(by Don Meador, Allen County Schools, November 6, 2019)
Allen County-Scottsville High School eighth grader James Tyler Stanger burst
onto the state cross country scene last weekend with a 16th place finish at the
Kentucky High School Athletic Association Class 2A Cross Country Championships
at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.
Stanger---an eighth grader from the James E. Bazzell Middle School---covered the 5K course in a time of 17:14.28. Stanger was less than four seconds away from a top 15 finish and podium recognition. Stanger’s time reflected a 28 second drop from his regional run time of 17:42.99.
Ryan Maynard from Taylor County recorded a time of 16:14.25 to win
individual honors in the event. The field included 251 runners.
AC-SH junior Tad Kolton Taylor also participated in the state meet and
placed 62nd in the field. Taylor posted a time of 18:10.75, almost identical to
his state qualifying time from the regional meet on October 26.
Sunday, the Kentucky Track Cross Country Coaches Association (KTCCA)
announced their 2019 All-State Award winners. Stanger was selected as a member
of the team, the lone eighth grade to make the list of the top runners in the
Commonwealth.