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Saints Cross Country teams show strong at regionals
DMS XS
Mylie Phillips and Madeline Martin fight back the pain as they race uphill during the regional qualifying cross country meet at Macon County. Photo Provided

The Lady Saints cross country team is the best in the midstate region as they claimed first place at the regional competition at Macon County High School recently, setting them up for the state championships in Knoxville.

The Lady Saints took first from a field of six teams which included 65 competators. The title marks their first region championship in the program’s history which began competition in 2014. They won the region in strong fashion, placing five runners in the top 10. Meanwhile, the boys’ team took fourth at the regionals out of 12 teams in a field of 92 runners and also qualified for a trip to Knoxville and a shot at the state title.

On the girls’ side, Ella Van Vranken led the Lady Saints and the entire field with a first place overall finish with a time of 13:02.  Zoe Keys finished on her heels in second place with a time of 13:18, Katherine Knowles was fifth at 13:55, Mylie Phillips was eighth at 14:15,  Madeline Martin ninth at 14:16,  Maleah Ruch was 24th at 15:56 and Sydney Polk 30th at 16:16.

In the boys’ varsity race, Kaleb Spears led his team with a third place finish overall and a time of 12:48,  followed closely by Caleb Gray seventh  place at 12:59, Ian Colwell took ninth place at 13:03, Cale Brown 42nd at 14:11, Dylan Cathey 54th at 14:44, Sam Harris  61st at 15:10, and Carson Tramel 72nd at 15:49.

In the JV races the DeKalb girls had three of their runners in the top 10 out of a field of 30 runners.  Candice Rico was sixth at 17:17,  Cadence Reynolds eighth at 17:31, Sylvia Evans 10th at 17:40 and Mara Oakley 19th at 19:07.  Out of a field of 60 runners, the DeKalb boys finished with Evan Carmichael 29th at  16:10, Ethan Spears 30th at 16:19, Jackson Hodges, 17:07, Freddy Oberdier 17:49, and Mason Taylor 53rd 19:50.

“These runners have worked so hard for months, with some juggling two sports throughout the season,” said Coach Kristen Van Vranken. “They have been training since May and it’s been awesome to see how far they have come.  The State meet in Knoxville is a huge competitive race.  We have worked hard to earn honors to compete there. Last year at States our girls team was 14th and our boys team was 16th out of a field of 31 of the best middle school teams across Tennessee.  Every single team there is strong. They will all have to leave it all out on the course that day and dig deep. I am so proud of them and I am excited to see what we can do.”