On Saturday, September 14, 2024, the Randolph Raiders competed at the Southern Showcase held at John Hunt Park, hosted by Huntsville High School. This meet, the largest of the year in terms of participants, was a challenging one for the team. Although the performance did not meet expectations, the Raiders gave their best effort.

**Varsity Boys “Blue Division” 5k**

The Varsity Boys “Blue Division” race saw tough competition on a fast course. Lucas Israel and Eli de Oliveira, typically strong runners, had difficulty finding their pace, finishing with times of 18:09 and 18:12, respectively. They placed 114th and 120th. Keaton Schroer (18:35), Wick Pfitzer (18:49), and Andrew Walker (18:53) also ran but were not close enough to make a stronger team impact. The team finished 31st out of 58 teams, not reaching their usual standard.

**Varsity Girls “Blue Division” 5k**

Anna Ragsdale had a notable run, finishing 12th with a time of 20:38 and earning a t-shirt award. Meredith Walker also had a solid performance with a finish time of 21:59. Mia Shah ran her first varsity 5k and showed promise with a time of 24:12. As a team, the girls placed 31st out of 48 teams in a field of 379 runners, reflecting their effort despite the challenges.

**Varsity Boys “Crimson Division” 5k**

In the Varsity Boys “Crimson Division” race, Mason Mackiewicz led with a time of 19:48, finishing 127th. Josh Berkholtz (20:44), Brandon Guzman (22:25), Harper Guasti (22:59), and Colin McFarland (23:29) also competed. The race was difficult, and the team faced a strong field of over 370 runners.

**Junior High Boys 2 Mile**

Tucker Lee led the Junior High Boys team with a time of 12:38, placing 41st among over 400 runners. James Ferguson finished shortly behind with 13:10. Michael Zhang, Brennan Lockwood, and AJ Bernick also participated, showing growth despite the tough conditions.

**Junior High Girls 2 Mile**

Madison Burgdorf-Burcina led the Junior High Girls team, finishing 54th with a time of 15:28. Lily Pfitzer and Kate Berkholtz also had strong runs, placing in the top half of the field. Katie Cofield (16:08), Kathryn Keller (19:05), and Addy Mae Schrimsher (20:13) completed the team’s performance.



The Raiders will next compete at the Dew it On the Trails Invitational in Decatur, AL, on Saturday, October 12, 2024, with the first race starting at 8:30 AM. The team will use the upcoming break to regroup and prepare. Follow their progress on social media: Instagram & X @RRaidersCC for updates and photos.