ORHS, ACHS XC teams compete at Mounds meet
After taking some time away from competition during fall break, the Oak Ridge and Anderson County cross-country teams crossed paths at the Mounds Meet No. 2, hosted by the Wildcats.
The meet served as the final tune-up for next week’s region championships, which will be held Wednesday at Victor Ashe Park in Northwest Knox County.
In the girls’ meet, Anderson County High School’s Ava Moody won the individual championship, finishing in 19 minutes, 16.40 seconds. The Lady Mavericks and Lady Wildcats combined to place four athletes in the Top 10.
Oak Ridge was without one of its top runners, Dylan Job, who missed the race due to illness, and finished tied for second place with Alcoa.
Both teams finished with 52 points.
The Knoxville Ambassadors, a team composed of homeschooled athletes, won the team title with 42 points.
Lily Tice of the Lady Wildcats came in second, finishing in 20:26.40. Emily Edwards was seventh (21:36.50), while Natalie Evans finished 10th (22:12.70). Brooke Taylor took 16th (23:02.70), Elly Hartman was 17th (23:04.80), Olivia Kneiser came in 28th (25:22.00), and Robyn Greenhalgh was 29th (25:23.30).
Oak Ridge Coach Ed Wright was pleased with the Lady Wildcats’ effort upon their return to the course.
“Dylan woke up ill the day of the meet and didn’t run,” he said. “Lily had a good day. She finished second. Emily had a good day.
“Natalie wasn’t at her best, but she always does her best even when she doesn’t feel like she’s at her best,” Wright said.
Meanwhile, the Lady Mavericks finished fourth, scoring 88 team points.
Rebekah Berg was 11th overall (22:22.80). Marley Caldwell was 20th (23:49.00), Emma Owens came in 35th (27:05.80), Morgan Lindsay was 37th (27:53.70), Cate Clotfelter was 39th (28:27.50), and Cassie Newman took 44th (30:50.50).
In the boys’ race, the host Wildcats won the team title with 39 points, while Anderson County took second with 59 points.
Oak Ridge and Anderson County each had three placers in the Top 10.
The Mavericks’ Vance Laster was the overall champion, finishing in 16:22.80. Mason Greenhalgh (Oak Ridge) was second (16:38.50). ACHS’s John Cutler was third (16:58.80), and his teammate Cameron Hardy was fourth (17:01.10). Oak Ridge’s Rhett Hovater was fifth (17:11.80), while Nolan Riden was ninth (17:37.90). William Hentrick (ORHS) was 11th (17:55.60), and Wildcat runners also finished 12th (Patrik Vodopivec), 14th (Evan Biewer), and 19th (Zachary Ibanez).
