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In the first ever Crisp Invitational, held on Wednesday afternoon at Crisp County High School, the Cougar cross country runners represented the team well.

The day started with the Lady Cougars taking first place in the high school girls’ race. Haley Kendrick was the top finisher for Crisp in the race, taking fourth overall with a time of 25 minutes, 32 seconds.

Other times for CCHS Lady Cougar runners were: Jennifer Bedford- 28:31, Blair Musselwhite- 28:31, Brittany Ware- 28:33, Ella Faircloth- 28:51, and Emma Brazel- 28:54.

The next race showcased a dominant performance by the CCHS boys’ team. The first six runners to finish were all Cougars, led by Thomas Rischar, who took a first place finish for the fifth time this season with a time of 17:50. Eric Bohannon finished second with a time of 19:15, Zyterrious Hudson finished third with a time of 19:19, Cole Vonier finished with a time of 19:25, Jerrish Bass finished with a time of 19:51 and Kevin Richmond rounded out the top six with a time of 19:58.

Times for other CCHS runners in the boys’ competition were as follows: Jordan Vonier – 22:11, Davin Fryman- 22:21, Eric Smith- 22:55, Colton Westbury- 22:57, Oliver Richmond- 23:35, Drayton McGinnis- 24:20, Griffin Musselwhite- 25:05, and Yash Barot- 28:00.

The last race of the day was a combined middle school event. The CCMS boys finished first overall with four runners in the top ten. Sawyer McGinnis took first in the race for his seventh win of the year with a time of 13:05. Wesley Granville finished second overall with a time of 13:51, Andrew Bedore finished eighth overall with a time of 14:35, and Jarret Kendrick finished ninth with a time of 14:36.

Times for other CCMS boys from the event were as follows: Cole Mitchell- 15:03, Eli Hogg- 15:09, Garrett Sewell- 15:10, Jakaveon Brown- 15:26, Donovan Davis- 16:03, Hayden Hamilton- 16:07, Luke Stevens- 17:08, Tanner Stevens- 17:23, Noah, Coleman- 17:29, Braden Rodgers- 17:55, Caleb Askew- 20:22, Jaydan Smith- 22:31 and Justin Gilliam- 30:21.

The middle school Lady Cougars came up second overall with two runners finishing in the top five. Paris Daniel finished fourth overall with a time of 16:40, and Ashleigh Bedford finished fifth with a time of 16:51.

Results for other runners for the CCMS girls: Abigail Kendrick- 18:46, Kaitlyn Smith- 21:46, Jodi Collins- 21:47, and Jasmine Payne- 23:30.

“The cross country teams represented Crisp County very well at this meet,” said Coach Michael McGinnis. “The coaching staff is excited about the work that these athletes have put in, and this meet shows how hard they have worked this season.”

Earlier this month on Thursday, October 3, the Crisp cross country teams competed at a run in Bleckley County.

In the middle school boys’ run from that day, the race started with over 150 runners and Crisp County had the overall winner in Sawyer McGinnis with a time of 12 minutes.

Other CCMS results from the Bleckley race were as follows: Wesley Granville- 14:31, Andrew Bedore- 14:48, Garrett Sewell- 16:28, Hayden Hamilton- 16:50, Eli Hogg- 17:12, Donovan Davis- 18:24, Tanner Stevens- 18:33, Jakaveon Brown- 19:43, and Noah Coleman- 19:47.

In the high school boys’ run at Bleckley, there were over 250 runners and Crisp County’s Thomas Rischar finished fourth overall with a time of 18:09.

Times for other CCHS runners from the event were: Eric Bohannon- 20:28, Jerrish Bass- 20:59, Kevin Richmond- 21:08, Jordan Vonier- 23:53, Davin Fryman- 24:34, Eric Smith- 25:27, Drayton McGinnis- 27:55, and Yash Barot- 31:53.