Polk Middle girls cross country team shines at ACA meet

Polk County Middle School’s girls cross country team put together its best effort of the season Wednesday, placing sixth in the 16-team Asheville Christian Academy Invitational in Asheville.

In a field of 187 runners, Polk County’s Olivia Overholt took top honors, completing the course in a time of 13:19.98, almost 17 seconds faster than Carolina Day School’s Abby Smith.

Polk Middle’s Tori Thompson finished eighth in 14:18.33.

“Almost all of our runners improved their best times for the season,” said PCMS head coach Katie Elliott. “Some runners improved their times by nearly an entire minute. It was a great course to PR (set a personal record).”

Also competing for the Wolverines were Lauren Dotson (15:42.95), Megan Allison (15:48.02), Aryanna Patterson (16:55.24), Layla Paulsen (16:58.70), Maggie McCammon (17:23.48), Cora Lawrence (17:26.28), Vanessa Raposa (17:45.04), Lacey Gosnell (18:42.53), Katie Campusano-Gomez (18:50.67), Marleigh Hunt (19:33.92), Taylor Clark (19:34.75), Ashlyn Ramsey (19:50.43), Allie Quolle (20:13.10) and Kayla Kitchen (21:40.61)

The Polk Middle boys placed 13th, led by Isidro Gonzalez, who finished the course in 13:58.67 to take 35th. Also competing for the Wolverines were Collier Foster (14:24.88), Grayson Smith (15:50.18), Andrew Hostetler (16:57.66), Bryson Rickman (17:11.54), Logan Rhodes (18:19.08), McClain Koistinen (23:44.05) and Christopher Wilmoth (23:59.64)

Polk Middle will compete Tuesday in its final regular-season meet of the season before taking part in the Blue Ridge Conference championship meet the following week in Franklin.