Lakeside takes 2nd straight win

After the 15th installment of the Rogers Cup had been completed Thursday, Atom Young was the designated awards runner for Lakeside's JROTC Raider team.

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After two days of grueling physical competition, Young's last task was a workout.

Lakeside's male division team swept all six events of the Rogers Cup, winning the overall competition for a second straight year after Evans had won it the first 13 years. The competition included map reading, rope bridge, physical fitness, obstacle course, cross country rescue and a 2-mile run. Lakeside's co-ed team also took first.

Hepzhibah won the female competition as the lone school fielding an all-girls team.

The event included teams from Lakeside, Evans, Richmond Academy, Hephzibah and Harlem.

The winning team earns a year's worth of bragging rights, something Lakeside has enjoyed after being on the wrong end the first 13 years of the competition.

"The kids get really fired up about it," Lakeside coach Timothy McKean said. "When you get beat down so many times, it feels good to come out on top."

Lakeside wrapped up its win with a winning time of 17:18 in the male division of the 2-mile run. The team included Young, a standout on the Panthers cross country team. McKean said the team's focus in preparation was on running, since it was a key part of many of the six events.

"It was a lot better than I expected," he said.

The Rogers Cup serves as a season-opener for area Raider teams, with a statewide competition held at the end of October and a national competition a week later.

Rogers Cup started as a competition between Lakeside and Evans, but has grown to include other area schools.