by Brian Hoffman
They ran down the fairway on the first hole, then took a left at the par three. They traveled down the seventh hole by the trees where golfers often lose their balls, if they have the courage to hit it close. Yes, it was cross country on the Salem Municipal Golf Course.
The Salem, Glenvar, Cave Spring and Lord Botetourt distance teams went the distance last Wednesday, October 12, at the annual race on the links. The Glenvar boys and Cave Spring girls were team winners on a perfect day for running, or playing golf for that matter.
Glenvar’s boys were led by individual winner Heath Bowker, who covered the course in 16:52. The Highlanders had four boys in the top nine with Davis Norman finishing fifth, Caeden Bowker eighth and Charlie Horrell ninth. Tyler Davis was the fifth scorer and Aldin Smith and Alex Rottkamp also ran for the Highlanders.
Salem’s boys were third behind the Highlanders and Cave Spring. Walker Peterson led the Spartans with a seventh place finish, followed by Carson Tucker in 10th, Zane Easter in 12th, Alex Helems in 13th and Nathan Bowers in 15th.
Salem took second in the girls’ race with Brooke Bowers finishing fourth overall. Elizabeth Bocock with eighth, Callie Conner was ninth, Ryan Long was 11th and Lyndyse Rothkopf was 19th.
Glenvar’s best run was a fifth place finish by Everly Shanks, followed by Molly McCroskey in 12th and Anna Hall in 13th place. Emma Pope and Leah McMahan also scored for Glenvar.
“Both the boys’ and girls’ teams ran incredibly well after having competed in two additional meets within the same week leading up to the Salem Quad Meet,” said Glenvar coach Amanda Spradlin. “Eleven runners across the varsity teams ran new personal records.”
Salem’s boys won the jayvee race with Austin Prosser taking first. There was no team score for the girls but Ashlyn Davis of Salem was the overall winner. Salem also competed in a middle school race at Northside last week and Prosser was sixth out of 70 runners in the boys’ race and Davis was 20th out of 58 for the girls.
Both the Salem and Glenvar teams were scheduled to compete in the annual Metro Cross Country races in Blacksburg on Wednesday of this week but results were too late for publication. Glenvar will host the Region 2C meet at Green Hill Park on November 2nd.
“Our goal for the next two weeks is to stay locked in and focused as we enter into post season,” said Spradlin. “The competition will be stiff in the region meet, but we are eager and ready for the challenge.”
Above, Salem girls and spectators cheer on Salem’s Lance Toapanta as he comes down the home stretch in last week’s cross country meet at the Salem Municipal Golf Course. Left, Glenvar’s Everly Shanks(#432) battles LB’s Hattie Haggerty on a steep hill as Spartan Elizabeth Bocock closes in. Right, Salem’s Carson Tucker(hat) and Zane Easter run in the boys’ race.