By CHARLIE HUST
If you want to be the best, you have to play the best ... or in this case run against the best. That’s the philosophy of the Webster County cross country teams.
The WCHS squads traveled to Louisville on Saturday to complete in the prestigious Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic held at the E. P. Tom Sawyer State Park.
In the boys’ varsity race, Webster fared quite well finishing 15th out of the 36-team field and over 230 runners. WCHS senior Iszack Whitsell turned in an outstanding performance, posting his best 5K time of the season at 16:44.97. Jonathan Taylor of Portland Christian Academy won the race in 16:08.09.
Trevor Cole, just a sophomore, also improved his time for the season, finishing 95th (18:09.78), followed by Ronin Periard in 124th (18:32.50). Mitchael Shelton was close behind in 133th place (18:41.88) while fellow sophomore Preston Glazebrook was 140th (18:46.42).
WC senior Nolan Pettit was 157th (19:00.67) and fellow senior Jeremy Garrett was 171st (19:12.44).
Louisville Cross Country
Classic Team Results - Top 20
1. Cabell Midland 124
2. North Hardin 164
3. Pulaski County 205
4. Oldham County 214
5. Louisville Eastern 215
6. Sovereign Grace Academy 226
7. Grayson County 251
8. duPont Manual 252
9. University School
of Nashville 296
10. Wayne County 310
11. Bullitt East 324
12. Apollo 358
13. Greenwood 380
14. Oldenburg Academy 451
15. Webster County 455
16. South Warren 522
17. Walton Verona 527
18. Butler High 545
19. Shelby County 562
20. Conner 569
In the girls’ race on Saturday, the Lady Trojans finished 22nd in the 36-team field, led by a top 100 finish from Ali Cherry. The WC junior was 98th over in 22:18.62. Freshman Chanler Cole was 107th (22:18.62) while Hadley Mitchell was 123rd (22:37.65). Sophia Racette of Nerinx Hall blistered the course to take the individual title in 18:25.99. Nerinx Hall also won the team title.
WCHS junior Paige Tapp was 143rd (23:01.75) while Kalie Branson, another freshman, was 151st (24:09.45). Hannah Pritchett was 174th (23:39.19), followed by Colleen Glazebrook in 203rd (24:41.80).
Louisville Cross Country
Classic Team Results - Top 22
1. Nerinx Hall 54
2. Oldenburg Academy 149
3. duPont Manual 151
4. Oldham County 156
5. Bullitt East 161
6. Woodford County 253
7. Ryle 286
8. Louisville Male 297
9. Butler High 322
10. Cabell Midland 342
11. Clayton High (MO) 350
12. Presentation 350
13. Christian Academy 362
14. Sovereign Grace 395
15. Louisville Eastern 445
16. Pulaski County 494
17. Henry Clay 504
18. Lutheran High (MO) 512
19. South Warren 528
20. Holy Cross 537
21. Murray High 560
22. Webster County 586
Webster County will stay a bit closer to home this Saturday, traveling to Hopkinsville for the annual Christian County Invitational.