Deerfield-Windsor cross-country claims Region 3-AAA titles with record-breaking day

ALBANY – On the first chilly day of fall in southwest Georgia, the Deerfield-Windsor cross-country teams delivered a record-setting performance at the Region 3-AAA championship meet at Albany State West on Wednesday. Under sunny skies with brisk temperatures, the Lady Knights claimed the top three spots in the girls’ race, while the boys secured six of the top ten, rewriting the record books in the process.

Sophomore Macy Hatcher led the way for the Lady Knights, breaking the 20-minute barrier for her first time with a personal best of 19:59.51, a time that now ranks sixth in Deerfield-Windsor history. Hatcher’s milestone performance set the tone for the team.

She was followed closely by teammates Sophie Logan, who took second, and Molly Fuller in third place. With Emily Rutledge finishing seventh and Sydney Daniel eighth, the Lady Knights dominated the race with 21 points. Tiftarea finished second with 75 points, while Brookwood took third with 84.

Anna Kate Miller of Terrell Academy claimed fourth place overall.

On the boys’ side, Ethan Newsome and Whatley Fountain finished first and second, with Newsome’s time of 16:13.29 ranking as the third-fastest ever recorded by a Deerfield-Windsor runner. Fountain, who finished just two seconds behind Newsome, shattered the school’s freshman record by an impressive 45 seconds. Mangham Pippin followed in fourth with a personal best of 17:26.12, while Mills Cothren also posted a career-best time, finishing ninth in 18:59.90.

Jack Moore’s fifth-place finish was his best of the year after foot surgery and the Knights secured the boys’ team title with 21 points, well ahead of second-place Brookwood with 35 points, and Tiftarea in third with 80.

Both the Knights and Lady Knights now turn their focus to the state championship meet, set for next Saturday at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon.

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