The William Byrd cross country team took the gun for the first time this season Saturday with a run at Waid Park in Franklin County. Overall the performances were good, especially from some of Byrd’s younger runners.
Kelsey Roth won the girls’ junior varsity race and Kollin Slusher was Byrd’s top runner in boys’ jayvee race. Both are freshman.
“It’s Exciting to see these young runners in those positions,” said coach Eric Royal.
The girls’ varsity team finished second overall. Erin Wienke, Morgan Fletchall, Julia Burek, Elizabeth Recktenwald and Brynn Tardy ran well and competed throughout the race.
The boys finished fourth in the varsity race. Leading the way was Cam Dalton, finishing in the top 10.
“He was Westin’s(RecktEnwald) shadow last year, trying to learn as much as he could to use this season,” said Royal. “It seems to be paying off.”
Ashton Ashley, Jayden Glass, Greyson Cornett and Gavin Chrisley also scored for Byrd.
Other highlights saw seven first time runners complete a 5000m race. Luis Jerez ended up running the seventh fastest time of the day for Byrd and AJ Scott, Ryan Krawczyk and Daniel Sheldon ran very good races for their first effort in a big meet. Hailey Ramsey, Tabitha Beecher and Natalia Ferguson also ran for the first time in a meet.
Today the Terriers are in Bassett for the “Clash with the Bengals” at the Smith River Sports Complex.