Dragons XC tests skills at preseason meet
The 2024 high school cross country season is just around the corner, and Clinton’s teams competed in a preseason meet against some of East Tennessee’s top teams and athletes.
The Dragons and Lady Dragons had team members in action at the Cherokee Farms two-miler in South Knoxville on Saturday.
At the meet, athletes completed a 3,200-meter course. The Dragons had five athletes compete, while the Lady Dragons had two runners in the field.
Clinton High Coach Tim Kumes got a preview of his veteran team last weekend.
“For me, the two-miler is the first chance for the kids to see competition and find out what it takes to be competitive at the high school level,” Kumes said. “We have a more-veteran team this year, but this is a new meet for us, and it gives the kids the chance to be in a race-day environment.”
Junior Caleb Holt was the top Clinton boy to complete the course, finishing 79th with a time of 13 minutes, 28.98 seconds. Cooper Bostrom came in 80th, finishing in 13:29.61.
Lucas Gates finished 118th (15:25.32), Tyler Gomez was 123rd (15:35.35), and Max Bostrom was 125th (15:39.38).
Alli Hollifield was the top finisher for the Lady Dragons.
She came in 60th with a time of 16:28.35.
Freshman Eva Allen, making her high school debut, finished 87th (20:28.09).