Five named to All-Area Cross Country First Team
By Tannika King - Faculty
Five members of the varsity cross country team earned Rome News-Tribune All-Area First Team Honors, with Alan Parish earning Coach of the Year.
Baker, who was named Co-Runner of the Year, won the City County Meet, the Region 6A meet and the Darlington Festival meet. Along the way, he broke the 20-year-old school record and finished 13th at the Class A meet. He was a key leader on the Region 6A championship team and led the Tigers to their best finish at state, 6th, in several years. He is the son of Patty and Phil Baker of Rome.
Cam Collins, a senior, finished 3rd at the City County meet, 10th at Region and 54th at State. He is the son of Rozanne and Forrest Collins of Calhoun, Ga.
Lindsay Evans, a senior, placed 3rd at Region, marking the fourth-straight year she placed in the top 3 at the Region meet. She also finished 26th at State. She is the daughter of Candi and Kevin Evans of Rome.
Lauren Hooper, a freshman, finished 4th in the City County meet but saved her best run of the season for last when she placed 10th at State. She was one of only two local individuals to record a top 10 at State. She is the daughter of Sherri and Gene Hooper of Rome.
Ansley McDurmon, a senior, won the Region title for the third time in her career and won the Darlington Festival meet. She finished 3rd in the City County meet and 11th at State. She is the daughter of Heather and Kelly McDurmon of Rome.
In addition, four Darlington students were named to All-Area Second Team.
Bethany Cagle, a sophomore, was 5th at the City County meet, 10th at Region and 41st at State. She is the daughter of Hillary and Haven Thomas of Rome and Larry Cagle, also of Rome.
Kinslee Clevenger, one of only two freshman on Darlington's team, recorded a 9th place finish at the City County meet, a 5th place finish at Region and a 21st place finish at State. She is the daughter of Gina and Lee Clevenger of Rome.
Alex Cox, a junior, recorded a 10th place finish at the City County meet, a 9th place finish at Region and a 55th place finish at State. He is the son of Sunny and John Cox of Rome.
Avery Cypress, a sophomore, was another core runner for the Tigers. He placed 11th at Region and 62nd at State. He is the son of Cornell Cypress of Atlanta and Sybil Cypress, also of Atlanta.
