SAMPSON LEADS IN CALHOUN CROSS COUNTRY

(09/13/2006)
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net

Sophomore Anna Sampson has led a depleted Calhoun County girls Cross Country team at two recent meets - Ritchie (Saturday) and Doddridge (Tuesday).

Sampson had a 26:32 for 52nd at the Insurance Classic at Ritchie County. The meet featured Class AAA and the smaller schools competing against each other. At the Doddridge Invitational Sampson had a 26:02 for 46th place.

Her top finish and time this season came in the season opening meet - the Autumn Classic at St. Marys - when she had a 24:51 for 34th place.

The course at St. Marys is flat while the other two have sizeable hills. Maria Kisner finished as Calhoun's second runner with a time of 31:18 (78th place) at Ritchie then posted a time of 28:19 for 76th place at Doddridge.

Calhoun's other two runners - Emily Brady and Carrie Graffius - were 81st (32:37) at Ritchie and 99th (35:19) at Doddridge and 88th (37:03) and 100th (36:11) respectively.

Calhoun has been competing with a short squad since sophomore Elizabeth Duskey has been sidelined with a sore knee (a possible torn tendon) and senior Grace Keaffaber started the season late due to employment and has not had enough practice sessions to compete.

On the boys side David Lee posted a time of 25:28 at Ritchie and followed with a 23:25 at Doddridge for 94th and 96th. Zac Stump had times of 41:06 and 40:57 for 104th and 123th.

On the middle school side Luke Moore had a time of 22:45 (98th) at Ritchie and 21:45 (67th) at Doddridge. Calhoun returns to action Saturday in the Chick-Fil-A meet Saturday morning at Mineral Wells.