By Jeff Devine
The Carroll High School Eagles made the long trip to Daphne last week to compete in the 5A Section 1 cross country meet — marking their first season back as a program since 2008.
Despite less-than-ideal course conditions, the boys’ team delivered a strong showing, sending three runners — Samare Wright, Parker Smith, and Spencer Wright — to the state championship. The Eagles finished fifth overall, falling just seven points short of advancing as a team behind a tough Elberta squad.
As the day went on and conditions worsened, the Carroll girls proved their resilience, battling through the mud to earn a third-place team finish and secure their spot at the state meet. The squad of Amaya Hernandez, Vivian Ibarra, Ryken McLendon, Kayla Moore, Kaylee Johnson, and Maria Soares became the first Carroll girls’ team to qualify for state competition since 2004.
The Eagles will head to Danville next Saturday to compete for state honors and look to finish the season strong. The team and coach hope to have clearer skies and earn a few new personal records.
