Hartsville rising senior Jaclyn Warden talks about competing in the Down Under Games in Australia in a day-by-day journal. (Photo by Ben Hovis, https://nc.milesplit.com)
Don't miss out on a chance of a lifetime. A trip to Hawaii & Australia with Down Under Sports will be a trip you will never forget.
Nine NC athletes, one SC athlete, and one GA traveled together and represented their respective states and Team Carolina over the past week and half in Australia. Leslie Pence(top left) places 4th among Americans and 10th overall in International Race. Rebecca Sweeney(top right) led girls to team victory in All-American race placing 10th overall. If you have interest in either competing in track or cross country next please contact me at ben.hovis@providenceday.org
Four Virginians competed in the Down Under Games in Australia this past month with a large group of high school cross country runners across the country. Two athletes in particular performed very well in the United States vs. Australia 5K race this past week in Brisbane, Australia. Andre McLean of L.C. Bird High School (Chesterfield, Va.) and Phillip Blankenship of Kempsville High School (Virginia Beach, Va.) both placed in the top 10 individually. McLean (pictured right by Ben Hovis), a rising senior, finished fourth overall as the third American finisher in a time of 16:46. Blankenship, a recent graduate, finished eighth overall in a time of 17:02. In an earlier race with only American runners on the trip which also made a pit-stop in Hawaii, Blankenship finished ahead of McLean in 6th place at a time of 16:43. Also running in the Down Under Games from Virginia were Tony McBride of Spotsylvania and Bennett Witcher of Lord Botetourt. The track & field portion of the Down Under Games were held earlier this month in which a total of 7 Virginian preps competed in the event. The top individual performer from Virginia was Green Run's Monica Williams who won the 400 meter dash for her age division in 57.16 and finished third in the 200 meter dash in 25.56. Interview with Andre McLean Down Under Games - US vs. Australia Race Down Under Games - All-American Race
