The Harlan County and Harlan elementary cross country teams had outstanding performances Tuesday at Pineville. Harlan County’s girls and boys teams won their races with 30 and 36 points, respectively. Harlan finished second overall in both the boys race (48 points) and the girls race (80 points).
“We were excited for the opportunity to run Pineville’s new course,” Harlan cross country coach Anne Lindsey said. “I think it will be a nice course for races close to home for our teams in the area.”
To lead Harlan County’s girls, Lillie Carver won with a time of 6:13.52, breaking the school record. Ella Brock finished third with a time of 7:11.64. Bella Burkhart placed fifth with a time of 7:25.13. Rounding out the results were Sadie Shackleford (10th, 7:41.23), Alysia Johnson (11th, 7:53.47), Paisleigh Asher (12th, 8:00.63), Krislyn Clem (13th, 8:05.00), Ellianna Carver (14th, 8:18.28), Kadie Lawson (22nd, 8:47.86), Payton Blackwelder (23rd, 8:55.32), Lakynn Clem (34th, 9:11.05), Charlotte Mitchell (36th, 9:26.70), Isabella Burkhart (40th, 9:46.46), Landri Dagnan (44th, 10:06.41), Emberlynn Miller (46th, 10:17.28), Kellee Doyle (47th, 10:28.32), Kaylyn Lawson (55th, 10:54.36), Madilyn Turner (56th, 10:55.11), Emma Mitchell (58th, 11:02.78), Sawyer Millikan (65th, 11:37.96), Emily McKnight (69th, 11:56.88), Nevaeh Stone (72nd, 12:14.28) and Caroline Collins (85th, 16:07.22).
Cora Jones led Harlan, finishing second with a time of 7:08.28. Josephine Toll (7:35.61) placed seventh. Lucy Miller was 18th with a time of 8:33.70. Other finishers for Harlan were Meredith Lawson (29th, 9:03.14), McKinley Taylor (31st, 9:05.05), Shelby Parsons (32nd, 9:08.27), Mallory Sizemore (33rd, 9:10.30), Shelbee Miller (49th, 10:40.66), Rayleigh Harris (59th, 11:04.30), Amelia Hensley (63rd, 11:34.53) and McKenzie Collett (84th, 14:14.75).
Harlan County’s Hutton Sherman led the boys, winning the race and setting a new school record with a time of 6:02.14. He was immediately followed by Logan Mills (6:16.03). Tate Sherman finished ninth with a time of 6:50.24. Other finishers were Dalton Johnson (13th, 7:07.02), Conner Banks (15th, 7:15.42), Seth Johnson (18th, 7:25.03), Colton Hensley (24th, 7:44.21), Jonah Sargent (26th, 7:49.88), Deacon Lisenbee (29th, 7:57.30), Skylar Boggs (41st, 8:26.55), Mitchell Lunsford (50th, 8:45.02), Sawyer Shackleford (54th, 8:54.55), Noah Blackwelder (58th, 9:32.13), Hunter Evans (60th, 9:39.36), Stephen Colinger (61st, 9:45.66), Jordan Sargent (64th, 10:00.32), Jonah Doyle (77th, 10:40.36), Jase Sargent (78th, 10:48.88), Corben Snelling (80th, 11:00.32) and Micah Lawson (84th, 11:22.63).
“I am truly beaming with pride. These kids are showing up to practice and working so hard and it definitely showed last night,” Harlan County elementary cross country coach Jennifer Brock said. “They fought through the heat and took advantage of the flat, fast course. Hutton Sherman and Lillie Carver both broke elementary records for the mile and we had countless PRs.“
Aiden Browning led Harlan in the boys race, placing third with a time of 6:22.78. Kash Bailey (6:37.50) finished seventh, immediately followed by Tucker White (6:47.60). Rounding out the results were Thomas Miller (16th, 7:17.33), Canaan Bolton (20th, 7:28.86), Braxton Sizemore (22nd, 7:35.24), Kelton Dean (25th, 7:46.42), Andrew Alred (31st, 8:03.05), Emmett Alred (32nd, 8:07.07), Jess Bennett (43rd, 8:32.97), Rhett Davis (48th, 8:40.14), Trey Wynn (56th, 9:14.94), Mason Howard (81st, 11:05.53), Ishwak Depa (89th, 13:09.32), Gunner Green (90th, 13:25.57), Parker Hensley (93rd, 15:06.21) and Paxton Hensley (95th, 15:26.03).
“Our runners performed well on Tuesday. We had several elementary runners with great performances. Our elementary boys team is really working hard and racing competitively this season,” Lindsey said. “Our elementary girls are also competing well.”
Harper Carmical (24:07.10) placed second in the girls high school race to lead Harlan. Abbigaile Jones finished fifth with a time of 26:08.91. She was immediately followed by Ella Farley (27:48.35).
In the boys high school race, Dylan Cox finished fourth with a time of 22:14.10. Noah Sharp (21st) finished with a time of 28:27.74.
“Our high school runners did well. The course was slower than we anticipated for high school, but our team ran well against the competition,” Lindsey said. “Dylan improved quite a bit this race. We expect his times to continue to go down. Our ladies: Harper, Abbie and Ella worked well as team and all had strong finishes.”
Harlan’s Priscilla Stewart won the girls middle school race with a time of 14:45.63. She was immediately followed by Zoe Lawson (15:56.50).
In the boys middle school race, Cooper Thomas led Harlan, finishing second with a time of 13:11.03. Jett Luttrell placed 15th with a time of 19:10.82.
“We were really proud of our middle school runners in this race,” Lindsey said. “They each had great performances. Cooper, Jett, Priscilla and Zoe are going to make great strides this season.”
“This race was so much fun, but now we work for our first home meet next Tuesday,” Brock said.
Both teams will return to action Tuesday at Harlan County.
