Hardy, Tyler lead Mavs at Randolph Invitational
Anderson County High School’s cross country teams hit the road for the “Heart of Dixie” and gained valuable experience competing against some of the Southeast’s top runners at the 2026 Randolph Invitational in Huntsville, Alabama, on Saturday, Oct. 17.
“It was a big race. And you’re looking at teams from not just Alabama and Tennessee, but Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina,” ACHS Coach Harrison Calhoun said. “We went there just for the experience. So while we didn’t place as high as a team, I guess, we still placed high individually and had some really good times out of it, which is what I wanted.
“We never went into it wanting to basically win the meet or to place (high) as a team,” he added. “We wanted our athletes to get a good race, a good time on a fast course and just have a good experience.”
The Mavericks finished 18th in the Large Boys Division, led by senior Cameron Hardy, who placed sixth with a time of 15 minutes, 56.18 seconds. Fellow senior John Cutler finished 53rd in 17:05.99.
The Lady Mavs finished 15th in the Large Girls Division, paced by freshman standout Ella Tyler, who placed ninth in 19:12.47. Junior Jordan Walker wasn’t far behind, finishing 11th in 19:26.90.
Freshman Daisy Dyer finished 151st in 23:42.47, followed by freshman Lily Sharon, who placed 171st in 24:03.31.
Junior Emma Owens finished 232nd in 26:28.19, while senior Kate Clotfelter placed 235th in 26:48.81. Junior Cassie Newman rounded out the Lady Mavs’ finishers, placing 237th in 26:55.10.
Sophomore Rylan Van Vanlandingham finished 198th in 18:56.44, followed by junior Avian Laster, who placed 224th in 19:24.07.
Senior Tanner Warman finished 226th in 19:28.50, while sophomore Benson Skidmore placed 276th in 20:09.39. Freshman Christian Wolfley finished 278th in 20:13.89.
Sophomore Dane Templin placed 366th in 22:53.81, and freshman Kason Hazard finished 409th in 26:35.87.
For Calhoun, the trip was about more than times and finishing positions. It was also an opportunity for his runners to experience a different level of competition and build memories together.
“I mean, cross country in a sense is an adventure, and it’s one of the great things that other sports don’t get to have is you get to travel and go to different courses,” Calhoun said. “And it makes the adventure even bigger when we can take trips as a team and go different places out of state and make a weekend out of it.”
The Huntsville course also provided an ideal setting for runners looking to post fast times.
“It’s a really fast course,” Calhoun said. “I mean, the big courses that you see in cross country are relatively flat, and that’s so they get the fastest times possible. And I mean, you’re talking about a course that D1 (Division I) college runners run on. They put on some of the biggest races in the country at this course.
“The course itself is designed primarily for races, so it’s not like you’re putting this race on a golf course or a country club. This park is essentially designed for big-time races.”
With the Alabama trip behind them, the Mavericks and Lady Mavs now turn their attention to the postseason, where a familiar course awaits.
“Next is sectionals on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and it will be at the (course) at Norris Dam; this will determine what teams get to go to state,” Calhoun said.