Photo: Gadsden State freshman and 2024 West End High graduate Kaylee Tarpley, pictured at center during a meet earlier this season, will compete with the school’s women’s team at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II cross country championships on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Richmond, Va. (Courtesy of Gadsden State)
Courtesy of Gadsden State
Several Members of the Gadsden State Community College Cross Country Team will compete at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II cross country championships on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Richmond, Va. The GSCC women’s team qualified as a team, while the men’s team had one individual qualifier in freshman and 2024 Ashville High graduate Ryan Matthews.
Both men’s and women’s teams made appearances in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll this season.
“I’m very happy with the continued success of our program,” said Gadsden State cross country head coach Jackson Millander. “The women’s team has qualified for nationals since its inception three seasons ago. The highest ranking our women’s team achieved was 12th in the nation, while our men’s team was ranked 24th in the nation. Although we have slipped out of the rankings, I expect these girls to compete at a very high level this weekend.”
The Lady Cardinals enter the national competition following a solid showing at the Alabama Community College Conference Region 22 Cross Country Championships on Oct. 25 in Huntsville, finishing in fifth place behind Wallace State, Shelton State, Calhoun and Northeast Alabama, respectively. The top Gadsden State runner was freshman and 2024 West End High graduate Kaylee Tarpley, who finished 13th overall with a time of 21:16. Maddie Holt finished 18th with a time of 22:08, followed by Alexis Renn at 26th with a time of 22:47. Holding down the fourth and fifth spots were Riley Matthews (39th, 24:33) and McKinley Kay (40th, 24:36). There were 75 runners in the women’s division.
The GSCC men’s team finished in ninth place behind Wallace State, Northeast Alabama, Calhoun, Coastal Alabama, Marion Military Institute, Enterprise State, Southern Union State and Shelton State, respectively. The top Gadsden State runner in the 8K run was Matthews at 17th with a time of 27:48. Matthews was followed by sophomore Deshaun Foster, who finished at 47th place with a time of 30:09. Other Gadsden State runners include Lane Griffin (52nd, 31:18), Conner Strawn (54th, 31:26), Travis Cooley (63rd, 32:00), Jonah Medders (67th, 32:20) and Tyler Worley (79th, 34:11) There were 96 runners in the men’s division.
“We didn’t have our best performance at the ACCC Championship Meet, but I believe that has only motivated this team to work even harder,” Millander said. “To finish in the top five in our conference is a testament to how hard these girls worked this season. We compete in one of the toughest conferences in the nation, which is loaded with many Top 25 teams.”
