The Greenwood junior and senior high cross country teams are wrapping up their respective seasons in style. The junior high squad, both boys and girls, closed out their 2019 fall campaign by competing in the River Valley Conference meet last week. The two varsity teams also ran in the 5A West Conference meet in Vilonia.
Those varsity runners who qualified will now compete in the state meet at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs on November 9th. The teams are all coached by Jim Andrews, who offered the following thoughts about his runners.
“Last week we finished our junior high season and we did great,” he said. “Our boys team finished as River Valley champions for the third year in a row.” The meet was held at Greenwood’s Bell Park.
According to Andrews, Noah Embry ran first, Gavin Ciesla third, Joshua Merritt fourth, David Ambriz 11th, Pablo Ambriz 12th, David Coggin 14th, Ben Pschier 16th, Westin Rushing 19th, Braylon Niece 22nd, and Kacee Radney 25th.
“In the girls [competition] we won the championship for the second year in a row,” said Andrews. “We had ten of the top 25 places. It was a great day. [We were] well represented at Bell Park.”
Elizabeth Merritt finished second, Paige Andrews third, Elizabeth Moy fourth, Carole Werner fifth, Maddie Cash seventh, Riley Floyd tenth, Payton Scantling 11th, Meredith Pierce 13th, Piper Pitts 14th, and Shaylyn Morse came in 24th place.
Turning his attention to the varsity teams, Andrews said, “Last Tuesday we took our teams to the 5A West Conference meet in Vilonia. In the senior boys race Noah Embry was our top performer, finishing sixth. He was followed by Joshua Merritt in 13th place, and both received All-Conference [honors] as well. The GHS boys team finished fourth overall.
“In the girls race Greenwood took not just the top spot, but the top three,” said the coach. “Macie Cash was the conference champ, with Taylor Koeth second, and Madelyn Wilkinson right behind in third. They were also All-Conference.
“These girls, with the help of [teammates] Kaitlynn Elmore, Ashley Koeth, Madeline Ciesla, Abi Coston, and Rebecca Martinez, came away with Greenwood's first conference championship for cross country, and I could not be more proud of this team,” said Andrews.
“The good thing is that the winning did not stop with the [varsity] girls,” Andrews added, explaining that the varsity meet also had a junior high division. The length of the event was 5K.
“Our junior girls ran a great race both individually and as a team,” said the coach. “Elizabeth Merritt finished fourth, Paige Andrews ninth, with Carole Werner 11th, Elizabeth Moy 12th, and Payton Scantling 13th, all earning junior high All-Conference [honors].
“The Jr Boys had a good race as well,” said Andrews. “There are many young runners on that team, and they will only grow to become stronger.
“This week our varsity teams compete in the state meet at Oaklawn in Hot Springs,” said Andrews. “It’s going to be a tough meet for both our teams. Our girls have run great all year and would be a favorite along with Lake Hamilton, Lakeside, Benton, and Siloam Springs. It’s going to be exciting,” he said.