Russell Bigmeat takes 1st at Conference Meet
By Ahli-sha Stephens
CHAMP: CMS cross country team member Russell Bigmeat digs en route to winning the individual conference championship on Monday, Oct. 19. He led the CMS boys team to their first ever team championship as well.
MURPHY – At the finish line of the boy’s Middle School Conference Championship held in Murphy on Monday, Oct. 19, all that could be seen was maroon and gold. Hard work and determination surely paid off for the young men as they respectfully brought home the Conference Championship. This is a first in the schools history as well as the first conference trophy in the new school.
Russell Bigmeat finished big with another 1st place win with a 2-mile time of 11.50 winning the conference individual runner champion. Levi Swearengin was in 7th place for most of the race, but fought to pass two runners for a 4th place finish.
Darius Thompson held off runners as he sprinted for the finish line to place 6th. Other runners included Hunter Lambert (13th), Kennan Bradley (14th), EJ Carroll (15th), Chayton Thompson (24th) and Dylan Thompson (35th).
“The entire middle school team will be moving up to the Varsity level next year and look forward to repeating a year like this,” said coach Ahli-sha Stephens. “Congratulations Boys!”
The middle school girl’s team had an impressive run. Kendall Toineeta and Avery Mintz started out in the middle of pack, but at the finish line showed their athleticism and the fight for top positions. Avery placed 4th and Kendall took 6th out of 62 runners. Both ladies are also on the CMS volleyball team.
The Varsity teams had a week off to prepare physically and mentally for the Conference Championship as well as for a spot at the regional championship. Cherokee took six runners in total and all six runners are going to regionals. The men’s varsity team had two runners, Gerald Mahan and Wesley Bird. Both young men gave their all and ran a hard race. The women’s team took four runners including: Jordyn Thompson, Paige Jackson, Sabrina Wooten and Shayna Ledford. Jordyn took 8th place followed by Paige with 11th place.
Stephens added, “Congratulations to all the runners for advancing to the Regional Championship in Hendersonville on October, 31.”
The Cross Country teams are coached by Eddie Swimmer and Ahli-sha Stephens.
To see more photos of this event, please visit the link below:
https://www.nc-cherokee.com/onefeather/photo-galleries/?album=22&gallery=25
