Runner

The George Rogers Clark cross country team finished first in the conference meet at Wolfe County earlier this week. The boys team placed first with a score of 24, followed by Powell County (49), Wolfe County (74) and Lee County with a 93. Alex White placed first and was named conference runner of the year. White, along with teammates Grayson Brookshire, Brandon Bailey, Cody Cox and James Banks, were named to the all-conference team. John Hinely was named freshman runner of the year, James Banks was named conference rookie of the year and Clay Dixon was presented with the conference leadership award.

After five years of competing in Kentucky County Fair pageants, Hayden Grissam received her highest placement this past weekend. The 15-year-old Clark County native was named first runner-up in the teen division, after two years as fourth runner-up. “I was super excited,” Grissam said. “When they called fourth runner-up and they didn't call my name, I thought I wasn't getting anything.” In previous competitions, Grissam has represented Taylor, Robertson and Rowan counties.

Last weekend our school was in Danville to compete in the KCAA cross country state championship at Millennium Park. One of our 6-year-old runners ran off course and into a subdivision.  I happened to be about 100 yards from where he ran off course and chased after him. When I came into the subdivision from the park, I didn't see him, and I ran up the block to see if I could find him there. Once I realized I didn't see him and that I didn't have a phone, I started to head back to the park so that I could get my phone and call the police.  Just before I entered back into the park a woman driving a white SUV pulled up and delivered our little runner.

Emily Frith, a former cross country and track standout at Lincoln County, has been named an NCAA Division II All-American in cross country. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Nov. 19 the 80 student/athletes who received All-American honors for the 2012 NCAA Division II Cross Country season. Overall finish at the NCAA Championships is the determining factor as the top 40 individuals from both men's and women's races earn All-American plaudits from the USTFCCCA.

West Jessamine senior Joseph Durbin is the latest Colt athlete to make his college selection. The track and cross-country runner will head to Centre College in the fall. “I really liked the personal education (that Centre can offer). I'm really going to like having help with all my professors,” Durbin said. “They're also highly competitive in track and at the top of their conference every year.” Durbin had a strong junior season in the track, going to the state championships in two events.

Alex Bunch of Lincoln won the girls junior race at the Kentucky Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Meet of Champions on Saturday in Lexington. Bunch won the race easily, pulling away from Muhlenberg County's Aliah Fueller, who was running ahead of her early in the race, to win by more than 40 seconds. “Aliah, she led it, and I kind of went right behind her and we kind of played back and forth. I passed her. She passed me. I passed her. Then we came to the hill right before the mile marker and I passed her up the hill,” said Bunch.

The George Rogers Clark High School Red Varsity Cheerleading squad placed second in the traditional division of the KAPOS state competition in Bowling Green last month. Over the past 14 years, the squad has won 12 state titles and has been runner-up twice. Team members are as follows: Front row from left: Hanna Edwards, Baesha Waltermire, Stevi Haskins, Kayla Burton, Bianca Cooper and Shelbi Denham. Second row: Tanesha Israel, Allie Coleman, Katherine Lindsay, Charissee Ridgeway, Katie Ledford, Caroline Jackson and Chandler Thomas.

A season of first place finishes and the highest Area 8 finish in the Boys' Middle School State Cross Country Championships merited Lincoln's Eric Sanders the top award of the season. Sanders, an eighth grader at Lincoln County Middle School and a member of the Patriot cross country team, was rewarded for his strong efforts in running by being named not only to the All-Area Team but as the Runner of the Year for Area 8 Middle Schools. "These are nice recognitions for the season he had,â�

FRANKFORT - Brad Martin tied a record for low round and was runner-up in the Franklin County Invitational Tuesday in Frankfort. The George Rogers Clark High School golfer fired a 64 in the second and final round of the tournament with a 34 and a 30. As a squad, the Cardinals finished 14th out of 24 teams with a 625. Martin's 64 tied a tournament record for low round. "I felt very confident out there today," Brad Martin said. "I was hitting the ball well and getting it close to the pin. I putted really well today and only had 24 putts.

Jason Epperson was revealed as the runner-up on Fox's reality show "On the Lot" Tuesday night. A crowd of about 1,000 packed Calvary Christian Church to watch the finale. A woosh swept across the room when Will Bigham was announced as the winner, then quickly translated to thunderous cheers for Jason. For more on the finale and a celebration planned for Saturday, see Wednesday's edition of the Sun.

Several members of the Clark County elementary and middle school track teams concluded their season in the KTCCCA state middle school championships last weekend at the University of Louisville. Kierah Robertson and Alyssa Gaunce of Conkwright competed in the one-day event. Gaunce competed in the 800-meter run, finishing in a season best time of 3:00.57. Robertson put the shot 27 feet and 6.25 inches, placing 23rd overall. In the discus, Robertson placed 18th with a throw of 61 feet.

Six members of the George Rogers Clark track and field team will end the season on a high note Saturday at Owsley Frazier Cardinal Park in Louisville. Cora Kerber will end her prep career by competing in the 800-meter race and also will compete in the long jump. Kerber won the Class 3A Region 7 event in the 800 meters last week by holding off Madison Central's Gabby Sabino and Alex Bunch of Lincoln County. Her finish of 2:24.27 set a new school record. “That was the best girls 800-meter race I have ever seen in my life,” Clark coach Dodd Dixon said.

To runners, crossing the finish line at the Boston Marathon does not just confirm the completion of 26 miles, but rather a journey - one that follows years of preparation, training and determination. But Monday, a tradition of more than 100 years was struck by an unforseen and senseless tragedy. David Anderson of Danville was in the Boston airport as the news came in. Being a new runner, he said he was feeling down on himself for not making it out to see the race. “I just couldn't fit it in with my schedule,” he said, adding family members have told him God must have kept him from going.

The George Rogers Clark track teams competed in the 37th annual Lake Cumberland track meet Saturday in Somerset. Out of 24 teams attending the boys team placed 12th and the girls team finished 16th. In the distance events, the Cardinals and Lady Cards posted several personal best times. Ben Petrey led the 4x800 relay team with a first leg run of 2:12, a personal best. Brandon Burris, Brandon Bailey and Austin Richards rounded out the relay, which placed fourth overall. In the 1600 meter run, Grayson Brookshire placed fifth with a personal best time of 4:42.77.

Fifth-graders from five local schools competed recently in the Grandparent Essay Contest. The title for the essay was “Why My Grandparent Should be the Grandparent of the Year in the State of Kentucky.” The contest was sponsored by AARP and the Boyle County Retired Teachers Association. The essays demonstrate how important the role of grandparents are in every phase of a student's life in Boyle County. Winners and runners-up were: Mary G. Hogsett Elementary School: Darian Logan, winner.

STANFORD - Many people find that, as they get older, their memory seems to become less and less reliable, and some start to question, Am I getting Alzheimer's? Sadly, the answer to that question is so often “yes,” with Alzheimer's growing at an alarming rate to rob them of their memory. Estimates are that 5.4 million Americans suffer from the disease.  On Sunday afternoon, hundreds of people took time to remember those affected by the disease by participating in the fifth annual Jingle Bell Jog 5K Run/Walk through the downtown streets of Stanford.

Emily Frith, a former cross country and track standout at Lincoln County, has been named an NCAA Division II All-American in cross country. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Nov. 19 the 80 student/athletes who received All-American honors for the 2012 NCAA Division II Cross Country season. Overall finish at the NCAA Championships is the determining factor as the top 40 individuals from both men's and women's races earn All-American plaudits from the USTFCCCA.

Three members of the George Rogers Clark Cross Country team competed Saturday at the KHSAA State Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Grayson Brookshire led the boys' squad with a 17:40 finish, followed by Ben Petrey, who ran the race in 20:02. The boys race was won by Chase Geary, who opened the season in January during a meet held in Winchester. In the final team scores St. Xavier placed first. Louisville Trinity was second and Daviess County was third. In the girls competition, Clark senior Cora Kerber ran the 5K course in 22:03.  Bailey Davis of Assumption won the girls race with a time of 18:12.

Last weekend our school was in Danville to compete in the KCAA cross country state championship at Millennium Park. One of our 6-year-old runners ran off course and into a subdivision.  I happened to be about 100 yards from where he ran off course and chased after him. When I came into the subdivision from the park, I didn't see him, and I ran up the block to see if I could find him there. Once I realized I didn't see him and that I didn't have a phone, I started to head back to the park so that I could get my phone and call the police.  Just before I entered back into the park a woman driving a white SUV pulled up and delivered our little runner.

Each month, 1,000 families are served by Clark County Community Services, providing food, clothing and other forms of assistance. To continue that level of service, Community Services is asking for a little help. The organization's largest fundraiser of the year will be this weekend at The Path on Boonesboro Road. The annual Turkey Trot 5K will begin at 9:30 a.m. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and cost is $25. Pre-registration, today and Friday, is $20 and a T-shirt is guaranteed.