Rhea County sophomore Madalyn Garland didn’t run cross-country last year, as she decided to concentrate on volleyball instead.
She was convinced to come out after a successful track season. After a successful cross-country year up-to-date, it’s obvious she’s a fast learner.
Garland, the top-seeded runner in Region 3-AAA, will lead her Lady Golden Eagles into the region championships, which will be held at Chickamauga Dam starting at 11:45 this morning. Regions 3-A/AA, 4-A/AA and 3-AAA will all collectively hold their meets at the site.
“I was surprised when I started running; I didn’t expect to be as good as I’ve been this year,” she said.
Said Rhea coach Steffan Holder: “At the end of track season, we decided to let her do mid-distances, because she was running past everybody. We realized she had a gift and wanted to help bring her along with it, and she goes out and pops some good times.”
The team’s goal of winning region take a major blow when sisters Gloria and Lorena Pascual were seriously injured in a car accident on their way to the league meet at Greenway Farm. Gloria suffered a skull fracture, while Lorena broke three ribs and her collarbone.
“My goal is still for us to advance to state,” Garland said. “They’re gone, but I think that will push us to work that much harder to make our goal.”
Individually, she has developed enough of a feel of the sport to where her competitive nature has taken over. During the course of the Chattanooga Cross Country League season, Garland set one goal in mind — to defeat GPS’s Johanna Gartman, who won every league race she competed in.
She wasn’t able to accomplish that goal, but she did have a season that included breaking a school record, running a time of 19 minutes, 37 seconds at Jesse Owens, and has set a new goal — to win the region.
“With me being the top seed, I’m expected to win, but I know I’m going to have to work hard to do it,” she said.