HHS Cross Country Opens Season with Pair of Podium Finishes

(Photo by Melissa Godfrey)

Lady Yellow Jacket Annie Godfrey keeps a steady pace on her way to a solid time and team win in the season-opener.

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Freshman Makenna Moss delivered a decisive individual victory and led the Hayesville girls to a team win in the Yellow Jackets’ cross country season opener Saturday at Clay County Recreation Center.

Moss covered the 5-kilometer course in 21 minutes, 35.3 seconds — more than two minutes ahead of the next finisher — as Hayesville scored 33 points to beat Copper Basin (42) and Robbinsville (49). The Jackets placed five runners among the top 14 overall.

Junior Marlo Joyce finished ninth overall in 27:10.2 to secure Hayesville’s second scoring position. Sophomore Annie Godfrey (28:39.9), freshman Kaelyn Cook (28:42.5) and freshman Lily Gordon (28:55.0) rounded out the top five Lady Jacket runners. Junior Libbie Moore (29:30.0) and freshman Zoe Angelopulos (36:45.6) also competed for the Jackets.

In the boys' race, Robbinsville took the team title with 25 points, followed by Andrews (33) and Hayesville (71). Summit Charter finished fourth with 113.

Oscar Page of Hiwassee Dam won the individual boys race in 16:38.7. Hayesville’s top finisher was sophomore Eli Cheeks, who placed 11th overall in 18:39.3. Sophomore Porter Hood followed in 19:33.0, senior Parker Hughes in 20:54.5, sophomore Evan Burks in 20:57.0 and sophomore Garrison Boyer in 22:37.2 to complete the Jackets’ scoring five.

Sophomore Brandon Prieto-Rivera (22:59.4), senior Robert Manning (27:32.5), sophomore Nate Cook (27:54.2), freshman Archie Galloway (40:14.7) and freshman Matteo Colandrea (42:30.7) also ran for Hayesville.

Yellow Jacket runners will hit the trails again 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at Tri County Early College.