Cross country teams compete in pre-district tune-up

Both Gulf County high school cross country teams competed in the Pre-District Tune-Up, hosted by Blountstown High School on Wednesday, October 12, at Sam Adkins Park.

The host Tigers ran away with the boys race, with Wewa finishing sixth and Port St. Joe eighth among the 11 teams at the event, which included 110 runners.

Wewa’s Aiden Evans was the fifth runner to cross the line in a time of 19:04, with Gator teammate Nathan Lipford not far behind in eighth place with a time of 19:24.

Kaden Brooks (20:52), Calvin Carpender (26:01), and Davy Gray (26:08) completed the scoring for Wewa.

Eli Evans (26:48), Conner Roberts (27:13), Camden Winden (27:51), Jared Archibald (28:40), Bryce Ethridge (29:30), and Ryan Coxwell (29:55) also ran for the Gators.

Brooks and Evans both set personal best times in the race.

Cameron Easter was the only Wewa girl participating in the event, completing the run in 34:37 among the overall 73 participants in the girls competition.

The first Port St. Joe runner to finish was Dylan Davis (20:08), followed by Nathan Lipford (20:41), Russel Dunn (22:33), Tyler Morrison (23:12), Britt White (24:09), and Dane Fosshage (25:12).

Morrison, White, and Fosshage set personal bests with their times.

Port St. Joe girls claimed silver among the seven teams, with Molly Partin (23:32) and RJ Gerlach (23:39) finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Partin and Gerlach, both eighth graders, were followed in the scoring by Arlena Gleichner (24:39), Hannah DaCosta (26:01), and seventh grader Ava Petersen (26:16).

Six other Tiger Shark girls finished the race: Libby White (28:45), Farrah Spring (30:29), Kaylee Schweikert (30:39), Celie White (30:42), Madelyn Shoaf (35:04), and Rebekuh Dunn (35:11).

Partin, Gleichner, DaCosta, and Schweikert all ran personal bests during the race.

It was a good day,” said St. Joe coach Keion McNair. “Things are starting to come around right before district,” scheduled for Thursday, October 20, at Blountstown.

“We’re trying to get them rested up” for the district competition, added McNair.