(Special to the Maroon Devils Network) – Tuesday, our Cross Country teams traveled to Robbinsville and each and every Swain runner set a personal record. Our girls continued to shine this season. A team composed of freshmen and sophomores are making strides and other teams are starting to take notice. Gracie Monteith was again our first finisher at 5th place overall and a PR time of 21:14. Amelia Rogers finished next and 7th overall with a PR time of 21:23. Sophomore Emily Ulaner was next and 12th overall with a PR time of 22:07. Erika Wachacha ran her best race of the year with a PR time of 23:34, followed by Katie Roland PR performance of 23:51 rounded out our top 5 runners. Kendal Ogle (PR 25:09), Katie Simonds (PR 26:01) and Lauryn Linton (PR 28:21) completed our girls team. The Swain team finished 2nd overall and continue to roll through the regular season.
The boys were missing some key runners due to injuries, but that did not stop the four runners from each setting a personal record. Jaxon McClung was the number one runner for the boys team setting a personal record of 19:50. Rider Mattox ran his best race of the year at (20:35), followed by John Shuler with a PR of 21:24 and rounding out the boys team is Josh Hornbukle with a big PR of 21:24.
On Saturday, the girls made a trip to Kernersville to run a race against some of the best Cross Country runners in the state. Competing against over 150 of the best freshmen and sophomores in the state, our girls ran hard and determined showing that their hard work is paying off. Gracie Monteith was our first finisher with a time of 22:25, followed by Emily Ulaner (23:34), Katie Mae Roland (25:34), Erika Wachcha (26:21) and Kendal Ogle rounding out our top 5 at 27:11. Katie Simonds finished at 28:24 and Lauryn Linton finished at 28:47. This was their second race of the week and they were #MaroonStrong.
The next Varsity race will be our SMC Conference Championships at Cherokee on October 23rd. Please come out and support your Swain County Maroon Devils.