News Post
Runners Win 15th Consecutive Metro Title
With a perfect score of 15 points, the St. Joseph’s Academy cross country team dominated the field at the 2021 Metro Cross Country Championship, held October 30 at Highland Road Park. The Redstickers placed six runners in the top six spots at the Metro Meet for the first time in program history and brought home their 15th consecutive metro crown.
Rounding out the top five were Episcopal (71), St. Michael (133), University High (171) and Live Oak (179).
On the heels of the varsity’s record-setting performance, the JV team claimed the top seven spots to also win with a perfect score of 15.
Coach Mark LaHaye praised his runners. “This was without a doubt our best and most complete race of the season,” he said. “We had a plan going in to pack run through mile one, push hard through mile two and hammer it home in mile three. We knew going in we had a chance for perfect scores in both races, but we had to execute the race plan to make it happen. We had to work harder for it in the varsity race. It wasn’t until crossing the final bridge that we knew we had it.”
Senior Maddie Kate Gardiner finished first in the three-mile varsity race in a time of 17:47.9. She was followed by sophomore Grace Rennhoff, 2nd place, 18:04.6 (personal record); freshman Michelle Daigle, 3rd place, 18:19.9 (personal record); sophomore Hannah Vaughan, 4th place, 18:22.7 (personal record); junior Emma Claire Hendry, 5th place, 18:22.7 (personal record); senior Elise Jones, 6th place, 18:27.4 (personal record); and sophomore Stella Vincent, 12th place, 19:11.0 (season best).
JV race results were as follows: senior Alexis Napoli, 1st place, 19:09.6 (personal record); senior Ava Lemoine, 2nd place, 19:19.0 (season best); freshman Melia Hooper, 3rd place, 19:29.5 (personal record); junior Claire Beyer, 4th place, 19:44.6 (season best); senior Amelia Cochran, 5th place, 19:54.5; sophomore Julia Monzon, 6th place, 19:58.4 (personal record); and sophomore Kaitlyn Francise, 7th place, 20:06.4 (personal record).
Following the races, SJA honored its seniors. They are Ava Lemoine, Amelia Cochran, Elise Jones, Alexis Napoli, Lilly Leonard, Maddie Kate Gardiner and Olivia Hotstream.
Next up is the 2-5A Regional Cross Country Championship on November 6 at Highland Road Park beginning at 8 a.m.
Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director
Photos courtesy of Tina LaHaye and Stacy Rennhoff