Photo Courtesy of Holy Spirit Preparatory SchoolAtlanta
Holy Spirit Cross Country Team Excels, Coach Honored
Published November 10, 2011
The boys and girls cross country teams at Holy Spirit Preparatory School competed in the Oct. 25 Georgia Independent School Association Region (GISA) 1AAA Championships at the Nash Farm Battlefield, Hampton. Ryan Doyle and Hannah Meadows claimed individual honors, while both teams earned wins, and first-year coach Andrew Shanks was named Region Coach of the Year for the girls and boys.
At the GISA 1AAA state competition Oct. 29, the girls cross country team finished as state runner-up for the first time in the school’s history. With a time of 17:32, Doyle placed highest among Holy Spirit team members as the individual state runner-up recipient. The meet was held at the 5K course on the campus of Wesleyan College, Macon.
“Ryan Doyle approached the meet with prime ‘calm before the storm’ mannerisms. The boys team could sense it and they came out ready to brawl,” said Shanks. “The girls team was just that—a team. They propped each other up during hard times. When any one of them shined, they all celebrated that victory and by the end of the year they all got to celebrate together with a clean sweep at the regional meet and an amazing second place in the state meet.”