Cougars, Clovers run at Jon Mitchell

CLAYTON -- Personal records fell for the North Putnam cross country team at the Jon Mitchell Invitational Saturday at Cascade High School. While the Cougars did not field a complete team, the athletes who ran continued the improvement shown in the Charger Classic Thursday.

Cloverdale's boys finished seventh with the girls recording an incomplete score but placing two runners in the top 15.

North Putnam ran four racers Saturday and all four runners set a personal record.

Caleb Duncan finished 25th with a time of 18:57, breaking the 19-minute mark for the first time.

In the girls' race Alanna Nuņez had a good race, finishing 19 with a time of 23:37. Lucy Springmeyer ran a 26:55 earning 29th and Sydney Sims was close behind her at 32nd running a 27:26.

"(Duncan) is making major improvements with each race," NPHS coach Kevin Lutes said. "Our girls bested previous times as well. Alanna Nuņez had a spectacular race finishing in the top 20. I'm extremely happy with the way these guys performed."

This good performance followed up a terrific race at the Charger Classic Invitational hosted by North Montgomery Thursday.

"The girls ran as best as they could against some strong competition."

Lutes was very complementary of his young runners who, did not field a complete team, but his four Lady Cougars Nuņez, Gabby Carney, Sims and Springmeyer placed 25th, 50th, 51st and 56th respectively.

"Nuņez did a great job leading our girls and had a nice finish," Lutes said. "She's really learning the race strategy and how it plays into (the meets). Assuming she sticks to she's going to be a great runner.

"Also we have only sophomores on the team, so we could be much stronger if the girls continue to put the work into it."

Tuesday, North Putnam will run in the Northview Invitational surely looking for more personal bests to come.

The Clover boys benefited from two top-20 finishes by Nick Blundell at 12 and Chad Stevens at 16. CHS had four runners finish better than 50th place.

The Clover girls saw a good showing from Chelsie Edwards whose time of 21:52.44 placed her ninth. Tori Szalay finished 12th with Ashleigh Nepote and Darlene Whitaker finishing 38th and 39th.

At Cascade

Boys' Results

(CD)

12. Blundell (CD) 16. Stevens (CD), 25. Duncan (NP) 39. Hall (CD), 42. Mannan (CD), 53. Williamson (CD), 54. Mann (CD), 59. Maners (CD)

Girls' Results

Cloverdale

9. Edwards, 12. Szalay, 38. Nepote, 39. Whitaker

North Putnam

19. Nuņez, 29. Springmeyer, 32. Sims,