PREP CROSS COUNTRY: Riggs’ win leads Warriors to 2nd at tricky Titans Trail Challenge
Published 11:31 am Monday, October 6, 2014
- West Point's top five of Joey Riggs, Nick Johnson, Jesse Farrell, Nick Roman and Kyle Huffstutler show off their hardware and T-shirts from a second-place team showing at the Titans Trail Challenge Saturday. Riggs, second from right, won the varsity boys race with a time of 18:34.
GADSDEN — The West Point cross country team avoided the crowds at the Jesse Owens Classic Saturday and instead opted for the second annual Titans Trail Challenge at Noccalula Falls Park. The Warriors enjoyed the scenery and braved some “truly heartbreaking climbs” on their most difficult course to date to bring home the boys runner-up trophy behind an individual win by Joey Riggs.
Gadsden City’s Steele Beavers made a massive push at the halfway point, but Riggs didn’t bat an eyelash. The West Point junior crossed the line in 18:34, a full 14 seconds ahead of Beavers in second place.
“You can really see the benefit of the offseason work Joey put in over the summer,” Warriors coach Rob Whitesell said. “He is improving with every race.”
West Point touted three runners in the top 10 — Riggs; Nick Johnson, fifth (19:15); and Jesse Farrell, seventh (19:48). Nick Roman (18th, 21:09) and Kyle Huffstutler (24th, 21:50) accounted for the squad’s other counting scores.
The Class 5A Warriors’ 50 points were only topped by 7A Gadsden City’s 33.
Abby Wilson had West Point’s best result in the girls race with a time of 26:05. She was 17th.
