Lady Indians, Myers Park Traverse to Wins at 45th Trailblazer Invitational
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
October 14, 2017
GRAY, Tenn. – Charlotte, North Carolina’s Myers Park and the Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett Lady Indians scored wins Saturday at the 45th Annual Trailblazer Invitational at Daniel Boone High School.
The event was started back in 1972 back former Trailblazer coach Karl Winkle and is the second-oldest cross country meet in the state.
“It’s an honor to be involved with the 45th annual event,” said current Daniel Boone coach Len Jeffers, who has both run and coached in the meet.
“The help, time and work from our parents, community and former coach George Moody today was overwhelming.”
Also overwhelming were Myers Park and the Lady Indians.
Racing with coach Bob Bingham keeping tabs from a hospital bed after hip replacement surgery this week, the Lady Indians were led by assistant Paige Hubbard and claimed seven of the top 15 spots to easily outdistance runner-up David Crockett, 29-63.
“Paige does a good job and right now she’s undefeated,” quipped Bingham.
Sophomore Sasha Neglia won for a second straight year and broke her own meet record with a time of 18:18.2.
“Sasha has run her best two races this season locally – at the Bristol Cross and today,” said Bingham via telephone.
Neglia won by nearly a minute of David Crockett senior Breanna Roy (19:17.5) with the Lady Tribe’s Emma Russum (19:52.5) finishing third followed by David Crockett’s Taylor Roy (20:09.0) and Rachel Dulaney (20:11.0).
“That’s the first time Emma has beaten those two girls from Crockett and the just the second time under
20 minutes,” added Bingham. “It was a really good run for her.”
Sixth-place finisher Ellie Hall (20:11.9), seventh-place Ashtyn Hagood (20:23.5) and 12th-place Morgan Cordell (20:42.6) completed the Lady Indians’ scoring although Gracie Allen (20:45.0) placed 13th and Meg Davis (21:03.5) 15th.
“Really good to see how those three ran as well,” continued Bingham. “Hagood is runner much better, which is a good sign for us down the road.”
Boone’s Maria Chellah (20:30.8) clocked a ninth-place finish as the Lady Blazers place fourth with 90 points behind Myers Park with 69.
The two were first and second in the boys’ team finish with Myers Park collecting 35 points and the ‘Blazers 72 points.
Marshall Williams of Myers Park crossed in first at 16:25.9 followed by teammate Michael Ly in 16:34.1. Daniel Boone got third and fourth place finishes from Matt Huff (16:44.0) and Mason Lewis (16:46.3). Boone also got an 18th-place from Carson Walls (17:44.6) and 19th from Austin Galloway (17:46.7) but ran without one of its top runners, Chance Bowman.
“Very pleased with the efforts and performances of our teams today and the way they represent the school and the community,” said Boone’s Jeffers. “They ran smart races, but also ran with heart and determination.”
Dobyns-Bennett’s Tyler Mays (16:56.0) crossed in fifth while Porter Bradley night-place run of 17:12.0 helped University High to a fourth-place team finish.
The runners return to Steele Creek Park in Bristol this Thursday for the District 1 Large School Championships. The Region 1 Championships are one week later back on the Boone course.
45th Annual Trailblazer Invitational
Daniel Boone High School – Gray, TN
Saturday, October 14, 2017
BOYS
TEAM RESULTS – 1. Myers Park 35, 2. Daniel Boone 72, 3. Morristown West 117, 4. University High 145, 5. George Wythe 191, 6. David Crockett 203, 7. Dobyns-Bennett 214, 8. Morristown East 256, 9. Jefferson County 285, 10. Science Hill 285, 11. Polk County 324, 12. Tennessee High 350, 13. Greeneville 363, 14. Sevier County 366, 15. Patrick Henry 371, 16. Elizabethton 376, 17. Sullivan East 458, 18. Sullivan South 485, 19. J. Frank White Academy 514, 20. Avery County, NC 524, 21. West Greene 579, 22. Sullivan North 581, 23. Happy Valley 638.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Marshall Williamson, Myers Park, 16:25.9; 2. Michael Ly, Myers Park, 16:34.1; 3. Matt Huff, Daniel Boone, 16:44.0; 4. Mason Lewis, Daniel Boone, 16:46.3; 5. Tyler Mays, Dobyns-Bennett, 16:56.0; 6. Tristian Wick, Myers Park, 16:59.2; 7. Mason Johns, Morristown East, 17:06.4; 8. Jake Kirby, Jefferson County, 17:11.0; 9. Porter Bradley, University High, 17:12.0; 10. Gavin Grossman, Patrick Henry, 17:16.5; 11. Austin Kirkpatrick, Cherokee, 17:17.9; 12. John Hood, Myers Park, 17:20.6; 13. Alex Tomiak, George Wythe, 17:23.7; 14. Ryland Jones, Greeneville, 17:28.7; 15. Blaine Metcalf, Morristown West, 17:33.2; Jack Osment, Myers Park, 17:34.4; 17. Hank Lowe, David Crockett, 17:35.6; 18. Carson Walls, Daniel Boone, 17:44.6; 19. Austin Galloway, Daniel Boone, 17:46.7; 20. Gant Renner, Myers Park, 17:48.1; 21. Ryan Haas, Morristown West, 17:49.4; 22. Jesus Pacheco, Morristown West, 17:49.8; 23. Jared Tinker, Sevier County, 17:53.2; 24. Luis Hernandez, Morristown West, 18:01.4; 25. Pablo Rivas, University High 18:08.9.
GIRLS
TEAM RESULTS – 1. Dobyns-Bennett 29, 2. David Crockett 63, 3. Myers Park 69, 4. Daniel Boone 90, 5. Morristown West 153, 6. Greeneville 192, 7. Patrick Henry 204, 8. Sullivan East 229, 9. Jefferson County 245, 10. J. Frank White Academy 278, 11. Happy Valley 301.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS – 1. Sasha Neglia, Dobyns-Bennett, 18:18.2; 2. Breanna Roy, David Crockett, 19:17.5; 3. Emma Russum, Dobyns-Bennett, 19:52.5; 4. Taylor Roy, David Crockett, 20:09.0; 5. Rachel Dulaney, David Crockett, 20:11.0; 6. Ellie Hall, Dobyns-Bennett, 20:11.9; 7. Ashtyn Hagood, Dobyns-Bennett, 20:23.5; 8. Joelle Ryan, Myers Park, 20:27.2; 9. Maria Chellah, Daniel Boone, 20:30.8; 10. Zoe Dunlap, Myers Park, 20:31.3; 11. Tyler Brading, Myers Park, 20:38.2; 12. Morgan Cordell, Dobyns-Bennett, 20:42.6; 13. Gracie Allen, Dobyns-Bennett, 20:45.0; 14. Gracie Murray, Daniel Boone, 20:51.4; 15. Meg Davis, Dobyns-Bennett, 21:03.5; 16. Erin Bruce, Daniel Boone, 21:04.5; 17. Maggie Layer, Morristown West, 21:05.6; 18. Harper Russell, Cherokee, 21:07.0; 19. Catherine Grossman, Patrick Henry, 21:16.4; 20. Brenda Gray, Myers Park, 21:29.1; 21. Lauren Pilkton, Elziabethton, 21:35.0; 22. Rebekah Thomas, Patrick Henry, 21:37.2; 23. Caroline Grier, Myers Park, 21:44.7; 24. Judy Chellah, Daniel Boone, 21:57.7; 25. Julia Mulhollen, Greeneville, 21:53.5.