Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
The Gadsden State cross country team opened their season on Sept. 1 at the JSU Foothills Invitational at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.
For the GSCC men’s team in the 5,000-meter race, Lane Griffin finished 95th out of 200 runners with a time of 17:12.10. Ashton Vann (pictured above) placed 109th with a time of 17:26.80, followed by Travis Cooley (150th, 18.34.30), Conner Strawn (156th, 18:45.50), DeShaun Foster (158th, 18:50.90) and Jonah Medders (185th, 24:47.00).
Jordan Clark paced the Lady Cardinals in the women’s 4,000-meter race with a 106th place time of 17:29.40, followed by Lexi Byrd (129th, 18:24.60), Gabby More 133rd, 18:39.20), McKinley Kay (137th, 19:03.30) and Kiera Johnson (145th, 19:27.80).
In other local men’s performances, 2022 Southside graduate and Wallace-Hanceville sophomore
Ryan Maudsley came in 40th at 16:23.60; 2022 Gadsden City graduate and Jacksonville State sophomore Tanner Rice finished 55th at 16:31.70; 2022 Southside graduate and Wallace-Hanceville sophomore Luke Holcombe placed 69th at 16:44.40; 2021 Hokes Bluff graduate and Jacksonville State sophomore Sam Green finished 96th at 17:12.20 and 2023 Glencoe graduate and Northeast Alabama Community College freshman Conner Cothran came in 140th at 18.25.90.
2022 Southside graduate and Wallace-Hanceville sophomore Alexis Valentine finished 98th in the women’s race with a time of 17:14.30.
