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SBS Runners Shine at the Soaring Eagle Invitational

SBS Runners Shine at the Soaring Eagle Invitational

The highly anticipated Soaring Eagle Invitational kicked off early on Saturday, September 28, on the beautiful grounds of the Second Baptist Church West Campus. As this meet is an annual event, it holds special significance for the team, who eagerly looks forward to it each year.

Head Coach Jim Stevens shared his excitement, saying, “There is always a heightened level of energy when a team hosts a home meet. I believe our student athletes felt an extra push to perform their best on home turf.”

This was evident in the outstanding performances of many Second Baptist School runners, highlighted by Sara Griffin’s ‘27 impressive ninth-place finish, followed closely by Taylor Zimmerman ‘27 in tenth. Four personal records were set by first-year and returning cross country runners, contributing to the varsity women’s team's fourth-place overall finish.

The varsity men’s race also saw remarkable results, with personal records achieved by Warren Osowski ‘28, Carter Kimble ‘27 and Owen Rancher ‘27. Captain Sara Griffin expressed her satisfaction, saying, “The race couldn’t have gone better. I was hoping for a confidence boost and increased team spirit from this meet, and both hopes were realized.” She added that she’s proud of the team’s progress and believes they are becoming “the runners I know they can be.”

Coach Stevens echoed this sentiment, noting, “SBS runners are expected to compete with great effort and strive for personal improvement every day. Under the leadership of junior captains Sara Griffin, Carson Ford ‘26 , Sophia Tarazona ‘26 and Owen Osowski ‘26, our runners are seeing the results of their dedication and hard work.”

Director of Athletics Mike Walker reflected on the success of the event, saying, “The Soaring Eagle Invitational is especially rewarding because of the unique nature of cross country. Athletes, families and teams arrived as early as 6:30 a.m., and the event runs until noon. The competition featured athletes ranging from varsity runners with state championship ambitions to middle school students participating in the one-mile open race for the first time.” He continued, “The SBS cross country program is a dedicated group of hard-working athletes with a strong bond. They train daily to set personal records and contribute to the team’s success. 

A big thank you to the athletes, coaches and families who helped make the 2024 Soaring Eagle Invitational an amazing event.”

Soaring Eagle Invitational Photos