Catch Up With McIntosh Cross Country
McIntosh XC boys’ junior varsity sophomore runner, Sergio Gonzalez, races towards the finish line at the Fayette County Championship.
Oct 4, 2019
McIntosh cross country competed in the Fayette County Championship on Sept. 14 at Sandy Creek High School. McIntosh XC did not leave the meet empty-handed. McIntosh XC varsity boys placed first in the county. McIntosh XC varsity boys’ junior runner Austin Carmichael came in first with a time of 18 minutes and 20 seconds. McIntosh XC varsity girls placed second in county. McIntosh XC still had a great performance even though the type of trail that they competed on during that meet was different from the usual forest paths that they’re used to running on and the fact that a total of ten varsity runners unfortunately couldn’t make the meet. “I feel like the team rested strong. Seven varsity girls rested and three varsity boys rested, and we still won first in county for varsity boys and second in county for varsity girls,” said head McIntosh cross country Coach Jason Newton. How does such a large team with so many runners out remain resilient during the unexpected?
The answer to that question is team chemistry, which has apparently been working out for McIntosh XC. “It’s a lot of fun because of the people, and it’s a nice community,” said McIntosh XC boys’ freshman junior varsity runner Brenden McBride. In order to have good chemistry within a team, there also has to be a point where you have to welcome the new guy.
“It’s been an interesting season with the upcoming freshmen, and I think we’ve had a pretty good season so far. I feel like the freshmen this year are putting in more effort and have been running well,” said McIntosh XC boys’ junior varsity runner Austin Carmichael.
McIntosh XC has welcomed many new runners this season, while there are some McIntosh XC runners that will be saying farewell at the season’s end. “I feel bad about my last season of cross country because I’m going to miss all my teammates especially my girls,” said McIntosh XC girls’ senior varsity runner Zoe Smith.
McIntosh XC always strives for excellence through critiquing how each individual runner can improve their performance throughout the season. The first meet held was the Bob Blastow Early Bird which was held on Aug. 24 hosted by Alexander High School where the McIntosh XC varsity girls placed first with a total of 47 points, and McIntosh XC varsity boys placed 10th with a total of 218 points. On Aug. 31, McIntosh XC varsity boys placed 24 with a total of 624 points at the eighth annual AT&T Starr’s Mill Panther XC Meet, and McIntosh XC varsity girls placed ninth with a total of 254 points at that meet. McIntosh XC also competed in the 11th Alligator Lake XC Invitational Presented by B3R in Florida on Sep. 21. McIntosh XC varsity girls placed first with a total of 26 points at that meet, and McIntosh XC varsity boys placed sixth at that meet with a total of 142 points. McIntosh XC varsity girls’ and boys’ runners competed in the 20th annual Jesse Owens Cross Country Classical Invitational in Danville, Alabama on Oct. 5. The McIntosh XC varsity girls who competed in the gold division of this meet placed second with a total of 109 points, and the McIntosh XC varsity boys who also competed in the gold division of this meet placed twentieth with a total of 483 points. McIntosh XC will compete in the Angora Cross County Invitational on Oct. 12 at Druid Hills Middle School.
