Grant Union Junior High Runners Shine at Catherine Creek Meet

Our Grant Union Jr./Sr. High School junior high cross country runners enjoyed a successful meet at Catherine Creek, where perfect weather and a true campground trail created a memorable day of competition. Before returning to courses across manicured golf course lawns, town streets and sidewalks, the Prospectors embraced a rugged 2.5-kilometer route and the adventurous spirit of cross country.

Every Grant Union runner who competed finished with another personal best for the 2.5K course. Although the distance differed from the previous week’s race, our athletes showed up ready to work and ran hard throughout the day. They navigated exposed root systems, mud pits, countless rocky patches, uneven ground and soggy grass, meeting each challenge with determination.

Several strong performances highlighted the meet. Ezra Randleas earned 14th place in the combined sixth-grade race, while Blaine James was Grant Union’s first finisher in the seventh- and eighth-grade boys race with a new personal-best time of 11 minutes, 23 seconds. Shayann Gosnell led the Grant Union junior high girls, crossing the finish line in 12:26.

Just as impressive as the results was the support our runners gave one another. They cheered for every teammate and shared encouragement through the course’s most difficult sections, showing the pride and team spirit that define our program. We look forward to seeing each runner continue to improve, remain dedicated and discover even more joy in the run.