Tim Hayes

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Keyston Hartford had to settle for silver on Saturday morning, but Grundy High School’s golden runner continues to shine.

The defending VHSL Class 1 state cross country champion finished second to Christiansburg’s Max Craig in the highly anticipated boys race at the 33rd annual Bristol Cross at Steele Creek Park.

Craig pulled away in the final 400 meters in clocking in at 16:05.7, while Hartford followed with a time of 16:10.9.

“I thought I raced good, especially up the hills,” Hartford said. “I wanted to win, but you can’t always win.”

Hartford won it all last November on the campus of Virginia Tech in becoming Grundy’s first-ever male state cross country champ. He admits that the feeling is a bit different when one is on a quest to repeat.

“For sure,” Ha

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