Swain High’s cross country teams competed in the Smoky Mountain Conference Championships, which were held in Cherokee last Wednesday.
The girls finished in second place overall, just missing Hayesville by 13 points.
The team was largely successful due to the running of three All-Conference or All-Conference honorable mention runners.
All Conference runners are Gracie Monteith, who finished 4th overall with a time of 22:04. Finishing just behind her in 5th place and earning an All Conference designation is Amelia Rogers with a time of 22:19. Emily Ulaner finished 10th overall, earning an All Conference Honorable mention with a time of 22:50.
Rounding out the girl finishers were Katie Mae Roland (24:57, 27th place), Erika Wachacha (25:32, 31st place), Kendal Ogle (25:52, 34th place), and Katie Simonds (26:57, 38th place).
The best about this performance is that six of the seven are freshmen and Emily is just a sophomore. Lots of room for growth, lots of potential, and a bright future lies ahead for these girls.
“Coaching such a young team has had its obstacles, but I have never had the privilege of coaching a group of girls with such determination and grit,” said Head Coach Jennifer Chatham. “The future of Swain Cross Country is bright.”