KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Race #3 of the Tennessee High School Cycling League season took place in Knoxville, Tennessee Sunday at a new flow trail recently completed in the city’s Urban Wilderness area.
Going into Sunday’s race, the Marshall County High School Mountain Bike Team was in first place in team standings and with 15 podium finishes in Knoxville, the team still holds onto its first place position. Of the 15 podium spots, the Marshals took the top spot in first in six of eight races.
Starting with the Varsity races, Carson Beckett and Karson Grizzard crossed the finish in first, Audrey Grizzard took first in the JV girl’s race, McKenzie Tack and Jaron Wood won the Sophomore races and the Freshman boy’s race was won by Bobby Jones.
Grizzard won comfortably in her Varsity girl’s race while in the Varsity boy’s race, Kyle Tiesler of Harpeth Youth Composite and Simon Lewis of Williamson City Composite hung tight onto the wheel of Beckett through the first six laps before he was able to open up a gap on the final two laps.
The JV boy’s race was close throughout with a sprint finish between Isaac Bayer and Christian Brothers School’s Matthew Slavick. Slavick crossed in first with Bayer taking second and just behind them, Marshall County captured the next three places with third going to Bailey Mohler, Travis Tack in fourth and Colton Adrian took fifth.
The JV girl’s race was close throughout in a battle between Marshall’s Audrey Grizzard and Karlee Jones going first and second.
McKenzie Tack and Victoria Alexander took the top two spots in the Sophomore girl’s race and for the Sophomore boys, Jaron Wood and Independent rider Mason Schofield were neck and neck throughout the race with Wood taking the win in a sprint finish.
Also in the Sophomore race, Parker Jennings broke a chain just yards before the finish, running his bike across the line to beat out Williamson City Composite rider Jack Major for fourth. Alex Parker placed eighth for the Marshals in the Sophomore race.
Bobby Jones and Grant Wilson took the top two spots in the Freshman boy’s race, Andrew Coleman placed 11th and Kyle McClain 19th. McClain suffered a mechanical issue mid-way through his final lap and ran his bike to the finish.
Alyssa McClain, a sixth grader riding in the Freshman girls division, battled for five laps with Independent rider Peyton Poulos with Poulos getting the win at the line.
Clay Austin had the best time in the Boy’s 7th/8th grade Middle School race as well as good races from Kaleb Cosby, Jaxon Story, Carson Denfip, Joseph Roberts and Kaden Jameson. Gracie Barrett competed in the girl’s 6th-8th race, part of a field of 44 total Middle School riders who are the future of the high school cycling league.
The final race of the season and State Championship will be held at St. Andrews Sewanee on November 8th. This will be the final race for Marshall County seniors Karson Grizzard, Karlee Jones, Carson Beckett and Justice Beal.
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