ATLANTA — Three members of Covington’s Peachtree Academy cross country and track team found a popular way to stay in running shape for the soon coming cross country season. 

Freshman Alexa Anderson, sophomore Isabella Hipps and junior Emma Wichita all competed in the July 4 Atlanta Journal Constitution Peachtree Road Race — a 6.2 mile race held each Fourth of July. 

The Peachtree trio was among close to 60,000 participants in this year’s race, and then joined by Rowland Jackson, a junior member of the Panthers’ boys cross country team. 

When cross country season begins shortly after the start of the 2017-18 school year — and the track and field season later — all four athletes will look to bolster the Panthers’ teams. Anderson will compete in the 1600 and 3200 meters, Wilhite runs the 400 meter and 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays during the track season and Hipps specializes in the 400 and 800 meters, as well as the 4x100 relay. 

For the boys, Jackson 800, 1600 and 3200 meters in track. 

It was Anderson’s fifth time running the Peachtree, and that’s after six times competing in the Junior Peachtree. Despite the extreme heat during the day, all the runners said the opportunity to compete in the Road Race was a good way to stay competitive during the summer months.