The Bulldogs Run At Roane State
In the WCHS Bulldogs' first season of cross country running, Coach Mark Simpson and his dogs travelled to Roane State to compete with three other schools on October 3, 2024. Blount County, Fentress County, York, and the WCHS Bulldogs all brought runners to a Roane State course that was pungent with the aroma of wild onions (yuck!). Their 3.1 miles would push the Wartburg athletes to their max and show what they were made of... So what were the highlights...
"Nothing But the Truth" Tru Scarborough
Sophomore runner "Nothing But the Truth" Tru Scarborough finished the race 6th overall. He is normally the fastest of the Bulldogs and ran a very clean, consistent race today. He started off with a measured pace and ran the course consistently the whole way through. "The Truth" almost reeled in the 5th place runner on the final stretch as he pushed and almost found the last-ditch energy to grab an extra spot. He ran a great race at 23:32 and was extremely encouraging to his teammates post-race. This shows leadership from the pack leader and lone sophomore on the team.
Marshall "Marvelous Mullet" Lively
Don't lie... we all know that famous hairstyle known as the Kentucky Waterfall.... Business in the front, Party backstage... the Mississippi Mudflap... or the Tangled Tornado? That's right - there is one Wartburg Bulldog that always rounds the turn with a glorious mullet flapping in the wind. Freshman runner Marshall Lively is a baseball player that has picked up his second sport with endurance running this year. The Marvelous Mullet ran a good run today with a solid finish of 24:30 - good enough to earn him the 8th place ribbon! To quote Joe Dirt, a fictional mullet-inspired movie character, "Keep on keepin' on, brother!"
You Good, Noah?
The third and final runner for the Bulldogs is another freshman - Noah Ward. Ward is also a dual-sport athlete adding cross country to his repertoire for the first time this year. He started out running to get in shape for basketball - but has found an enjoyment in the grind of distance running. Getting his standard allergy shots every Monday and Thursday - Ward had a wild reaction to his shots today at 3:30 PM leaving him questionable for the cross country meet with hives, full body itching, wheezing, and swelling. A quick trip to doctor and family friend Jonathan Laymance at Summit Medical Group - and Ward ended up on Benadryl, had a steroid shot, took Allegra, and even some Pepcid... and then he still had to deploy the dreaded EpiPen into his thigh on the way to the Roane State - but finally came back to Earth from the wayward reaction. You hit me with two doses of Benadryl, and I'll see you tomorrow... You hit Ward with all that a couple of hours before the meet - and he still ran a 5K - just a little slower than normal. Ward ran a 30:08 - but after a day like he had... I'm super proud and impressed. The real question is... What nickname did Ward earn today? Vote below:
Great runs for all the Bulldogs today! This has been a great season and will only get better with hard work and discipline. Big thanks to Mark and Vicki Simpson, and Ken "Starsky" Osborne. Thank you for your tireless efforts in pouring into these three athletes! Next meet is Tuesday, October 15th, in Oneida, TN. Let's Go!!!
