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Published Thursday, October 09, 2008 in Sports
Festival to present challenge for Northgate
By Tony Jones
The Times-Herald
The Northgate High cross country program is on the road today headed to Hoover, Ala., to compete on Saturday in the Great American Cross Country Festival at Veterans Park.
The Great American Cross Country Festival is widely regarded as the most premiere meet in this region of the country.
Both boys and girls teams will be in action. The Vikings will take part in a difficult seeded race and the Lady Vikings are scheduled to run in a high level varsity girls competition.
Northgate head coach Chris Kimes talked about returning to the event. "This meet helped us get things rolling last year. It gave us a momentum boost. I'm looking for similar results this year. This is the biggest stage possible."
Kimes had hoped his teams would be a step faster at this part of the season, but has still seen promising signs in recent outings. "Our team has been gaining some exceptional race experience. I feel like our youngsters have been surging," said the Viking team leader.
Kimes hasn't done the job alone. He has a capable coaching staff that includes Diane Dombrowski, Larry Burns, and Coweta's most decorated runner, former Viking great Brett Dettmering. "We're blessed to have such a good staff. Our coaches have been encouraged concerning what they've seen and they are all eager to see us run well down the stretch of the season."
Each team is allowed to enter seven participants in Saturday's elite competition. The Lady Vikings will send out Hannah Gray, Hannah Dorsey, Chelsea Beach, Erica Lowery, Quadierer Crafton, Katie Mason, and Brooke Hendrix.
The Vikings will be represented by Bret Eady, Brett Behrmann, Trent Golay, Mitch Etheridge, Mark Livingston, Tim Raymond, and Michael Cavanah.
Half of the Great American Cross Country Festival is contested on trails that mainly involve crushed gravel. Another segment of the race is run underground in a tunnel.
The most challenging obstacle to negotiate is a monster hill during the second mile that includes a steep 60 meter climb. Last year's Northgate runners said they felt like they could touch the ground as they were climbing the hill.
Two of the most respected programs in the country will face each other in the Race of Champions as Smiths Station, Ala., and Collins Hill contend for the title.
The Newnan and East Coweta teams will travel to Zebulon on Saturday to compete in the Pike County Invitational.
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