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CARROLLTON — The Flowery Branch cross country program had a phenomenal day at Saturday’s state cross country meet in Carrollton, even though it didn’t necessarily match their state title aspirations. The Falcons, running for the first time at state in Class AAAAA, placed both teams in the top four and a spot on the podium, along with a top 10 individual finisher in Cassie Ward (10th place, 20 minutes, 43 seconds).
“Any time you come away from state with hardware it’s a blessing,” Flowery Branch coach Jimmy Sorrells said.
Individually, White County’s Jenna Gearing in Class AAA and Union County’s Emma Garrison in Class AA — both freshman — claimed individual state championships. Gearing ran a 19:34 to earn the state championship by 47 seconds. Earlier in the day, Garrison (19:56) breezed to the Class AA title after running her first mile at 5:47 and the first two miles at a 12:19 pace.
Gearing is the first cross country state championship in White County school history, while Garrison is the first girl at Union County to win state at Carrollton.
“It feels incredible to win the state championship,” Gearing said. “I knew I would be able to come out here and run well but not this good.”
The course for this year’s race at Carrollton High was modified, adding more hills, turns and about 100 meters in length to the five-kilometer race.
The defending Class AAAA champion Falcons finished second on the boys side, led by junior Nick Ashmead’s 14th place spot (17:24). Flowery Branch was the first program in the race to have its top five cross the finish line, but was edged out by McIntosh with its first two also the top two overall for the team title. The Flowery Branch girls finished third, thanks to placing three runners in the top 20.
According to Ashmead, placing second is just incentive to work harder for next season with all of the Falcons’ top seven returning for the 2013 season. After last season’s state championship, the third for the program in school history, Flowery Branch had to replace four of the boys runners.
“Today, we ran to the best of our ability and came up short,” Ashmead said. “Our goal is always to win, so this is something to push us forward for next season.”
Also placing in the top 20 for the Flowery Branch girls were Ellie Tanner (15th, 20:51) and Lauren Kirk (18th, 21:02). The Falcons boys did a good job of keeping some of their top runners packed together with Taylor Fiorello 16th, Jake Shewbert 17th and Miguel Martinez 19th.
“We’d hoped for a little more but we can’t be disappointed with how we did to have both teams on the podium,” Flowery Branch senior Megan Kirk said.
Led by Gearing’s state championship, the Lady Warriors made the podium with a third place finish. White County had six runners in the top 50, including Kristen Mitchell in eighth place.
In Class AAA, the North Hall boys finished third, while the Lady Trojans took fifth. Witt Nix led the North Hall boys with a fourth place finish (16:46). Victoria Rogers (fifth place) and Makayla Ellis (sixth place) led the Lady Trojans to their fifth place team finish.
In Class AAAA, the Chestatee girls earned fourth, led by Tori Mullinax (16th) and Sarah Beth English (19th). The Lady War Eagles placed four runners in the top 50 overall.
The Riverside Military boys finished sixth in Class AA. Grant Hoffman ran a team-best time of 18:22 and a 14th place individual spot. Five of Riverside Military’s boys finished in the top 100, including Lexx Hoya (32nd), Taylor Calderon (51st) and Christopher Oster (52nd).
In Class AA girls, Union County placed fifth and Jefferson finished seventh.
Josh Brickell of Peachtree Ridge ran the fastest time in the state, winning the Class AAAAAA meet with a 15:55.
Nov. 10, 2012 05:59p.m. EST
Gearing, Garrison win cross country state titles, Falcons come close
Bill Murphy
Gainesville Times
CARROLLTON — The Flowery Branch cross country program had a phenomenal day at Saturday’s state cross country meet in Carrollton, even though it didn’t necessarily match their state title aspirations. The Falcons, running for the first time at state in Class AAAAA, placed both teams in the top four and a spot on the podium, along with a top 10 individual finisher in Cassie Ward (10th place, 20 minutes, 43 seconds).
“Any time you come away from state with hardware it’s a blessing,” Flowery Branch coach Jimmy Sorrells said.
Individually, White County’s Jenna Gearing in Class AAA and Union County’s Emma Garrison in Class AA — both freshman — claimed individual state championships. Gearing ran a 19:34 to earn the state championship by 47 seconds. Earlier in the day, Garrison (19:56) breezed to the Class AA title after running her first mile at 5:47 and the first two miles at a 12:19 pace.
Gearing is the first cross country state championship in White County school history, while Garrison is the first girl at Union County to win state at Carrollton.
“It feels incredible to win the state championship,” Gearing said. “I knew I would be able to come out here and run well but not this good.”
The course for this year’s race at Carrollton High was modified, adding more hills, turns and about 100 meters in length to the five-kilometer race.
The defending Class AAAA champion Falcons finished second on the boys side, led by junior Nick Ashmead’s 14th place spot (17:24). Flowery Branch was the first program in the race to have its top five cross the finish line, but was edged out by McIntosh with its first two also the top two overall for the team title. The Flowery Branch girls finished third, thanks to placing three runners in the top 20.
According to Ashmead, placing second is just incentive to work harder for next season with all of the Falcons’ top seven returning for the 2013 season. After last season’s state championship, the third for the program in school history, Flowery Branch had to replace four of the boys runners.
“Today, we ran to the best of our ability and came up short,” Ashmead said. “Our goal is always to win, so this is something to push us forward for next season.”
Also placing in the top 20 for the Flowery Branch girls were Ellie Tanner (15th, 20:51) and Lauren Kirk (18th, 21:02). The Falcons boys did a good job of keeping some of their top runners packed together with Taylor Fiorello 16th, Jake Shewbert 17th and Miguel Martinez 19th.
“We’d hoped for a little more but we can’t be disappointed with how we did to have both teams on the podium,” Flowery Branch senior Megan Kirk said.
Led by Gearing’s state championship, the Lady Warriors made the podium with a third place finish. White County had six runners in the top 50, including Kristen Mitchell in eighth place.
In Class AAA, the North Hall boys finished third, while the Lady Trojans took fifth. Witt Nix led the North Hall boys with a fourth place finish (16:46). Victoria Rogers (fifth place) and Makayla Ellis (sixth place) led the Lady Trojans to their fifth place team finish.
In Class AAAA, the Chestatee girls earned fourth, led by Tori Mullinax (16th) and Sarah Beth English (19th). The Lady War Eagles placed four runners in the top 50 overall.
The Riverside Military boys finished sixth in Class AA. Grant Hoffman ran a team-best time of 18:22 and a 14th place individual spot. Five of Riverside Military’s boys finished in the top 100, including Lexx Hoya (32nd), Taylor Calderon (51st) and Christopher Oster (52nd).
In Class AA girls, Union County placed fifth and Jefferson finished seventh.
Josh Brickell of Peachtree Ridge ran the fastest time in the state, winning the Class AAAAAA meet with a 15:55.
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