Cross Country: Middle schoolers wrap up 2026 season while older Buffaloes ready for region, state meets

Floyd County’s Middle School Cross Country teams participated in the Oct. 7 Southwest Virginia Middle School Championship in Roanoke to finish out their 2026 season. Both the girls’ and boys’ races were 4,000-Meter Runs.

There were a total of 17 middle school runners this season, ranging from grades six to eight.

Dannan Webster finished ninth on the girls team with a time of 17:53. Audrey Rakestraw finished 15th with 18:18. Emery Tiebout’s time was 20:31, Claire Meneghini’s was 23:27, Molly Harman’s was 23:28, and Adriana Boyd’s was 31:43. 

On the boys team, Kaithon Hardin finished in 15th with a time of 16:15. Abel Yearout-Patton finished with 17:00, Brayden Schumann finished with 17:32, Cayden Stump’s time was 18:06, Parker Holfield’s time was 18:45, Max Cooney’s time was 18:46, Nahum Cantrell’s time was 18:54, Odin Proctor’s time was 19:37, Charlie Tesauro’s time was 20:50, and Mason Morris’s time was 21:13. 

Head Middle School Cross Country Coach Jon Beegle said on Facebook after the meet that he is proud of every member of this year’s team.

“From learning how to run to learning how to grow as a person and taking on challenges that seemed way too daunting to overcome, these young buffaloes showed up and ran their best races every single week,” Beegle said. 

High School Cross Country Coach Zane Moran said that both middle school teams were “among the better schools our size” during every event. He said, “... Both teams have athletes on them that should contribute to the varsity team as soon as next year.”

The high school Buffaloes still have two meets before the 2A Region Championships, which is set for Oct. 28. Moran said that the team is ready to deliver strong performances to close out the 2026 season. 

Season Recap: 

Sept. 12 — Knights Crossing XC Invitational 

During the middle school races, Dannan Webster was the first runner to finish the 4,000-Meter Run for the Floyd girls team, taking 16th overall with 17:40. Kaithon Hardin took 38th overall in the boys' run with 16:05. 

Annika Beegle finished the 5,000-Meter Run in 29th place with a time of 19:28. Natalie Dalton finished about two and a half minutes later in 136th place with a time of 21:56. 

William Moeckel was the first to finish on the boys team for the 5,000-Meter Run with a time of 16:24 in 51st place. About 30 seconds later, Trace Lewis finished in 77th overall with 16:56. 

Sept. 26 — Alleghany XC Invitational 

In the 3,000-Meter Run for the middle school girls team, Dannan Webster finished in sixth place with a time of 12:20. Audrey Rakestraw finished 12th with 12:34.

Annika Beegle finished the varsity girls’ 5,000-Meter Run in 22nd place (21:00), followed by Natalie Dalton (21:17) in 30th. 

On the JV girls’ team, Lily Hawkins placed 10th with a time of 24:49, and Ava Cockram took 14th with 25:33. Reagan Harris finished 16th, Abigail Boothe finished 17th, and Wren Heartway finished 19th. 

William Moeckel finished 28th in the varsity boys 5,000-Meter.

Sept. 30 — East Mont Invitational 

Two middle school girls finished in top 10 spots during the girls Two-Mile Run: Audrey Rakestraw finished in fifth (14:14), and Dannan Webster finished in sixth (14:15). On the middle school boys team, Kaithon Hardin finished sixth with a time of 12:25. 

Annika Beegle placed fourth in the varsity girls’ 5,000-Meter Run with a time of 21:19. In the same event, Natalie Dalton placed 12th (23:54), and Mary Ann Wriston placed 13th (23:54). 

During the varsity boys’ 5,000-Meter Run, William Moeckel placed third (18.09), followed by Trace Lewis in sixth (18:25), and Grayson Harris in 12th (19:27). 

Oct. 3 — ECE Fast Times Invitational

Annika Beegle placed third in the 5,000-Meter Run with a time of 19:20. Coach Moran said this is the second-fastest time in school history.