When the Dawson County Middle School girls cross country team began their race on Tuesday, Sept. 28, head coach Benjy Edwards challenged his team to step up and perform at their best. 

“Just the week before, we went to GIlmer and lost to Gilmer and Fannin,” Edwards said in a phone interview. “The girls have been running well all season but they were down and out after that. They wanted this big one though. So, I let the girls know what needed to happen and challenged them.” 

The team stepped up in the Mountain League Championship, winning the team title, the first race the team beat Fannin County all season. 

Eighth grader Hayden Hand, who won every individual race this season, once again won the individual title in Tuesday’s race. Addison Smith and Harper Dussouy ran in the top-five as well. Seventh grader McKenzie Adamson finished in 14th place and Maria Gloeckner finished in 21st. 

“It was incredible,” Edwards said. “A great group effort. Everybody beat their time from the very first race of the season, which was at the same course.” 

Edwards added that a banner recognizing each member of the team will hang at the DCMS gym and the Dawson County Junior High School, where the eighth graders on the team attend. 

Official times were not recorded at the race.