The Columbia Academy cross country teams competed in the Jackson Public Schools Challenge Series Sept. 3 at the Choctaw Trails in Clinton.
Twenty-two schools were represented, with 10 full girls teams and 17 boys teams.
The CA girls were dominant, placing five runners in the top 10 to take first place in the varsity division by 24 points over Class 6A public school Northwest Rankin. The Cougars placed three runners in the top 10 but came up short, finishing second to Northwest Rankin by 6 points.
“I’m extremely proud of the way our kids performed, especially in the heat,” head coach Duane Powell said. “The heat index was well over 100 degrees when the girls race started, but they gutted it out for some pretty good times.”
The Lady Cougars were led by seventh-grader Charlee Brees Franks, who finished second with a personal record of 22:59 for the 5K. Madelyn McKenzie, also a seventh-grader, took third followed by sophomores Natalie Ragan in fourth and Hannah Rogers, seventh.
Another seventh-grader, Macy Robertson, finished ninth. Sixth-grader Briley Speights barely missed the top 10 in 11th, and junior Ina Claire Parker finished 14th to round out the top seven for the Lady Cougars.
“I felt that our girls had a good chance to win if they ran the way they should, and they pulled it off,” Powell said. “However, the boys surprised me with a very strong performance. I knew they would be competitive this season, but they showed me they really want it.”
Junior Hagen Bracey finished third with a personal record time of 19:53. Juniors Gavin Woods and James Ragan finished fourth and sixth, respectively. Eighth-grader Casey Haddox finished 27th, followed by junior Drake Arrington in 39th, rounding out the Cougar top five.
“The competition is going to get tougher, but if we stay healthy I think both teams are going to be in the hunt by the time the championship rolls around,” Powell said.
Pictured Above: Columbia Academy’s top 10 runners during a cross country challenge Sept. 3 were, from left, Gavin Woods, James Ragan, Hagen Bracey, Charlee Brees Franks, Madelyn McKenzie, Natalie Ragan, Hannah Rogers and Macy Robertson. | Photo submitted
