Three Dragons runners bound for state meet
Three Clinton High School cross-country runners have punched their tickets to the TSSAA Class A/AA state championships this week at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis.
The Dragons will send two boys to compete, while the Lady Dragons will be represented by freshman Lilian West when the girls take the course Thursday on the west side of the state.
Junior Cooper Bostrom will return to the state stage for the second straight year after qualifying in 2024.
Joining him will be freshman teammate Baylor Cool, who earned his first state berth.
“We have two freshmen and a junior going to state, and Cooper is going back for the second time,” CHS Coach Tim Kumes said. “He ran about a 17:09 — it was amazing. I’d love to see him medal. He’ll also run track this spring, and Coach (Tyler) Byrd already has a conditioning plan in place.”
Bostrom finished 13th at the Region 2-A/AA championships on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, completing the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 8.81 seconds. Cool finished 23rd with a time of 17:56.59.
“He’s really matured as a runner,” Kumes said of Cool. “He’s learned how to pace himself — start fast, settle in, and then finish strong.”
West also qualified for Thursday’s state meet, placing 28th with a time of 23:17.93.
“Lilian has been dedicated,” Kumes said.
“She’s been training with us since she was in seventh- and eighth-grade, and she’s
shown tremendous growth.”