Lola Reynolds and Ava Wilson finish 6th and 7th, a big reason Tift's Lady Devils won their own meet in 2022.

TIFTON — On your mark, get set for the 22nd annual Tift Invitational. Tift County High will host the race Saturday, Sept. 30 at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

The high school girls meet will begin at 8 a.m. High school boys, middle school girls and middle school boys will follow. Awards will be held for high school and middle school portions, with the high school’s taking place while the middle school runners are on the course.

Tift County head coach Cindy Marzen said the Invitational will be similar to previous years. Kona Ice will sell treats and gear will be available from Tifton’s Best Running and Eagle Sportz.

Marzen said a favorite of the meet will be back: Trail horses. They have been used to lead the way for runners on the course.

This is expected to be a big race with many, many area teams coming in. Locals Tift County, Tiftarea Academy and Providence have signed up as have schools from Valdosta, Lowndes, Turner County, Thomasville, Thomas County Central, Lee County, Irwin County, Fitzgerald, Berrien, Cook, Bainbridge, Coffee and many, many others.