By MICHAEL MURRAY

AMERICUS – Hundreds of running enthusiasts from 14 different schools around Southwest Georgia descended upon the Sumter County Recreational Complex on Highway 19 on August 27 to participate in the Furlow Charter School’s (FCS) first-ever home cross country event; the FCS Fast Feet Invitational.
Runners from Americus-Sumter High School and Schley County Middle and High Schools joined athletes from Baconton Charter, Baker County, Lee County, Mt. DeSales, Pelham, Tiftarea, and Worth County to compete at the event.
The meet consisted of a five-kilometer race for high school participants and a two-mile run for the middle school athletes.
Runners from Lee County took home top honors in three of the four events at the meet, while a runner from Mt. DeSales earned a first-place finish in the girls’ 5K.
Schley County earned a second-place team finish in the middle school boys’ two-mile race and a third-place finish in the middle school girls’ division.
FCS’ Maya Winn set the pace for her teammates, earning a second-place overall finish in the middle school girls’ event.
The FCS Falcons, the Schley County Wildcats, and the Americus-Sumter Panthers’ teams will be participating in other events throughout the season, though schedules were not available at press time.