Record-setting senior runner Tommy Latham looks to continue dominance

Marist senior Tommy Latham was named boys' runner of the year for the third year in a row at a ceremony for the Atlanta Track Club in December. This honor came following the cross country season where Latham took the Class 4A Individual title with a 15:33.20 time.

Latham excels as a distance runner, dominating cross country in the fall and providing the Marist track and field team with the best distance runner in state history in several events. The UNC-commit has already solidified his status as one of the best cross country runners to ever come through the state of Georgia and will have an opportunity this track season to continue his dominance.

As a junior, Latham already etched his name in the state record books. During a meet in Rome last May, Latham broke the 25-year-old 1,600m state record of 4:03 and blew away the field with a 4:01.66, becoming the first Georgian to ever run under 4:02. This was on the heels of Lathams record-setting run in the 3200m where he clocked a 8:48 state record. Since Latham has already conquered the state of Georgia, his pair of state records this year puts him No. 2 and No. 22 nationally in the 1,600m and 3,200m and it is why he is one of the top-rated track and field prospects returning this season.

Latham also played an integral role in Marist's runner-up team performance last year in Class 6A, winning both distance titles along with anchoring the 4x800m relay to a runner-up finish behind Gainesville in 7:56.36.

Latham leads a Marist team filled with talent and last year the relay team broke a 14-year-old state record in the 4x1600 relay by clocking a 17:19.45. That mark snuck under the previous 2010 mark set by Brookwood over 17:20.26.The War Eagles relay team was manned by Ian Gaffney, Andrew Strickland, Liam Hanemann and Latham. Gaffneys split was 4:24.30, Strickland clocked a 4:20.97, Hanemann finished with a 4:21.26 split and then Latham closed out the state record with a blazing 4:12.88.

The record-setting performance took place at the famous Arcadia Invitational in California and Latham followed it up on Saturday just 24 hours later by breaking the state-record for the 3200 meters. The juniorwho received Gatorade Cross Country Player of the Year January clocked an 8:46.88 and edged a national field that saw a whopping 37 runners finish under the 9:00 threshold. In doing so, Latham became the first Georgia High Schooler to ever break the 8:48.00 mark. Latham split 4:25 for his first four laps, putting him exactly on pace to match the previous state record. But, picked up the pace over the final four laps and closed his split to in 4:21 to lower the record by just under four seconds.

The entire Marist Cross Country and Track and Field community is incredibly proud of Tommy, said Marist cross country coach Matt McMurray after his record-setting junior year. Hes the consummate teammate, humble, driven individual, and hes earned every bit of the success he found this season. Were grateful for how Tommy consistently represents Marist, and were very appreciative for all the Atlanta Track Club does to recognize Georgias runners."

Listed below are the top team and individual results from the cross country season.

Class 6A

Team Results

Boys 1. Denmark, 100 points; 2. West Forsyth, 132 points; 3. Harrison, 153 points

Girls 1. Marietta, 83 points; 2. North Gwinnett, 107 points; 3. Harrison, 109 points

Individual Results

Boys 1. Jackson Hogsed, Lambert, 15:42.77; 2. Dash Brackin, Carrollton, 16:04.59; 3. Clint Huggins, Harrison, 16:09.62

Girls 1. Hannah Nesmith, Marietta, 18:33.01; 2. Paige Comstock, Harrison, 18:50.01; 3. Evelyn Schlitz, Mill Creek, 19:12.81

Class 4A

Team Results

Boys 1. Cambridge, 61 points, 2. Marist, 73 points; 3. Westminster, 114 points

Girls 1. Marist, 72 points; 2. Harris County, 111 points; 3. Westminster, 123 points

Individual Results

Boys 1. Tommy Latham, Marist, 15:33.20; 2. Andrew Strickland, Marist, 16:09.06; 3. Loden Kohman, Blessed Trinity, 16:21.45

Girls 1. Regina Michel Camacho, Northview, 19:13.45; 2. Lucy Johnson, Westminster, 19:20.68; 3. Harriet Blaha, Pace Academy, 19:23.61

Class 3A

Team Results

Boys 1. Oconee County, 54 points; 2. North Hall, 68 points; 3. Jefferson, 97 points

Girls 1. North Hall, 34 points; 2. Dawson County, 122 points; 3. Oconee County, 131 points

Individual Results

Boys 1. Wyatt Windham, Lumpkin County, 15:56.39; 2. Aaron Brodrick, Oconee County, 16:07.14; 3. Bryant Young, North Hall, 16:20.55

Girls 1. Clodagh OBryant, North Hall, 20:07.90; 2. Summer Muxlow, North Hall, 20:09.63; 3. Evie Robinson, Heritage-Catoosa, 20:25.41

Class 2A

Team Results

Boys 1. East Jackson, 55 points; 2. KIPP, 92 points; 3. Crisp County, 153 points

Girls 1. Savannah Arts, 34 points; 2. Columbus, 37 points; 3. Union County 175 points

Individual Results

Boys 1. Evan Osias, Laney, 17:15.15; 2. Hayden Hodges, East Jackson, 17:32.83; 3. Nate Harris, Hart County, 17:49.46

Girls 1. Olivia DiQuattro, Columbus, 19:41.92; 2. Leah Nyce, Savannah Arts, 20:24.76; 3. Lolo Hunter, Union County, 20:54.79

Class A Division II

Team Results

Boys 1. Georgia Military, 65 points; 2. Atlanta Classical, 70 points; 3. Furlow Charter, 100 points

Girls 1. Atlanta Classical, 36 points; 2. Furlow Charter, 96 points; Lake Oconee Academy, 122 points

Individual Results

Boys 1. Julian Council, Georgia Military, 17:40.27; 2. Grady Meier, Georgia Military, 18:05.20; 3. Jack Kalamanowicz, Lake Oconee Academy, 18:05.20

Girls 1. Averi Lowen, Bowdon, 17:52.46; 2. Flora Tyler, Atlanta Classical, 21:13.89; 3. Kenzie Dykes, Lake Oconee Academy, 22:16.69

Boys Class of 2025 Recruits

Sidi Nijie- Westlake (Georgia)
Sprints #2 Rating 97
Luke Stradley- Etowah (Florida)
Jumps #6 Rating 97
Maurice Gleaton Jr.- Hughes (Georgia)
Sprints #9 Rating 96
Tommy Latham- Marist (UNC)
Distance #12 Rating 95
Dalen Penson- Sandy Creek (Georgia Tech)
Jumps/Hurdles #30 Rating 90
Keayari Thompson-North Atlanta (Mississippi State)
Sprints/Mid-Distance #42 Rating 88
Jared Moore- Starrs Mill (Arkansas State)
Throws #59 Rating 87
Vincent Nnanna- Alpharetta (Uncommitted)
Hurdles #85 Rating 86
Zachary Morgan- Morrow (Uncommitted)
Sprints #86 Rating 86
Billy Cunningham- Richmond Hill (Uncommitted)
Jumps #129 Rating 85
Jeremiah Madison- Heritage-Conyers (Uncommitted)
Jumps #184 Rating 84
Joseph Williams-Alpharetta (Uncommitted)
Hurdles #229 Rating 84

Girls Class of 2025 Recruits

Marianna Wright- Monroe (Uncommitted)
Hurdles/Sprints #77 Rating 86
Danayja Haper Westlake (Uncommitted)
Hurdles #97 Rating 85
Sydney Glee Woodward Academy (Uncommitted)
Hurdles #98 Rating 85
Madeline Cooper- Drew Charter (Georgia)
Hurdles/Sprints #99 Rating 85
Oluwatosin Awoleye- South Cobb (Uncommitted)
Mid-Distance #100 Rating 85
Zoe Ziglor- Harrison (Uncommitted)
Hurldes #139 Rating 84
Madison Townsend- Westminster (Uncommitted)
Pole Vault #140 Rating 84
Kenzie Henderson- Oglethorpe County (Uncommitted)
Jumps #185 Rating 83
Taylor Gullatte- Woodward Academy (Uncommitted)
Sprints #186 Rating 83
Keira Beaumont- North Cobb (Uncommitted)
Sprints #245 Rating 82