Anna Sampson (in red) just past the
one-mile mark in the middle of the pack

By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net

Calhoun girls team opened its 2006 cross country season with an eighth place finish in the tough Autumn Classic at General Electric Park near St. Marys.

The classic co-mingles Class AAA schools with schools in Class AA and A.

Sophomore Anna Sampson led the way for the Red Devils with a time of 24:51 good for 24th place among "team" runners.

Maria Kisner, Elizabeth Duskey, Emily Brady and Carrie Graffius backed Sampson. Brady is a freshman and the rest are sophomores.

Kisner was 44th with a time of 28:22 while Duskey, who was fighting a sore knee, was next with a time of 30:15 and 47th place. Brady was 48th at 30:33 while Graffius was 49th with a time of 30:51.

Coach Melinda Fitzwater, Maria Kisner, Emily Brady, Carrie
Graffius, Anna Sampson and Elizabeth Duskey do a cheer before the race

Senior David Lee (left) and freshman Zack Stump
prior to the start of the boys race Saturday morning

Grafton won the girls meet in something of a surprise beating defending champion Doddridge and pre-season favorite Ritchie.

On the boys side of the ledged Calhoun was led by senior David Lee with a time of 22:57 for 103rd place. Freshman Zack Stump, in his first cross country meet, was 113th with a time of 37:41.

On the middle school side Calhoun sixth-grader Luke Moore ran the two-mile course in 18:22 for 59th place.

The Red Devils return to action Sept. 9 when it travels to Ellenboro for the Insurance Classic.