Gloucester athletes Tanner Baker and Josh Shackelford were standouts in the Foot Locker South Region Cross Country Championship Meet on Saturday in North Carolina. 

“I have coached over 30 years and have coached some very special athletes but seventh grader Tanner Baker and sophomore Joshua Shackelford are two very special athletes in the Gloucester High School Track, Field and Cross Country Club up and coming programs,” said GHS track coach John Perrin.

Baker placed 19th in a field of 163 runners in the boys 13-14 age group with a time of 17:58.4, a new personal record that made him an All-South Region performer as a seventh grader.

Shackelford, who placed sixth overall in last year’s freshman race to gain All-South honors and membership on the championship Virginia freshman team, competed this year in the boys’ championship race rather than the sophomore race. He posted a time of 16:11.9, faster than the sophomore race winner. There were only three sop...