TONY STINNETT
Tuesday, September 25, 2012 11:54 am

SMYRNA - Cannon County's cross-country teams continued to build momentum with exemplary performances at the Sharp Springs Invitational in Smyrna.

Both teams finished third in their respective silver division classes. The Lionettes finished with 94 points, nine behind second-place Blackman (85). Hume-Fogg won the meet with 61 points. The Lionettes finished ahead of Gallatin (101), Livingston Academy (144) and Tullahoma (156), among others.

Freshman Elva Magana continued her smashing season, leading the Lionettes and finishing third overall with a time of 22:36.13. Macy Clements was 14th overall and second on the squad. Magana and Clements medaled for their efforts.

Cannon County's boys also turned in another stellar effort, led by Jordan Turney's Top 10 finish. Turney finished third overall and led the Lions with a time of 18:02.66. The Lions totaled 78 points, nine behind second-place Merrol Hyde Magnet School(69) and 24 behind first-place Gallatin (54).
Turney, Jake Burdick and Devan Burgess medaled for the Lions.

Cannon County Head Cross-Country Coach Marc Larson said the team's success is not by accident.
"The success of these runners in a culmination of choices they have made to work hard beginning last winter," Larson said. "This is not a sport that any runner can choose to do in the fall. It is a year-long commitment and these kids love to run."

Cannon County has enjoyed consistent success this season and the squad is about to get even better. Hannah Faulkner, who led the Lionettes and reached the Class A/AA State Tournament as a freshman in 2011 and returned to the squad for the first time this week. On the boys side, Marshall McReynolds has been out all fall and his return will add quality depth to an already deep lineup.

"Hannah and Marshall have been through weeks of rehabilitation," Larson said. "Both will be around 80 percent but it is important they get some races under their belts before the region at Chattanooga (Oct. 25)."

Cannon County has performed well without two of its top runners and continued to produce competitive results at the Sharp Springs Invite.

In addition to Turney's third-place finish, Burdick was 12th with a time of 18:57.95, and Burgess was 12th with a 19:03.45. Clay Luker (31, 20:33.47), TJ Paul (37, 20:54.94), Will Bailey (48, 21:58.75) and Josh Williams (59, 23:18.80) were amongst the Lions' leaders. Paul's 20:54.94 was a personal best. Jacob Fisk, John Lenzy House, Arron Smith and Ethan Bryson also produced personal bests during the Sharp Springs Invitational.

The Lionettes also continued their impressive showing. Not only did Magana and Clements medal, but Jessica Elmy (32, 25:56.89), Madison Walkup (35, 26:12.43), Sarah Hickman (36, 26:16.47), Lauren Turney (38, 26:26.11) and Katie Hickman (39, 26:29.12) factored into the positive finish for the Lionettes. Autumn King registered a personal best.