Gadsden, Ala.-The Gadsden State Community College cross country team hosted the Alabama Community College Conference (AACC) Region XXII state championship meet, and dashed to the top of the leader board winning the 2009 state title. This was the eighth state championship win and the second win in five years for the Lady Cardinals.
Gadsden State won the 5k race by scoring 20 points. Bevill State finished in second place with a score of 43 and Southern Union rounded out third place with a score of 82. All eight Lady Cardinals finished in the top twelve places for the race and six finished in the top seven. Jessie Phillips and Sarah Burke of Anniston placed second and third. Phillips finished with a time of 23:24 and Burke followed with a time of 24:08.
Leigha Blake of Cedar Bluff and Megan Ivey of Ashville took fourth and fifth places respectively with a score of 24:14. Olivia Mobley of Piedmont placed sixth scoring 24:21 and Sarah Weideman of Alexandria finished in seventh place with a score of 24:29. Allie Blackstone of Glencoe took ninth place scoring 25:17 and Hannah Hutcheson of Piedmont finished twelfth with a score of 26:52.
Cross Country Coach, Jim Pitchford, said that the girls went into the race with amazing spirit and inspiration to win. He said the team was full of enthusiasm for the meet and showed it by painting their faces, wearing bright knee-high socks and tying funky ribbons in their hair. “They have made this whole season exhilarating by bringing great attitudes, tenacity and an incredible sense of fun to the team,” Pitchford said. “I am very proud of them!”
Coach Pitchford was also named ACCC Coach of the Year. This was Pitchford second time to win the award since becoming head coach in 2001. “It is always rewarding to win Coach of the Year. We have worked hard all year and it is an overwhelming victory for us,” Pitchford said.
The cross country team advanced to the National Junior College Athletic Association Meet held November 14 in Peoria, Illinois where they placed 33rd. More than 50 teams participated and 250 runners competed in the 5-kilometer championship event. Central Arizona Community College won the national championship.
Sarah Burke was Gadsden State’s top finisher with a 179th place in a time of 23:05. Burke was followed by Jessie Phillips (188), Megan Ivey (193), Olivia Mobley (194), Leigha Blake (219), Hannah Hutcheson (216), and Allie Blackstone (217).
Cardinal Coach Jim Pitchford said that the team ran as well as they had all year and that representing Gadsden State at the national meet would give his freshman great experience and motivation to get back to next year’s meet in Spartanburg, SC.