8 Cobb County Runners Named To Powerade All-Metro Cross Country Team

Press release from Atlanta Track Club:

Nov. 14, 2022

Eight high school cross country runners from Cobb County, including five from Marietta High School were named to Atlanta Track Club’s Powerade All-Metro Cross Country Team. They will be among those honored at a banquet next week. Atlanta Track Club announced the 42 athletes – 21 boys and 21 girls who make up this year’s Powerade All-Metro Team today. It includes runners from 26 different schools and eight counties. It also boasts eight runners who won state titles at last week’s GHSA State Championship Meet. The Marietta High School girls team leads all schools and teams with four runners named to the All-Metro lineup. All four placed in the top 10 in class 7A at the state meet leading to a dominant team victory. Cobb County athletes honored include:

· Nora Hart – Junior, Marietta High School – 7th in 7A at State Meet

· Clara Heppner – Senior, Johnson Ferry Christian Academy – 1st at GAPPS Championship,

· Maddie Jones – Sophomore, Marietta High School – 2nd in 7A at State Meet

· Samantha McGarity – Junior, Harrison High School – 1st in 7A at State Meet, 4th fastest time in Georgia in 2022

· Kristal McQueen – Senior, Marietta High School – 6th in 7A at State Meet

· Mary Nesmith – Freshman, Marietta High School – 5th in 7A at State Meet, fastest time by a freshman in Georgia in 2022

· London Ray – Sophomore, Blessed Trinity – 5th in 6A at State Meet

· Jared Fortenberry – Senior, Marietta High School – 2nd in 7A at State Meet

· Taylor Wade – Senior, Whitefield Academy – 2nd in 1A – Division 1 at State Meet

Athletes were chosen based on their performance at the state meet, performance throughout the season, head-to-head competition and performance at major meets where a large number of Metro Atlanta schools were competing.

“The number of Georgia High School runners performing at a national-caliber level increases every year,” said Rich Kenah, Atlanta Track Club’s CEO. “We see it as a good an exciting sign for the future of Running City USA that this team gets tougher to make with each passing year.”

At the banquet, held on November 17 in Midtown Atlanta, the runners will be announced by first, second and third team. The runner named to the top spot on the first team will receive the award for Runner of the Year. New this year, family, friends and fans can vote on the Performance of the Year on 11alive.com. The moment receiving the most votes will be recognized during the banquet. This year’s nominees are:

· Joe Sapone (Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School) winning the Wingfoot XC Classic for second consecutive year

· Tommy Latham (Marist School) recording the top time at the GHSA State Meet

· Ruby Little (Marist School) winning the Wingfoot XC Classic for second consecutive year

· Samantha McGarity (Harrison High School) dominates state meet winning by 40 seconds

· Lottie Chappell (North Springs High School) crawls across finish line to take 3rd at state meet

Voting is open through Thursday, November 17 at 12 p.m.

Held annually since 1964, the Powerade All-Metro Cross Country and Track and Field Banquets are Atlanta Track Club’s longest running tradition. Since their inception, the Club has recognized and honored nearly 6,000 high school runners, jumpers and throwers.

This press release was produced by Atlanta Track Club. The views expressed here are the author's own.