Charlestown Cross Country traveled to North Harrison Thursday evening to participate in their annual invitational.  On a beautiful/perfect day for running, the girls finished 12th out of 20 teams. The girls were lead by Junior Katie Rhodes who finished in 18th place, who also had her season best time of 21:43. We had several ladies run their person best and season best times tonight. Senior Piper Clark ran her person best in the tins of 26:09. Freshman Claire Mitchell ran her personal best in the time 23:42. Sophomore Alexis Gurr ran her season best in the time of 25:26. Junior Kelsey Lakes ran her season best in the time of 25:40. Sophomore Samantha Matthews ran her person best time in 29:18. Freshman Carley Conway struggled midway through the race, but finished strong in the time of 22:59.

The boys placed 20th out of 22 teams. The guys were lead by senior Seth Parker, who ran his season best in the time of 18:54. Senior Logan Gurr ran his personal best in the time of 21:39. Freshman Josh McCoy ran a personal best in the time of 20:20. Other season bests include senior Darian Zeis (21:06), sophomore Drashaun Morrow (20:57), junior Matt Fellows (21:35), sophomore Harrison Adams (21:59).

Charlestown High School Cross Country participated in the annual Clarksville Hokum Karem meet Tuesday evening.  The Lady Pirates placed fifth as a team, with the top three team partners counting toward the team score.  Highlight of the evening was partners Katie Rhodes and Carley Conway finishing in second place with a total time of 39:31.  Coach Doyle commented that the time was the best Charlestown time he’d since in his five years of coaching the Pirates.  Additional performances of note included Claire Mitchell and Kelsey Lakes finished 20th while receiving medals with Rhodes and Conway.  Lady Pirates Piper Clark and Alexis Gurr placed 25th for Charlestown.

The Charlestown High School Cross Country team traveled north Thursday evening and participated along with ten other local teams at the Seymour Invitational.  The Lady Pirate team, led by a 6th place finish by Freshman Carley Conway and 10th place finish by Junior Katie Rhodes finished 5th as a team; directly behind Seymour, Jeffersonville, Brownstown, and Jennings County.  The course was very sloppy with humid conditions, however the Lady Pirates performed well in their season opener.  “Being that it was our first meet of the season, the girls were nervous, but responded in a great way under tough conditions”, commented Head Coach Jerry Doyle.  The Pirates finished 9th without Seth Parker (ill); but were led in a photo finish by Freshman Josh McCoy and Sophomore Drashaun Morrow.  “It was great to have Senior Logan Gurr join us this year.  I look for the guys to keep improving as the season progresses”, concluded Coach Doyle.  Pirate and Lady Pirate Cross Country will next run at the Bulldog Classic this Saturday.

Charlestown Lady Pirate Cross Country Sophomore Katie Rhodes ran a personal best time of 20:44; to finish in Saturday’s Regional meet at Brown County in the top twenty finishers.  The top twenty finish also qualified Rhodes to her second straight Semi-State meet in her young high school career.  Rhodes will return to Brown County Saturday, October 24th for the Semi-State meet; with hopes of a top ten finish among runners from non-team qualifying teams.  Congratulations and best of luck to Katie Rhodes in Saturday’s Semi-State meet.

Additional Lady Pirate Regional finishes of note include Kelsey Lakes in 24:33.25, Alexis Gurr in 25:44.65, Erin Kimbrell in 25:59.65, Gabrielle Gagnon in 27:47.99, Isabella Golja in 29:08.11, and Molly Sumner in 31:01.19.

Pirate Cross Country Regional finishes of note include Seth Parker in 18:40.78, and Andrew Shaw in 19:06.93.

Charlestown High School Cross Country traveled to Hanover College to begin the 2015 State Tournament in the Southwestern High School sectional round Saturday.

The Charlestown girls Cross Country team finished 5th out of eight teams, just good enough to qualify as a team for next Saturday’s Cross Country Regional in Brown County.  Southwestern Sectional Qualifying teams included Jennings County (1st-50); Southwestern (Hanover) and Switerland County (tied for 2nd-70); Silver Creek (4th-82); and Charlestown (5th-133).  The Lady Pirates were lead by Sophomore Katie Rhodes, who finished the Sectional in 3rd place, with a time of 21:24.7.  Freshman Alexis Gurr finished 29th in a time of 25:12.9; Sophomore Kelsey Lakes 31st in a time of 25:25.3; Sophomore Erin Kimbrell 33rd in 25:44.0 37; Sophomore Gabrielle Gagnon 37th in 26:36.8; Junior Piper Clark 41st in 27:40.1; and Sophomore Isabella Golja 44th in 29:28.9.  Congratulations to our Lady Pirate Cross Country team and best of luck in Saturday’s Regional run.

The Charlestown boys Cross Country team finished 8th as a team; however posted respectable finishes in Saturday’s Sectional.  The Pirate Sectional results are Junior Seth Parker, 27th with a time of 11 18:41.4; Senior Andrew Shaw, 32nd in a time of 12 19:05.7; Freshman Harrison Adams, 41st in a time of 20:33.3; Junior Darian Zeis, 44th in a time of 21:11.2; Sophomore Matt Fellows, 45th in 21:39.0; and Freshman Drashaun Morrow, 46th in 21:58.4.  Congratulations to the Pirate Cross Country on their steady improvement and proud representation of Pirate Nation all season.

Congratulations to Lady Pirate Cross Country runner Katie Rhodes for placing second at the recent Mid-Southern Conference meet, also earning her All Conference Honors.  Additionally, Lady Pirate Kelsey Lakes finished 18th earning her Honorable Mention honors, while the team finished 4th overall.