Cross Country
2011 Season Filled With Many PRs and a State Qualifier!
The 2011 season began and ended in the sun, although about 40 degrees apart from August through November 5. The season began with some hot, sweltering runs by the lake and in Farragut, and it ended with the school's first TSSAA State Meet qualifier, junior All-Region 2 runner Mason Stooksbury, who ran a school-best 18:36 in Nashville's Percy Warner Park. The boys team finally had enough runners to field its first team score, and finished 5th in Region 2. The girls became a force in the region this year, finishing sixth in the regional meet.
"Every runner persevered through the heat, rain, and through nagging aches and injuries, but the spirit of this group was fantastic," said Coach Randy Down. "They did not complain, even on the steepest hill or hottest day, but they encouraged each other and other team's runners all season. Our service day to benefit the homeless was a unifying effort, as we got to help the Volunteer Ministry Center raise funds for their operation. With so many underclassmen, the future for cross country is bright for GCA."
The team loses seniors Grace Frazier, Sydney Tindell, and Rachel Zachary from the team but returns everyone else next season.
From Left: Coach Sara Thacker, Coach Lynda Lower, Sydney Tindell, Peyton Wilson, Austin Saporito, Dylan Pomeroy, Mason Stooksbury, Todd Hargis, Michael Johnson, Brad Finley, Hannah Sluss, Head Coach Randy Down (missing from photo: sophomore Matt Holland)
Front Row: Katie Borden, Annie Frazier, Lily Iranipour, Grace Frazier, Rachel Zachary, Lori Lower, Katlin Taylor, Leeanna Palmer, Amy Waggoner
GCA Boys places 5th in Region 2 Meet, Girls 6th in first-ever regional competition, 10/27/11!
Coach Down gives directions to the girls prior to the start of the TSSAA Region 2 meet.
Lily takes a pre-race power nap, while Todd and Austin snack before their race.
Michael chills between coughs, while Lori, Rachel, Amy, Sydney, Annie, Katie, Hannah, Leeanna, and Lori pose. Where's Grace?
The girls pause to pray before the start of the meet, and then they are off and running for 3.1 miles.
Amy, Hannah and Lori start off quickly to avoid getting pushed back in the pack.
The girls get in a last-minute sprint. Coach Down calls out Katie's mile split.
Amy runs through mile one, and Grace makes a charge, hjoyfully passing a Lenoir City runner.
Lori makes a strong statement in mile one. Leeanna looks focused, Lily looks down, and Annie looks happy!
Amy, Katie and Annie all bear down the final 1/10th of a mile with the finish in sight!
Grace finishes first for the Lady Rams, followed by Amy and then Katie.
Leeanna fights hard all the way to the finish, and Lori has a girl to beat before she can finish!
Lori passed her opponent and now cruises home, followed by Annie Frazier, who hit a new PR.
Freshmen Lily Iranipour and Hannah Sluss race hard to the finish line.
Seniors Sydney Tindell and Rachel Zachary run their final few feet at the Region 2 meet.
Amy cannot believe how fast her finishing time was! Coach shares race times at the Regionals.
Mason, Peyton, Todd, Dylan, Joey, Brad, Michael, and Austin are almost all-business at the start.
Mason looks to pass some STEM runners at mile one, while Todd stays ahead on the hill.
Peyton and Dylan charge up the hill just before mile one.
Austin Saporito powers up the hill just before the mile mark. Junior Mason Stooksbury sprints to the finish, 9th overall in regionals!
Todd Hargis pushes hard to finish as the second Ram, and Dylan Pomeroy captures 4th, just behind Peyton Wilson..
Austin finishes fifth and Brad
sixth for the Rams. Michael Johnson ran while coughing, but he finshed.
Senior Sydney Tindell says farewel to Coach Lower, while senior Rachel Zachary is the consummate team cheerleader!
The All-Region Team is announced, and Mason made the top 10!
 It is always an exciting event when a new sport begins at a school. Students wonder about whether they have "what it takes" to participate in a new and relatively unknown sport like cross country. Running for 3.1 miles across a field does not stir up beautiful images in many peoples' minds. However, in season one in 2009, thirteen runners ventured out in its inaugural boys' and girls' cross country season, and the team showed drmatic improvement throughout the fall. In 2010, the teams began to build, with 13 runners, but GCA still did not have enough to field a full boys' team. Finally, in 2011, 21 runners laced up their spikes for a great season, and the sport of cross country has become part of the landscape at Grace Christian.
At Grace Christian, student-athletes compete in the highly competitive Metro XC, a conglomerate of primarily 4A, 3A, and 2A schools from Knox, Blount, Campbell, Union, Loudon and Anderson Counties. Many meets have 200-400 runners in a boys' or girls' 5k race at such popular cross country venues as Sequoyah Hills, Hardin Valley, Victor Ashe Park, Norris Dam and Melton Hill Park.
Coach Randy Down has coached both boys' and girls' cross country since 1986. He has started and grown cross country programs at four other Christian schools in California, Texas, South Carolina, and now here in Knoxville. Several of his runners have won individual state championships, and he has coached conference and state championship teams in both cross country and track, sending more than thirty athletes on to Division I and II colleges to compete.
Coach Down shares his passion for running with a love of seeing students succeed on and off the field. He says, "I value the relationships that are made in cross country. It is unlke any other sport I have coached, in that the runners forge bonds not only across class lines, but they also make good friends with runners against whom they compete. I also love the spiritual growth these young athletes experience as they endure long and sometimes grueling runs together. I am blessed to have the honor of being a part of such fine student-athletes here at GCA."
2011 Varsity Cross Country Team |
| Boys Name |
Grade |
Girls Name |
Grade |
| Mason Stooksbury |
11 |
Grace Frazier |
12 |
| Joey Taylor |
11 |
Sydney Tindell |
12 |
| Brad Finley |
10 |
Rachel Zachary |
12 |
| Todd Hargis |
10 |
Leeanna Palmer |
11 |
| Matt Holland |
10 |
Katie Borden |
10 |
| Michael Johnson |
10 |
Amy Waggoner |
10 |
| Austin Saporito |
10 |
Annie Frazier |
9 |
| Peyton Wilson |
10 |
Lily Iranipour |
9 |
| Dylan Pomeroy |
10 |
Lori Lower |
9 |
| |
|
Hannah Sluss |
9 |
| |
|
Katlin Taylor |
9 |
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Photos
 
Sequoyah Hills, site of the inaugural meet every year - The Cherokee Classic on Labor Day Weekend
 
Teams will enjoy traveling in one of our new buses in 2011!
 
They are ready to race at Sequoyah Hills Park on 9.3.11
Cherokee Invitational - 9.3.11 - Start of girls' race with 216 runners.
 
Lily Irannipour gets off to a good start, while Hannah Sluss and Grace Frazier get started on the 3.1 mile course.
 
Leeanna Palmer gets out in the open, while Katie Borden fights to get in front.
We appreciate our loyal fans!
  
Katie Borden at Sequoyah Hills
Amy Waggoner separates from another runner Leeanna Palmer surges past a Gibbs runner.
 
Senior Rachel Zachary runs toward the finish line. Senior Sydney Tindell keeps moving ahead.
 
Freshman Lori Lower and Freshmen Annie Frazier race on.
 
Rachel Zachary and Katlin Taylor make the turn at mile 1.5.
 
  
  
Annie Frazier is at the halfway point, followed soon by Sydney Tindell and Katlin Taylor.
 
Amy Waggoner leads the Lady Rams at the halfway point. Lily Iranipour runs a great first half.
  
Grace Frazier shows good form near the finish, na Hannah Sluss is pushing ahead of a Karns runner.
  
Hannah Sluss makes the turn at the halfway point. Lori Lower finishes well. Lily Iranipour sprints to the finiah!
 
Katie Borden finishes hard with a Stone Memorial runner, while Leeanna Palmer tries to pass runers at the finish. Peyton runs in the pack.
  
Joey Taylor puts on a fantastic finish, Brad Finley powers to the finish line, and Austin Saporito displays great form as he finishes.
  
Dylan Pomeroy runs hard at the end, Todd Hargis strains to the finish, and Mason runs to pass runners at the end.
  
 
Coach Down relays times and personal bests to the runners after the race.
 
 
 
Hannah, Rachel and Amy are all smiles - the race is finally over!!
 
Pre-race stretching routine.
 
The start of the Girls' race at Hardin Valley Academy - 9.17.11
 
 
 
  
Katie Borden Leeanna Palmer
Lori Lower
  
Lily Iranipour
Annie Frazier Amy Waggoner
 
Grace Frazier and Lori Lower come down the hill fast at Hardin Valley
 
Amy Waggoner is relieved to hit the bottom of the long downhill, and Leeanna finds time to smile as she reaches the bottom.
 
Katie Borden passes two Hardin Valley runners, while Amy Waggoner approaches the steep incline at mile 1.
Amy, Grace and Hannah all start out strong.
Katie pushes hard near mile 2.
 
Lily makes the turn after mile 2. Katie leads the way with a strong stride.
Seniors Grace Frazier and Sydney Tindell race along the Hardin Valley course at the second mile loop.
 
Annie Frazier looks determined as she heads toward the final mile. Sydney races to the finish line.
 
Katlin Taylor runs to catch a Gibbs runner - Grace nears the finish.
 
Annie and Lily race together at mile 2.
The girls pose after the race.
 
The boys start out quickly, with 270 runners.
 
Austin Saporito surges down the hill, followed closely by Michael Johnson.
 
Mason Stooksbury and Peytron Wilson hang close early. Dylan makes a strong downhill run.
 
Brad Finley fights to finsh well. Dylan lengthens hi stride at the end.
 
Joey runs strong down the hill. Austin makes a move to finish well.
 
Dylan Pomeroy fights to gain ground. Peyton Wilson runs a hard first mile.
  
Mason Stooksbury runs near the front. Joey Taylor starts out strong. Dylan Pomelroy races.
 
The team receives postrace accolades and times, as several PRs were achieved this day!
NORRIS DAM MEET - Septamber 27, 2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The start of 2011 Norris Dam Invitational Girls Race
Amy Waggoner and Katie Borden go out with the leaders!
 
   
 
 
 
Boys prepare for the start of the Norris Dam race.
 
 
 
 
 
Coach Lower with daughter Lori.
Coach Down loves his runners!
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