In their first meet of the year Saturday in Pace, the T.R. Miller girls and boys cross country teams ran and were paced by their girls teams. The Lady Tigers finished sixth out of 16 teams while the boys took 15th out of 16.
For the girls, the Lady Tigers scored 194 points and were led by Karisa Nelson. Nelson placed first in the race with a time of 19:03. Nelson was joined by sister Katie Nelson in second place with a time of 19:20 and other sister Allie Nelson placed seventh with a time of 20:14.
Kelsi Lum was the fourth Lady Tiger to come across the line with a time of 25:00 for 90th place. Auburn Schoonover placed 94th overall with a time of 25:12 and Tarah Townsend was the sixth Lady Tiger with a time of 25:25.
Other Lady Tigers to run Saturday were: Shelby Evans (26:30), Breanne Huff (29:05), Kennedy Harp (29:09), Mekenna Gleaton (29:21), Tess Thomas (30:31), Sarah Byrd (31:22), and Carman Knowles (31:39).
For the boys, Christian Carlson led the Tigers with a 43rd place finish out of 300 runners. Carlson ran a time of 18:41. Travis Carlson finished with a time of 20:50 and Dillan Simmons had a time of 21:01.
Nash Diercks finished with a time of 22:58 and Stewart Campbell added a time of 23:10. Noah Morris finished the race in a time of 23:50.
Tucker McDaniel ran the race in a time of 23:58 and Gavin McNeil finished with a time of 24:19.
Walker Harris had a time of 25:21 and Tanner McDaniel finished in 25:44.
Noah Winton finished with a time of 26:20 followed by Sam Terry with a 26:58 and Rider Jernigan with a time of 30:42.
“Overall for Saturday, I was a little disappointed but it was a good starting point,” T.R. Miller cross country coach Rob Atkinson said. “The times will come down as the temperatures start to cool off. One to two minutes will come off for each runner.”
Atkinson said his boys are young this year.
“The boys are extremely young this year with one senior, one junior, one sophomore and the rest being ninth and under,” he said. “The girls are real top-heavy with our top three runners. Our top-three runners are the Nelsons—Karisa, Katie and Allie. We have some injuries right now in Amber Terry and Payton Baxter.
As for the number of runners out for T.R. Miller’s cross country teams this year, Atkinson is pleased.
“Our numbers are the best they have ever been with 31 total for boys and girls,” Atkinson said. “We continue to build. Also, right now, we have fourth, fifth and sixth graders running in a Brewton Cross Country Club.
If anyone needs anything from them they are led by Andrea Jackson.”