Cross Country Teams Perform Exceptionally

The Hayesville High School cross country teams have generally performed well at their last
six meets all over western North Carolina.
At the Hiwassee Dam meet on September 3, 2003, both the Hayesville men and
women placed first against six other teams. The course (which had changed quite a bit from
the previous year) proved extremely challenging both mentally and physically to the
runners, but nothing stopped them from working rogorously to receive a first place victory
only two points away from a perfect score.
For the men, Stephen Waters, a senior, came in first with a time of 20:20, followed by
Jacob Foster (21:01), and Marcus Keely (21:20).
The women also had a spectacular race, with Erika Walker, a junior, placing first overall
with a fantastic run and a time of 23:47. Leah Setzer came in second with 24:46 trailed by
Katlyn Gomez (25:43).
Early Saturday, September 6, the teams traveled to Western Carolina University for the
fifth meet of their season. Though the course was a fast one, the meet was more difficult
due to the number of teams that took part. The men came in eighth place against seventeen
teams and the women won fifth out of twelve.
Leah Setzer, who came in first for the HHS women, came in eighteenth overall at a
time of 21:20. Behind her finished Ashley Lear (22:04) and Katelyn Gomez (22:18).
The men’s team was led by Stephen Waters once again. He placed twenty-first overall
at 17:21. Jacob Foster followed with a time of 17:42 and Levi Gentle came in third place at
18:53.
The Hayesville High School cross country teams are certainly continuing to improve
and are well on their way to the state championship this November.