Baylor's Grace Carlson in this file photo.There couldn't have been a better scripted start to the high school cross country career of Baylor freshman Grace Carlson. After all, what's better than winning?
Carlson was victorious in the jamboree race at Baylor on Tuesday, covering the five kilometers in 20 minutes, 17 seconds. Teammate Haley Chandler was second by five seconds.
East Hamilton senior Nick McCormick won the boys' race by two minutes in 16:42.
Carlson trailed Chandler in the early going, passing her in the second loop of the woods and holding on to win. Rhea County's Madalyn Garland and Gloria Pascual finished third and fourth at 20:30 and 20:31, while Heritage's Mallory Edwards was fifth at 21:21.
"It was a hard first race, but I'm pretty excited to win my first high school race," Carlson said. "I really thought that I was going to just kind of hang with the Baylor girls' group, but Coach [Heather Ott] told me to go for it."
Chandler was disappointed she didn't get the win, yet happy to see the title go to a teammate.
"It was a good start," she said. "I got ahead and it felt great, but I think I got comfortable with the lead and slowed down some."
There was no drama in the boys' race, as McCormick found himself in front from the start and seemed in mid- or even late-season form. Northwest Whitfield's Parker Cook was second at 18:46 with Heritage's Judd Bates a second behind him.
"I've never been that far ahead in a cross country race," McCormick said. "It's kind of hard; I'm used to running around other guys -- that's how I pace myself.
"I thought I tanked it a little in the last mile, but overall I'm pleased with how I ran."