Heather Feuchtenberger and the rest of her Elizabethton High School teammates are no strangers to the racing scene at Doe River Gorge.
Led by the senior’s 21:54 first place finish, the Lady Cyclones finished with a team total of 18 points to secure the Three Rivers Conference cross country girls championship Thursday afternoon in Hampton. Thursday’s championship marked the second year in a row that the Lady Cyclones won the event.
The name of the game was to stay aggressive, according to EHS head coach Mark Newman, who added he liked what he saw from both his boys and girls team, especially they’re ability to bust through pacts on the course.
“We saw the scores with the girls and they were able to do that,” EHS head coach Mark Newman said. “Our guys, they really stepped in there, too. I’m very proud of both of our teams.”
It was a perfect swan song for a final home race, Feuchtenberger said.
“I’m just extremely excited,” Heather added with a smile after the race. “Technically, I guess, you could call it our home course since we created it. We love to come here, we love to practice here, it’s so gorgeous here. I thought we all brought a positive mindset today. We just love this course, all the teams that come out. It’s such a great opportunity to come out and just race.”
Fans in attendance saw an orange blur come across the finish line with three of the top four finishers donning the Cyclones’ black and orange.
Sophomore Lauren Pilkton finished second with a time of 22:28 and was followed closely by senior Maci Shell, who finished with a time of 22:40.
Randi Feuchtenberger and Julia Schubert also tallied top 10 finishes, clocking in at 24:02 and 25:56, respectively.
Heather was quick to sing the praises of her teammates’ hard work and dedication.
“It really shows how hard we work,” she said about each of her teammates finishing in the top 10. “It shows how hard everyone works to win and the attitude everyone has for each race.”
EHS had a bevy of upperclassmen exiting the program next year, but Thursday provided a good insight for the future, according to the head coach.
“I’m losing four seniors next year,” Newman said about the Lady Cyclones. “It’s going to be tough to replace them, they’re all so viable. But Lauren is coming along great. She’s just a sophomore so we got her around a little bit longer and Julia is a junior so we’ll have her back. I’m just proud of each of their efforts today.”
The Cyclones finished second as a team on the boys side of competition with Ethan Field leading the way in fourth place with a time of 19:35.
“Ethan Fields really stepped up there with a top four finish, Newman said.
Nick Street and Corbin Hazelwood also turned in top 15 performances with times of 20:39 and 20:42, respectively.
Newman added he liked what he saw out of Street, a football player, and Hazelwood, with the Cyclones’ boys not losing any upperclassmen next year.
Happy Valley head coach Matt Estep saw Chelsa Arnold also come it with a top 12 finish with a time of 27:46, respectively.
Three Rivers Conference teams will compete for bids to the upcoming TSSAA state competition on Thursday, Oct. 27, at the regional races held at Daniel Boone High School. The girls are scheduled to run at 1 p.m. with the boys to follow at 1:45 p.m.