The Oglethorpe County cross country team enters the season with a surge of participation, highlighted by the return of a full girls roster.
The Patriots fielded one runner — Elin Turner — on the girls team last season, but will compete with a six-strong roster built during the offseason. That influx, along with added depth on an already experienced boys team, brought new energy to almost-daily summer workouts across the county.
“We’ve probably done some of the hardest work I've seen with summer workouts in a long, long time,” coach Brandon Adams said. “There’s more turnout, so I’m hoping that's going to equalize into some good results.”
Utilizing roads around the courthouse, parks and the new middle school course, the team spent the summer building consistency and stamina before extreme August temperatures and humidity changed their daily routine.
The teams adjusted by moving inside to run laps through the school hallways to avoid heat-related illness.
The change, mandated by GHSA heat safety protocols, is triggered when WetBulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which factors in heat, humidity, wind and solar radiation, exceeds specific safety thresholds. Once the WBGT reaches dangerous levels, outdoor endurance training must be modified or moved out of the sun entirely.
That adaptability was necessary, but it came with tradeoffs.
Senior Priscilla Salas-Lopez noted that while hallway training eliminates the heat, the hard floors present challenges of their own.
“The hallways definitely do tend to give you shin splints more easily,” she said. “I feel like it’s better than running outside right now because it is really hot out there, I think it’s a safer option.”
Salas-Lopez didn’t run last year, but did in her freshman and sophomore years. She is one of two seniors on the team alongside Margarita Rodriguez-Valdez.
The rest of the girls roster is rounded out by four sophomores — Maleah Booth, Bessie Musimbi, Kiley Paul and Melanie Pizarro-Rojas — and freshman Reagan Turner.
“It's pretty fun having the underclassmen,” Salas-Lopez said. “They’re pretty chill to talk to, and we all get along pretty well, too. They definitely do motivate me because I’m a senior this year. I feel like I have more pressure on me to do and be better.”
Musimbi and Paul are multi-sport athletes.
Paul is on the junior varsity volleyball team, while Musimbi, who Salas-Lopez expects to be the fastest on the team, plays soccer. The remainder all have varying levels of running experience.
“Each one of those girls brings something to the team that me and coach Darrius (Tompkins) are really excited about,” Adams said.
The influx of runners is not limited to the girls team.
The boys team gained two additional runners, freshmen Wyatt Bridges and Drew Lamm.
“Whenever you add numbers, you always add competition,” Adams said. “You don’t, as an upperclassman, want somebody younger than you to come in and run at the same time or better than you.”
Their addition adds depth to a seasoned core that finished 12th at the state meet last fall.
Led by seniors Peyton Duvall, Luke Holbrooks and Josiah Young and junior John Adams, the team enters 2026 with eyes set on climbing higher in the postseason standings.
“I think this is the best team we've had in a long time,” Duvall said. “Most of the varsity runners have been practicing all summer, like consistently. I think we have a chance to win state.”
The boys are anchored by John Adams, who was sixth at state with a time of 17:23.30. Brandon Adams said John’s consistency and regiment has helped increase drive across the team.
“John runs extra on the weekends, running some in the afternoons and evenings after he already ran that morning,” Brandon said. “Things have trickled down to guys like Josiah, Luke, Peyton and Julian. I think their PRs are going to even shock them this year.”
The team’s bond expands beyond the course, however. Adams said the team plans on having team meals before meets, something the runners have already started on their own.
“That’s what I see with this group of guys and girls; I see a family,” Adams said. “Several of them after practice Friday went over to La Cabana and ate together on their own. That bond of supporting one another and helping each other through difficult times is what I think is going to make the biggest difference in everything.”
Running at home
For the first time in four years, Oglethorpe County won't have to spend its entire schedule on the road. The program constructed a dirt and grass trail at the middle school, and will host the Patriot Stars and Stripes Invitational on Oct. 3.
“I love the new course,” Duvall said. “It’s great that we have a home course finally, and I get to experience it for my senior year. I’ve never ran at a home course ever. It's definitely more difficult than the other courses that we usually run. I think it’s a state championship-level course, and it will definitely help us get better and get more motivated.”
Adams said he designed the layout to offer a balanced challenge, combining sunny stretches with shaded woods and long, rolling inclines. The layout was tested during the Fast Feet Summer Series in June.
“We got really great feedback from a lot of the runners that were and weren’t on our squad,” Adams said. “Some of the adults were talking about how much they enjoyed having a course that was all long dirt and grass, no asphalt, no hard surfaces and that the hills were tough but fair, so they really enjoyed running on it.”
The course is available to the public and the program will host a public 5K and 1-mile fun run/walk on Oct. 3 to raise funds for timing equipment and course maintenance.
“It’s very exciting,” Salas-Lopez said. “I personally haven’t run the trail yet, but I’m excited for people to come.”
The season begins at the Tallulah Falls Short Course Challenge on Saturday.
The Patriots have raced at every meet on the schedule, with one exception: the North Georgia Invitational, which has shifted to a new course at East Jackson High School.
Sectionals will be held on Oct. 31 in Rome, and the state championship meet from Nov. 6-7 in Carrollton.
“I feel like we ought to be able to bring home at least three or four out of the top 10, if not more,” Adams said.
2026 OCHS cross country schedule
Date Race
Aug. 20 at Tallulah Falls Short Course Challenge
Aug. 29 at North Georgia championships
Sept. 12 at North Oconee Titans Invitational
Sept. 19 at Apple Hawkins Invitational
Sept. 26 at Winder-Barrow Invite
Oct. 3 Patriot Stars and Stripes Invitational
Oct. 10 at North Oconee Fall Break Classic
Oct. 17 at Eagles Fall Invitational
2026 OCHS cross country roster
Boys
Name Grade
Peyton Duvall Sr.
Luke Holbrooks Sr.
Josiah Young Sr.
John Adams Jr.
Rex Allen Jr.
John Wanager Jr.
Davis Blalock So.
Jonah Burke So.
Julian George So.
Nolan Greene So.
Tristan Ruzowicz So.
Drew Lamm Fr.
Wyatt Bridges Fr.
Girls
Name Grade
Priscilla Salas-Lopez Sr.
Margarita Rodriguez-Valdez Sr.
Bessie Musimbi So.
Kiley Paul So.
Melanie Pizarro-Rojas So.
Maleah Booth So.
Reagan Turner Fr.