On Saturday, Oct. 20, three CJH runners competed at the Tennessee State Middle School Cross Country Championship held at Ashe Park in Knoxville. To participate, every runner had to qualify at one of six regional races held throughout the state. The course is notoriously hilly, and after a morning of rain, it was also muddy and slippery.
Along with more than 600 of the state’s best runners in both the girls’ and boys’ varsity races, students Bailey Morris, Will Douglas, and Beau Smith laced up their spikes to take on the challenging course.
In the girls’ varsity 2-mile event, Morris raced strong throughout. She placed 34th, which was in the top 10 percent of the talented field. Smith placed in the top third in the boys’ varsity race, passing four runners at the finish with his signature kick to earn 88th place.
Douglas came in to the meet with a goal to place in the top 10, although he knew the competition would be fierce and ready. With hard work and determination, he accomplished his goal and earned All-State honors along with his 10th place trophy.
“This course was hard and it made you give everything you had,” Douglas said after the meet. “It was a great season and I’m proud of the way I ended it today.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Coach Amber Douglas (who also happens to be his mother), who noted that she can’t wait to see what high school cross country races have in store for these three talented Camden athletes.
