Area Boys Cross Country

RUNNER OF THE YEAR

PAUL PATTERSON

Although a nagging hip injury curtailed his productivity at times, it was hard to argue that the Bradley Central sophomore was the best when he was healthy. He placed third in the Jesse Owens Classic, with a personal-best time of 16:10, as well as claiming his second consecutive Region 3-AAA championship. "I felt he was the best runner in the area," Bradley coach Larry Cotton said. "It's unfortunate that because of the injury, he wasn't able to solidify what I felt, but he's definitely on pace to become one of the best

we've ever had here."

COACH OF THE YEAR

LARRY COTTON

Cotton has had a lot of successful runners in his 29-year coaching career, including 19 now at Bradley Central. He's had region champions. But he never had the top two finishers in a region meet until sophomore Paul Patterson and freshman Harold Smith finished 1-2 in the 2010 Region 3-AAA race. The Bears finished second as a team, then placed 15th in the state meet with four freshmen running in their top seven. "I'm really excited about what we can do in coming years," Cotton said. "They all have the same attitude - to be one of the best teams around. They know that to be the best, you've got to beat the best, and I look forward to coaching them toward that."

FIRST TEAM

Seth Goudzward

WALKER VALLEY

Senior

He had four top-10 finishes before an injury forced him out of the City Championships and the postseason.

Ryan Hacherl

HERITAGE

Junior

He ran a personal best time of 17:42 in the Georgia Region 7-AAA championship meet.

Patrick Shultz

POLK COUNTY

Sophomore

He was second in the Region 3-A/AA meet and was an all league honoree.

Harold Smith

BRADLEY CENTRAL

Freshman

He was the Region 3-AAA runner-up and ran a personal-best 17:00 in the Jesse Owens Classic.

Joseph Turner

SEQUATCHIE COUNTY

Senior

Turner was third in the Region 4-A/AA meet and ran a season best 17:47 at the state meet.

Madison Yates

WALKER VALLEY

Senior

Yates ran a season best time of 17:43 at the Woodland Park race and had five top-10 finishes.

Caleb Young

MCMINN COUNTY

Senior

The Tennessee Wesleyan signee won the Greenway Farm race and was an all league honoree.

SECOND TEAM

BRODY COOK Northwest Whitfield Sophomore

PARKER COOK Northwest Whitfield Sophomore

GRANT CURRIN Cleveland Sophomore

JAKE CURTIS Bradley Central Senior

TAYLER KNIGHT Ringgold Freshman

CHRIS PINEDA Dalton Senior

PHILLIP WILLIAMS Lakeview-F.O. Senior

TEAMS OF THE YEAR

1 BRADLEY CENTRAL

The Bears were runners-up in Region 3-AAA and placed 15th in the state tournament.

2 DALTON

The Catamounts had a third-place finish in the Georgia Region 7-AAA meet.

3 NORTHWEST WHITFIELD

The Bruins had a fourth-place finish in Georgia 7-AAAA and advanced to the state tournament.

Photos by Allison Carter, Laura-Chase McGehee and John Rawlston. Text by Gene Henley. Layout by Stacey Wysong.

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