Reprinted courtesyof:
Elwood Call-leader
By ED HAMILTON
Call-Leader Sports Editor
ALEXANDRIA — Step One was an encouraging venture for Frankton High School’s
cross country team.
Frankton’s boys packed away an impressive victory in their season opener
Tuesday, taking six of the top 10 spots against conference rivals Alexandria and
Eastbrook.
The Eagles had 26 points to Alexandria’s 48 and Eastbrook’s 56.
“Both of those teams beat us fairly easily last year,” said Frankton Coach Brian
Williams. “We had six kids today (time-wise) where we had two last year at this
time, so I don’t know how you couldn’t be pleased with that kind of start.”
Alexandria senior Jeremiah Johns won the race, striding away from the pack early
and motoring to a time of 18:37 over the 3.1-mile course.
Frankton freshman Parker Williams, the coach’s youngest son, was the closest
pursuer, placing second in 18:48.
The Eagles also swept fourth through fifth, with Zach Wood (19:24), Ronnie Allen
(19:53) and Jordan Williams (20:01), then took ninth and 10th with T.J. Eads
(21:08) and Austin Cooper (22:03).
“I kind of kind of anticipated the times would be slower because of it being the
first meet — we also had issues with the heat and some wind,” said Coach
Williams, “but for the most part we were faster than I expected.
“Last year, on our home course, which is pretty comparable to this one, our
second runner’s best time was a 21:12, and today we had five guys at 21:08 or
better.”
And two of those five are freshmen.
“For Parker, I was hoping he would run in the mid-19’s to start the season off,
so to break 19, yes, that’s a big deal,” said the coach.
“I think Valerie (his wife and assistant coach) said it best when she said,
‘That’s what’s possible when you do that kind of work in the summer.’ You see
the results of Parker’s 250 miles this summer.
“I thought this was one of his best races ever, all the way through, both
physically and mentally, of running to his potential.
“For the entire team, it’s definitely good to get that first meet out of the way
and now everybody comes away feeling confident with their performances, with
their times.
“But this was just the first step in a process leading up to the conference and
the sectional.”
The next step will be a week from Thursday at the Pendleton Heights Arabian
Roundup.
“That will be a different kind of test,” said Coach Williams. “We’ll have the
opportunity to run some faster times, but with all those teams, even with these
kind of times, we’re going to be back a ways, so the kids will have to handle
that, too.”
GIRLS MEET: Frankton’s only finisher, junior Allie Browning, placed third behind
Eastbrook’s Alyssa Foss and Sarah Neideck.
Foss ran 21:36, Neideck 22:34 and Browning 23:09.
“Allie did a really good job of competing,” said Coach Williams. “She probably
went out a little too fast that first mile, but she did a good job of competing
after that. Like any first meet, it was a learning situation, something to build
on.”
Eastbrook was a 15-50 winner over Alexandria.
The first Alex finisher was Bree Utterback, ninth in 28:46. Taking 10th through
13th were Raven Stanton, Amanda Garbers, Holly Beemer and Megan Gallahue.
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