Bob Jones Cross Country Team set to defend the home turf
David Gunther and David Hergenroeder practice for the Bob Jones Invitational.
For distance runners at Bob Jones the event they have been pointing to since beginning practice in early August is finally upon them. A chance to win on their home course comes this weekend.
The running event of the fall season is set for this Saturday as the Bob Jones Invitational Cross-Country Meet will take begin and end on the grass athletic fields north of Eastview Drive. The 5,000 meter, 3.1 mile course winds through the woods and comes out near Wall Triana Highway then comes back to the grass fields for the finish line.
Girl’s varsity will lead off at 9 a.m. followed by boy’s varsity at 9:30 followed by junior high at 10 and 10:30.
Bob Jones Cross Country coach Jim Presnell, who is in his first year at the school, said the team is looking forward to hosting this years event which will feature 12 other teams from high schools including Hartselle and Austin.
“They want to run well at home,” Presnell said. “We’re hoping that our varsity runners step up. David Hergenroeder has been solid for us this season. He’s our captain and our only senior on the boy’s side.”
“We’re trying to get everybody healthy and well and hopefully run our best race of the season. Everybody’s times have been improving so we think by the sectional meet in November we should be running our best,” Presnell said.
Tyler Payton, one of Bob Jones top runners, has missed some time due to illness but he is expected to be full speed this week.
David Hergenroeder will be running in his third Bob Jones Invitational. His best time has been around 17:30 but this year he said that he hopes to better that and go under 17 minutes.
Bob Jones girls will be trying to make it two years in a row for a Bob Jones runner to win the girl’s title after Kaycee Martin won the invitational last year.
The Patriots best chance at retaining the title rest with Vanessa Cardwell, Courtney Moffett, and Allie Smith.
“These three girls have been solid the whole year,” Presnell said.
Senior Allie Smith has run in the Invitational the last three years and is hoping to better her times from previous years.
“I’m hoping somewhere in the 20’s or 19’s,” Smith said. “I’ve competed in three events this season and the best I’ve run was the Scottsboro Meet. I like this course. You run into the woods and kind of escape everything,” she said.
Spectators are invited and can park at Bob Jones parking lots on the north side of the school to get to the start/finish line. Another venue is parking at West Madison Elementary School to view the runners as they run the mid part of the course along Wall Triana Highway.
