Gadsden State Cross Country team to run at national competition Saturday
Gadsden, Ala. — Gadsden State Community College Cross Country Team will compete on the national level at the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Cross Country Championships. The race will be Nov. 11 at the John Hunt Park in Huntsville. The men will run at 2:30 p.m. with the women following at 3:30 p.m.
"I've very pleased with the success we have had in our second year of competition," said Head Coach Roseanne Green. "Both the men's and women's teams have been ranked among the Top 20 programs in the country this season. The women have remained in the Top 25. I'm so proud of their performance."
The Women's team is currently ranked at 22 in the NJCAA Division II Coaches Poll. Other ranked Alabama community colleges are Wallace State (5), Shelton State (16) and Calhoun (18).
"We have a high level of talent in our state among cross country runners," she said. "We may be new to competing at the community college level, but we have proven to be very competitive."
The Gadsden State Lady Cardinals are entering the national competition following a successful run at the Alabama Community College Conference Region 22 Cross Country Championships on Oct. 27.
In the 5K run, the women's team finished in fourth place behind Wallace State, Shelton State and Calhoun, respectively. The top Gadsden State runner was sophomore Jordan Clark, who finished sixth overall with a time of 21:04.95. For the second consecutive year, Clark was named to the ACCC All-Conference Team, which consists of the Top 8 runners.
Freshman Lexi Byrd just missed the Top 20 at the regional competition at 21st with a time of 22:43.73. Lacey Rich, a sophomore from Southside, finished 25th with a 23:12.7. Other Gadsden State runners competing in a race with 58 females include Gabrielle More (27th – 23:20.87), Keira Johnson (29th – 23:25.38) and McKinley Kay (35th – 24:45.57).
The men's team finished in sixth place behind Wallace State, Marion Military Institute, Northeast Alabama, Coastal Alabama and Calhoun, respectively. The top Gadsden State runner in the 8K run was freshman Lane Griffin, who finished at 15th with a 28:30.84. Sophomore Ashton Vann finished 29th with a time of 29:44.06, and Conner Strawn finished 32nd with an even 30. Other Gadsden State runners include DeShaun Foster (46th – 31:05.8), Jonah Medders (50th – 31:48.4) and Travis Cooley (60th – 32:06.5). There were 90 runners in the men's division.
"To finish fourth and sixth against really strong community college teams in our conference is a testament to the hard work and sacrifice our runners have made," Green said. "They really work well together, and they have so much determination. Our cross country team proves that success is the reward of hard work and unwavering commitment."
The Gadsden State Cardinals ran in five meets prior to the regional championship race. They kicked off the cross country season on Sept. 1 at a race at Choccolocco Park, where most of the runners came from large NCAA Division 1 institutions. The women finished in 18th place overall and third among the six community colleges competing. The men's team finished 15th overall and second among eight community colleges competing.
"This early season race is a great indicator of the progress a runner gains during their summer training block," Green said. "They worked really hard this summer, and it shows."
The second meet of the season was the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, one of the largest cross country events in the south. Gadsden State was one of two community colleges competing with the men's team finishing 30th and the women's team finishing 34th.
Gadsden State was the only community college team to run in the Mountainside Stride in Chattanooga on Sept. 30. The men finished third and the women came in fifth. Team member Lane Griffin earned recognition as a Top 15 finisher with a time of 27:56, his personal best. Ashton Vann finished in 21st among the men with a time of 29:49 while Jordan Clark finished in 18th place among the women with a 26:18.
The men's team competed in the University of Alabama in Hunstville Invite against 439 individuals. The Cardinals earned a 40th place finish. Four members of the women's team competed as individuals in the 5K.
On Oct. 13, the Cardinals traveled to Danville to run in a competition hosted by Calhoun Community College. In the men's 8K, 15 teams raced and the Cardinals finished in eighth place. Twelve teams took the start line in the women's 5K, where the team finished in fourth. Jordan Clark ran a 20:54, her personal best, and was the 14th finisher.
"Both teams really competed well throughout the season," Green said. "At each race, the men's and women's teams finished as one of the top community college teams while finishing faster than many four-year institutions throughout the state."
Three of Gadsden State's runners will also be competing in the NJCAA Division II Half Marathon Championships Nov. 14 at the John Hunt Park in Huntsville.
"These runners have been training hard for this race," she said. "I'm confident that they will do well."
The cross country team will be recognized during a "send-off party" before the women's basketball game against Snead State Tuesday at Beck Gymnasium. Tip-off will be at 5:30 p.m. During halftime, the sophomore runners will be recognized on the court. Sophomores include Ashton Vann of Ashville; Lacey Rich of Southside; Jordan Clark of Arab; Keira Johnson of Hokes Bluff; and Gabby More of Trussville.
