Burke County runners claim top spots
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

Jaquetta Chandler and Alaytra Carswell, above, finished in front among the girls. STAFF - ANNE MARIE KYZER

Burke County High School's cross country teams ran down top finishes last week. Burke County hosted Screven County and Jenkins County high schools for the meet.

Darius Lakes and Joshua Jones crossed the finish line first and second in the boys division with their times of 19:49 and 19:50, respectively. In the girls division, Alaytra Carswell and Jaquetta Chandler were the fastest individuals with their times of 26:09 and 26:13, respectively.

The Burke County boys claimed first place as a team, as well. The scores of Miguel Thomas, who finished sixth with a time of 22:59, Marcus Stephens, who finished eighth with a time of 24.19, and Will McGee, who finished ninth with a time of 24:20, helped the team finish well.

Latangela McGee, who finished 13th with a time of 32.33, and AnnNell Byne, who crossed the finish line 17th with a time of 42:30, also ran in the meet. Burke County was one runner short of having a complete girls team.

"Overall, I was well pleased with the effort of our runners," Coach Bill Knight said. "This was our first meet in over a week. The kids were coming off of fall break, which gave them a chance to get their legs back underneath them."

Knight added, however, that the region meet, which is scheduled for today (Wednesday) in Effingham County, will be a tough test for the Burke County runners.