderson, Autumn Jenkins, and Sophia Boone. The other two girls, 4th graders, are Zoie House and Elllie Martin.

For the boys’ who will primarily be running in elementary school races; there are three 6th graders, five 5th graders and one 4th grader.  The three 6th graders are Conner Glass, Trenton Stovall and Hunter Adcock. Helping the 6th graders are the five 5th graders, Byar Beasley, Bowen Kirby, Hayden Perry, Colten Price, and Christian Henderson. The one lone 4th grader on the boys’ team is Trey Stovall.

The team started their season off early this year with 3 meets already completed. On September 7th, the varsity and elementary school runners ran in the Owensboro invitational at Yellow Creek Park in Owensboro. For the boys’ varsity team, Ethan Jenkins led the way placing 8th with a time of 17:52.43. Placing 45th was Cameron Price with a time of 19:58.81. Matthew Embry had a time of 22:07.02 placing 85th. With a time of 23:01.66, Drew Henderson placed 99th. Other runners who ran were Garrison Odle, 26.29.09, placing 125th, Caden Cardwell, 27:02.24, placing 128th, Jacob Mudd, 28.53.54, placing 134th, and Kain Neighbors, 33:54.54, placing 140th.

The girls’ varsity team had some great times as well in the Owensboro invitational. Olivia Neighbors was the first to finish for the girls team, placing 14th overall, with a time of  23:12.50. Finishing after Olivia was Maranda Pierson, placing 19th with a time of 23:45.73. Hannah Perry finished 5 seconds after Maranda,  placing 20th with a time of 23:50.03. Placing 25th, Delaney Embry had a time of 24:03.65. Chanda Hampton, the girls’ team senior placed 29th and had a time of 24:35.05. The other girls who ran that day were Hannah Logan, 26:59.80, placing 46th, Reece Robbins, 27:06.18, placing 47th, and Whitney Phelps, 38:58.47, placing 73rd.

The elementary team runs 1,000 meters unlike the varsity who runs 5,000 meters (3 miles). Byar Beasley did outstanding in Owensboro, finishing first for the team and first overall, 4:14.71. Bothers Trenton and Trey Stovall did great as well. Trey finished 14th, 4:39.64, and Trenton finished 19th, 4:45.88. With a time of 4:47.20, Chistian Henderson placed 22nd. The other runners were Conner Glass, 4:52.15, placing 31st, Bowen Kirby, 5:27.79, placing 63rd, Hayden Perry, 5:33.04, placing 68th, Colten Price, 6:13.60, placing 92nd, and Hunter Adcock, 6:26.22, placing 96th.

The girls’ elementary team did great as well. Autumn Jenkins was the first runner to finish from the girls team and placed 3rd overall with a time of 4:51.24. Zoie House was the next girl to finish placing 8th having a time of 5:08.14. Placing 13th was Sophia Boone; her time was 5:13.51. Samantha Henderson, 5:29.32, placing 23rd and Ellie Martin finished with a time of 5:58.28, placing 34th.  

The Cross Country team also ran in KY/IN Border Clash in Owensboro on Aug. 27th and ran in the Raiders Twilight Run in Bowling Green on Aug. 31st. The Teams next meet is Sept. 19th at Hopkins County Central in the Thunder/Lightening run. Good Luck to all the runners.
            

                         Cross Country Schedule

Sept. 19th Thunder/Lightening Run, Hopkins County Central

Sept. 28th Gatorland Run, Phil Moore Park, Bowling Green

Oct. 5th Cougar Run, Logan County

Oct. 12th Fast Cats Classic, Yellow Creek Park, Owensboro

Oct. 15th SKY Conference, Ephram White Park, Bowling Green

Oct. 17th Western KY MS/Elementary Championship, Muhlenberg County

Nov. 2nd Regionals, Ephram White Park, Bowling Green

Nov. 9th State, KY Horse Park, Lexington
 

Story by Amy Rogers, Beech Tree News/WLBQ 1570AM