The McIntosh boys and girls cross country squads continue

to run their best races of the year. On Saturday, the Chiefs captured

the boys and girls region 4-AAAA championship and prepare for

the state meet this Saturday in Carrollton, Ga.

The girls squashed their competion with an overall

score of 17 points. Remember that 15 points is a perfect score in

cross country. Finishing in first place for the girls was Dana Van

Winkle, with a time of 19:34. She was followed by Elizabeth Gardner

in second place with a time of 19:47, Judy Thomasson in third

place with a time of 20:09 and Mary Katherine Crofton in fourth

place with a time of 20:12. Tina Paone finished in seventh place with

a time of 20:47, while Jamie Hyatt and Connie Gaan finished

12th and 13th respectively with times of 22:12 and 22:17. Hyatt

and Gaan will be on the state meet squad which features the top

seven runners per team. Their toughest competition this weekend will

be from Walton Academy, the team that beat them at the Berry

Invitational by two points.

The boys got an outstanding race from it's seniors on

Saturday. The Chiefs finished with an overall score of 27 points and won

the region for the fourth year in a row. Kevin Panke was the

individual champion of the race, finishing in first place with a time of

16:12. Geoff Melymuk finished in second place at a time of 16:29.

Nick Van Winkle finished sixth, Robby Johnston finished eighth

and Michael Patrick finished 10th with times of 17:31, 17:41 and

17:47 respectively. Matt O'Donnell and sophomore Brandon Ring

rounded out the top seven, finishing 11th and 13th with times of 17:49

and 17:58.

" We did a good job of breaking up Lovejoy's secondary

pack," Coach Buckle said. " The gap between the number two and

three runners is smaller for both squads. I am very pleased with the

performance the last two weeks. We are running our fastest times of

the year and staying very consistent." The boys will have some stiff

competition Saturday from top ranked Brookwood as well as strong

programs from Milton and Lassiter.

Fayette County did not qualify for the state meet as a team

but they are sending senior Preston Pack. Pack qualified for the

meet on an individual basis by coming in fifth place at the region

meet with a time of 17:29. Trey Alverson and Blake Riley

were the number two and three runners for the Tigers with times

of 18:03 and 18:07. David Deering was the number four runner

finishing at 18:25 and Andrew Husack was number five at

18:50. The majority of the boys team will be returning for the

Tigers next year and should be very competitive.

The girls squad ran a good race but just couldn't catch

McIntosh or Lovejoy. Jessica Tyre finished first for the Tigers

and took ninth place with a time of 21:24. Dana Teat followed

Tyre finishing second for the team with a time of 22:24. Carrie

Howard was only five seconds behind Teat, finishing at 22:29.

Clarinda Phillips was fourth for the team with a time of 23:08, while

Sara Owens was fifth with a time of 23:09. Congratulations to

the Tigers on a fun and exciting season.

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