Goose Creek – While they may not be favored to win the Class AAAAA state championship in November, the Stratford High boys and girls cross country teams are priming for a big finish to the 2023 season.
Both teams will be strong contenders for the region 6-AAAAA championship, though perennial power Wando remains the team to beat.
Coach Connor Roudabush has assembled strong squads and feels big things are in the offing.
“Both teams are working extremely hard this season and have the talent to make it a season for the Stratford record books,” the coach reports.
The boys team has three seniors among its top five runners. The top runner this fall has been senior Jason Heusinger. Running a close second is junior Chase Hoppock and senior Bobby Gibson has been the No. 3 runner. Rounding out the top five are junior Jordan Shelton and senior Rodney Miller.
As a team this fall, Stratford’s boys finished first at the Wolf Run, hosted by Timberland. They ran to a second-place finish at the Pinewood Prep Invite and the Lakelands Invite in Greenwood. The Knights were fourth at the Warriors Invite in Pawley’s Island. The three teams that finished ahead of Stratford were AAAAA top-ranked Fort Mil, AAAAA second-ranked Lexington, and AAA top-ranked Philip Simmons.
Stratford has finished in the top five in every race this fall and has set a goal to finish in the top eight at the Class AAAAA state meet.
Anchoring the girls’ effort this fall is junior Cloe Runion. Freshman Sophia Thill runs second in the order, followed by junior Haley Lovelady. Sophomore Emily Knox and senior Anne Withers round out the top five runners.
The girls team have team wins at both the Pinewood Prep Invite and the Lakelands Invite. They were the runner-up at the Stall Invite and the Pawleys at Night Invite.
Roudabush says a good goal for the girls team is a top 10 finish at the AAAAA state meet in November.
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