Lady Pioneers win at Community

Photo provided - Emma Woodlee, left, and Jolene Meadows each won medals at Community Wednesday.

The WCHS cross country team got its season started with a championship performance Wednesday afternoon at the Community High School Trail Run.

The Lady Pioneers placed five runners inside the top 15 to capture the girls team title with 47 points, comfortably ahead of runner-up Lincoln County with 75 and third-place Cornersville with 118.

Leading the way was Emma Woodlee. The two-time state qualifier opened her season with a runner-up finish, completing the course in 23:14. Woodlee was one of two Lady Pioneers in the top five as Jolene Meadows turned in a strong opening performance of her own, taking fifth in 25:26.

Warren County's depth helped put the team title away. Gracee O'Neal finished 12th in 27:15, Claire Randall was right behind her in 13th at 27:57 and Marylou Margeson rounded out the Lady Pioneers' five scoring positions by taking 15th in 28:14.

Caroline Douglas finished 20th in 30:06 and Olivia Rhea was 21st in 30:43, giving Warren County seven runners among the first 21 finishers.

“Great first race of the season. Ready for Coffee County now,” said coach Kelsea Turner.

The Pioneer boys also got their first taste of competition Wednesday. Lucas Rhea paced Warren County with a 19th-place finish in 22:33, while Zaydon Lavvorn was close behind in 22nd with a time of 22:59. Warren County also had three more runners finish in the top 60 as the Pioneers began building toward the rest of their fall schedule.

Warren County will get more than a week to prepare for its next competition, with the Pioneers and Lady Pioneers scheduled to run again Aug. 31 at Coffee County.