Cross Country teams run through season openers
Mavs pick up where they left off
The 2022 cross country season began Saturday for the Anderson County High School boys and girls teams in the Midstate.
The Mavericks and Lady Mavericks began the new campaign where they ended the 2021 season: in Hendersonville, at Sanders Ferry Park, the home of the TSSAA state championships.
“It was a good race and a good way to start the season,” ACHS Coach Derek Wallace said. “We ran in the Gold Division against the top teams. Our girls finished first among schools in our division. Our boys finished second.
“We had some private schools and some bigger schools from Nashville that beat us, but we finished strong against the schools in our division. It was great to run on the state course.”
The Mavericks had four runners complete the course in under 20 minutes. Another Anderson County athlete, competing in his first Tennessee high school event, crossed the finish line in 20 minutes, 30 seconds. Jaxson Taylor pulled off that feat after moving to the Volunteer State from Arizona.
“I had four guys finish in the teens,” Wallace said. “I’m pleased with (Taylor). I think that’s the fastest time we’ve ever had for a guy in his first race.”
Conner Chandler, ACHS’s top male finisher, finished in the 18:30s and Vance Laster posted a time in the 18:40s.
“I had two guys finished in the 18s,” Wallace said. “I don’t have their exact times. Conner finished in the 18:30s and Vance finished in the 18:40s.
“I had two other guys finish neck-and-neck. Ryan Basford finished in 19:04 and Ben Clotfelter finished in 19:05.”
Ethan Bolton finished the race in under 19½ minutes. He posted a time of approximately 22 minutes at the 2021 state championships.
“He improved his time by two-and-a-half minutes between October and now,” Wallace said of Bolton.
Kaitlyn Fisher, who finished third at last year’s state meet, was the Lady Mavericks’ top finisher as she crossed the finish line in 20 minutes, 4 seconds.
Freshman Ava Moody posted a time of 20:40. Megan Haire finished in 21:56. Marley Caldwell posted a time of 22:57 and Emily Boring completed the course in 25 minutes.
“Our girls were a little disappointed because some of their times were slower than they were at state last year,” Wallace said.
The Mavericks and Lady Mavericks will be back in action Saturday at Victor Ashe Park in Knoxville.
The meet will feature high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.
The high school event begins at 9 a.m.