Polk boys take second, girls third in Fletcher cross country meet

Polk County cross country teams anticipated a flat and fast 3.1 mile race course at Fletcher Park Wednesday, but heat and humidity proved to be a barrier. Despite the conditions most Polk County runners posted season-best personal records, though heat took its toll on some.

In the boys race, Sean Doyle got out in front of the pack of 105 competitors and led for the first mile. Doyle finished third overall in 18:06. There was a race to the wire for spots two and three in the Wolverine family; Caleb and Mitchell Brown finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in 19:00 (a PR) and 19:01. Mark Federman (19:46), the next Polk runner to the line, finished fourth for the Wolverines and 17th overall.

Freshman Al Russell (19:48) continues moving up in team rank, taking 19th overall and scoring points as Polk’s fifth team finisher. Cross country events are scored by tallying the first five finishers from each team, with ties going to sixth place runner, and low score wins.

Team scores for the men: TC Roberson 38, Polk 44, AC Reynolds 93, McDowell 110, Christ School 127, Enka 128.

Also competing for Polk: Eli Hall (20th 19:50PR), Jake Russell (27 20:27), Will Sachse (47th 21:51), Connor Holtz (54th 22:48PR) and Luke Collins (100th 32:48).

With cooler temperature by the start of the girls 5K, the Lady Wolverines posted marked improvement over last weeks race times. India Godlock (7th, 21:16), Emily Kocher (12th, 22:08 PR) and Hayley Kropp (19th, 23:51) are shaving off more than 30 seconds a week from their best performances and consistently placing in the top 20.

Selena Chavez (24:30) and Savannah Robbins (24:36) also posted season bests and finished out the Polk scoring drive in 23rd and 25th.

Also competing for the Lady Wolverines: Alli Swope (36th 25:20 PR), Ashton Capozzi (40th 25:35 PR), Shelby Wells (43rd 25:39 PR), Leah Hardin (52nd 27:06 PR), Sophie Young (53rd 27:07), Haley Fowler (54th 27:20), Karli Wood (60th 27:44 PR), Haven (68th 28:09 PR), Jessica Bailey (87th 31:27 PR).

Team scores: TC Roberson 21, AC Reynolds 46, Polk 83, North Buncombe 121, Enka 129, McDowell 152.