McCallie's Varsity Cross Country Team opened its season with a strong second-place finish at the Knights Crossing Invitational held in Roanoke, Va.
The meet featured over 60 high schools including state championship programs from North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and West Virginia. Defending North State state champions Broughton High School from Raleigh won the meet. Defending Virginia state champions and 2012 Nike National qualifier Blacksburg finished third.
Oakton High School from the DC area was fourth and Mt. Tabor from Winston-Salem finished fifth.
McCallie, the 2012 Tennessee state champion squad, was led by Derek Barnes who covered the 5K course in 15:53 to finish fifth. Ramsay Ritchie ran 15:58 in 8th place. Barnes and Ritchie were followed by teammates Dylan Carmack 18th, 16:23, Matthew Jones 21st, 16:34, Reed Oscar 28th, 16:43, Tommy Ellis 50th, 17:19 and Will Moore 60th in 17:34.
McCallie will enter runners in the Chattanooga XC Festival on Saturday at Chickamauga Dam and the varsity top 7 will race next on Sept. 28 at the McCallie Cross Country Invitational at Greenway Farm.