Eels, Knights compete at South Knox Invitational

Coming off a pair of Chad Smith Invitational championships earlier in the week, Northview’s cross country teams competed in the South Knox Invitational.

There, the Knights, competing against some of the state’s premier programs, finished fourth in the boys meet and fifth in the girls meet.

For the second time in a four-day span, it was Camden Johnson that led the way for Northview’s boys team. The junior finished third – behind a pair of Avon runners – with a time of 17:16. He was joined in the top 25 by Connor Propst, who finished 14th with a time of 17:55, and Daniel Russell, who finished 21st with a time of 18:11.

Other Knights that scored on Saturday included Will Harms (45th with a time of 19:00), Noah Minett (49th with a time of 19:08), Devin Jones (53rd with a time of 19:13) and Hadley McPike (62nd with a time of 19:28) while Seth Hendricks, Gage Williams, Jonah Jabbour, Jacob Dalton, Maxx McCullough, Nolan Heiliger, Addison Shepherd and Maddox Penrod rounded out their day.

Like Johnson, Hannah Harrison was the leader in the clubhouse for the Lady Knights on Saturday. The junior finished third with a time of 20:39. She was joined by Josie Lynch, who finished eighth with a time of 21:39 to continue her strong senior campaign.

Leah Nevill (36th with a time of 23:31), Aubrey Miller (38th with a time of 23:33) and Cora Frederick (51st with a time of 24:10) finished off Northview’s day.

Northview wasn’t the only high school cross country team from Clay County running on the hot and humid Saturday morning. Clay City also were participants at the South Knox Invitational where the boys finished ninth and the girls 16th.

Jayden Hickenbotham finished 36th overall with a time of 18:42 to pace the boys team. He was followed by Luke Swearingen (56th with a time of 19:15), Luke Laswell (79th with a time of 19:56), Brady Hauer (80th with a time of 19:56), Brayden Wiram (82nd with a time of 19:57), Alex Edwards (118th with a time of 21:22), Jack Edwards (162nd with a time of 22:51), Elliott Corbin (172nd with a time of 23:20) and Ethan Schopmeyer (204th with a time of 25:00).

The Lady Eels were without sophomore standout Ashley Martinez-Morales for the second straight meet after she injured her ankle during the annual Clay City Invitational. The freshman tandem of Anna Duckwall, who finished 82nd with a time of 26:02, and Shelby Hofmann, who finished 84th with a time of 26:03, remained in the front of the pack while a slew of upperclassmen – Millie Withers (111th with a time of 27:50), Tessa Stagg (117th with a time of 28:14) and Olivia Shidler (122nd with a time of 28:58) – pushed themselves up the standings while Jenna Hofmann (124th with a time of 29:11) and Sydney Lowdermilk (127th with a time of 29:15) rounded out the scoring for the day.

Both Clay City and Northview will be together again on Wednesday for the inaugural Stuart Bennett Invitational held at LaVern Gibson Championship Course.