Jets Dominate At Kudzu Cross Country Invitational
COLD SPRINGS, AL.- The James Clemens Jets cross country program continues to flourish posting three of four first place team finishes in the recent Cold Springs Kudzu Hills Invitational. The Jets brought home first place trophies in boys varsity, and both boys and girls junior high divisions, while the varsity girls placed seventh.
“The varsity boys scored their lowest team time average of the season and our junior high girls brought home a trophy for the fourth consecutive meet, while the junior high boys dominated their competition placing three in the top six and five in the top 13,” said Drew Bell head coach of James Clemens.
The varsity boys were led by sophomore sensation Matthew Hill who finished second with a time of 16 minutes, 59 seconds in the 5K race among 199 participants. Additional finishers for the Jets were, 6. Patrick Neely, 12, 17:27; 8. Alex Shah, 12, 17:28 (season best); 16. A.J. Sheldrick, 12, 18:01 (season best); 22. Elliot Kliesner, 11, 18:28 (season best).
The Jets posted the winning team score of 54 points in the event, which featured 45 schools.
Varsity girls were missing its top season performer, senior Elizabeth Holcomb, who was away on a college visit and posted 164 points for a seventh place finish behind team winner Lawrence County with 22 points. There were 117 runners in the division.
James Clemens featured finishes: 27. Sarah Shirley, 10, 23:27; 28. Emmy Mattingly, 10, 23:36 (season best); 35. Hannah Einhorn, 12, 24:01 (personal best); 43. Hollie Shereyk, 12, 24:37 (season best); 58. Reagan Kvicala, 12, 25:26.
The junior high girls representing James Clemens had four girls among the top 10 while posting 36 points for the top team position. The squad was led by two-mile division winner Sydney Freeman who posted a personal best time of 14:02. Additional Lady Jets with good finishes included 6. Kaija Sorensen, 14:50 (personal best); 7. Nikki Lipski, 14:53; 10. Brittain Mattingly, 15:14 (personal best); 16. Harley Samsil, 15:43; 17. Sophie Plummer, 15:48 (personal best); 18. Katie Gudgen, 15:54 (personal best).
The junior high boys top the scoreboard among the teams with 37 points. The finish times were, 3. Adan Brinkley, 11:52 (personal best); 4. Tyler Gohlich, 12:11 (personal record); 6. Isual Rubio Montano, 12:18; 11. Dylan Templet, 12:39; 13. Noah Kliesner, 12:49 (personal record); 16. Zach Williams, 12:55 (personal best); 19. Cole Robinson, 13:14 (personal best).
