RMO – Blythewood and Westwood’s cross country teams competed in the Mike More Classic at Saluda Shoals Park on Sept. 23 against runners from 16 Midlands schools.
Blythewood’s boys’ team finished third out of 13 teams competing with a score of 66. Chapin High School claimed first with 38 points; Dutch Fork finished second with 62.
Jacob Powell was the Bengals’ top finisher. He clocked a season-fastest time of 15:37.50, good enough for fourth place spot overall out of 114 runners in the varsity three-mile run. Chapin’s Koa Erickson finished first at 15:14.70.
Spencer Shealy had a top-10 finish with a season-best 15:51.60 finish. Shealy finished in ninth place. Graysen Manning, Dillan Boyer and Eureka Washington also had season-best times to round out the Bengals’ score. Boyer came in 19th place at 16:34.30. Washington finished at 16:38.80 for 21st place, and Hogue placed 42nd at 17:46.80.
Four more varsity Bengal runners had season-best times: Sean Gibbons (18:06.00), Jackson Smith (18:48.10), Matthew Lewis (18:49.50) and Pranav Kanumuri (20:00.50).
Blythewood’s girls’ team claimed the fourth spot of 13 teams competing with 144 points. Heathwood Hall Episcopal School finished in first place with 42 points. Lexington High School had 50 points and Chapin High School had 65.
Each of the girls’ top five finishers had season-best times. Mallorie Hogue finished first for Blythewood, in 15th place out of 108 runners at 18:42.10. Anna Kelly clocked 19:04.80 for 18th place; Eva Pendleton claimed 30th place at 19:42.40. Jurnee Warren finished at 20:57.60 for 45th place, and Anabelle Manville crossed the line at 21:02.50 for 48th place.
Westwood’s girls’ team, led again by Emma and Rebecca Ashley, had an eighth place finish in the three-mile run. All of the Redhawk girls clocked their fastest times of the season. Emma Ashley had 18:36.90 finish for 14th place overall. Rebecca came in 27th place with a 19:37.40 finish. Christina Tyndall placed 44th at 20:57.10. Jamiya Carter (21:52.80) and Sarah Banbury (23:46.50) rounded out the team’s scores.
With six runners clocking sub-20 minute miles, Westwood’s boys also had season-best times. Blaize Owen was Westwood’s top finisher at 18:53.10. Sean Bullock finished at 18:53.50. Augustin Serrano clocked a 19:29.90, and Michael Serrano finished at 19:36.70. Bryce Washington finished at 19:45.10 to close Westwood’s score. Alexander Drakes had a 19:58.90 finish.
Blythewood hosted a home meet on Wednesday, but results were not available before The Voice’s press deadline. Both Westwood and Blythewood are scheduled to compete in the Starlight Run in Greer on Saturday.
