Last Thursday night, Aug. 18, the Camden Junior High School cross country team opened their season at the Dresden Jamboree. This season, the CJH XC runners are being led by new coach Hope Winders, a Briarwood teacher and former collegiate runner.
Unlike most races, this jamboree separated the competition based on grade and sex, for a total of six races. This gave runners an opportunity to see where they stand compared to other competitors in their grade levels. The top 20 finishers in each race received a medal, giving 120 young runners a chance to take home some hardware.
It was an exciting experience, with many runners competing for the first time in a cross country race. The CJH Lions had an exceptional performance at the meet, with 16 runners coming home with medals.
In sixth grade, Jude King (3rd) and Wyatt Parks (13th) placed in the top 20 in the boys’ race, while Sophia Robertson (12th) and Reese Powley (14th) placed in the top 20 in the girls’ race.
Among seventh graders, Jaylin Hagler (3rd) and Marian Knight (18th) placed in the top 20 for CJH girls, while Cal Pierce (8th), Everett Jones (16th), and Dyson Adams (17th) placed in the top 20 for the CJH boys.
Experience showed among the eighth-grade runners, with Jackson Thornton (2nd), Kade Johnson (3rd) Brandy Morris (7th), and Aidan Bullion (9th) all placing in the top 10 for the boys, while Sadie Fry (4th), Paislee Matlock (8th), and Emma French (9th) all placed in the top 10 for the girls.
