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Garrett Jack
Fifty-five student athletes from Region 4 were at the start line to vie for a spot at the State Finals at the 2020 Class 2A Region 4 Cross Country Championship took place at the Mason County Athletic Complex on Saturday, October 24.
Garrett Jack set a personal record of 18:50.60 earning him a 22nd place finish. Klaber Wolfe also set a personal record with a time of 19:31.24 and placing just three spots behind Jack in 25th place.
Both Jack, senior, and Wolfe, 7th grader, would move onto the KHSAA State Cross Country meet scheduled for Friday, October 30 at the Bourbon County Cross Country course.
Patrick Patton and Sam Hodge fought back and forth the whole race and placed 40th and 41st respectfully. Kenzie Elliott’s first varsity race landed him in 48th place with a time of 24:21.47. Adam Straus has been a consistent runner for this young team and rounded off the team entries.
“I am so proud and excited for these athletes. They have worked so hard and done tremendously difficult workouts without complaint,” said Head Coach Craig Chaplin. “These guys would run through a tree if they thought it would help them improve and they train on the toughest course in the state. This group of runners are the most enthusiastic athletes I’ve had the honor to coach in many years.”
According to Chaplin, only one runner, Sam Hodge, had ever run in a high school varsity race before this year and all six runners in the race ran a PR (personal record) in the meet lowering their season best for a 5K.
“They peaked at exactly the right time and the top two runners qualified to the State Championship. The team also defeated Franklin County, Harrison County and Holmes,” added Chaplin.
There is uncertainity on the status of the race as Bourbon County was designated in the red zone for positive Covid cases late in last week.