Somerset — This Saturday at the Meet of Champions Boys Middle School State Cross County Championships, a group of young runners from Pulaski County hope to be on the top of the heap and wrap up their perfect undefeated season.
The Maroon middle schoolers have won all nine of the races they have competed in this year, which includes gold trophies in the Franklin County Invitational, the Purple Striders, the Pulaski Invitational and the Southern Harrier Special.
They have also held the boys’ state middle school top ranking for the entire year, and never really been challenged up to this point.
Out of a possible perfect score of 15 points — which requires your top five runners to place 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th — the Pulaski middle schoolers meet average is only 23 points. Their average margin of victory is well over 40 points per meet.
As a matter of fact, the Pulaski middle school team is so strong, they make up over half of the Pulaski County High School boys varsity team.
“Five of these middle school boys will be part of our regional meet varsity team,” Pulaski County High School coach Byron Childers said. “Mason and Morgan Stevens have been my second and third runner on th varsity team, while Mason Blevins is the fifth man on varsity. Jimmy Goldson and Austin Hyden will also compete for a spot on the varsity top seven for region.”
As seventh-graders, the Pulaski middle school team finished sixth in last year’s Meet of Champions Middle School State Championships. But it was that performance which has motivated this talented group of runners.
“I think last year’s sixth place finish in the Meet of Champions really set a fire under these boys,” Pulaski middle school David Evans said. “They have been really motivated to improve and they know they have a chance to do something special this year.”
Video games and mischief define many kids at this age level. But once this group of Pulaski middle school harriers put on their spikes and their running shorts, hard work and dedication is the only thing on their minds.
“Many of these kids ran the entire summer, and it shows in their preparation for this season,” Evans commented. “Last year was my first year working with middle school runners and I didn’t know what to expect. But these guys know my routine, and they work just as hard the older runners.”
“We have many talented runners in this group and we use them all,” Evans added. “Several of our middle schoolers have had to step up and run varsity, which allowed opportunities for other runners to compete in middle school races. They all work hard and they will do anything we ask of them.”
This weekend at the Meet of Champions Middle School State Championships, a special group of Pulaski youngsters will be looking for one last victory at the middle school level.
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The Pulaski County middle school cross country team will be gunning for a state title at the Meet of Champions Middle School Championships this weekend. Team members are, front row from left, Austin Hyden, Elijah Long, Tommy Gholson and Dalton Lovins; second row from left, Blake Burton, Matt Crawford, Clay Brandenburg, Kevin Neal and Morgan Stevens; back row from left, Mason Blevins, Kaleb Rowe, Mason Stevens, Jimmy Goldson and Jason Hall. Steve Cornelius Photo
Pulaski County middle schoolers vie for state title this weekend
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