Alabama racer takes top spot at Bonita Lakes Harescramble
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 19, 2024
- Eli Jones, of Florence, Alabama, kicks up red dirt on the track as he makes his way around the course at the Bonita Lakes Harescramble on Saturday, finishing in third place in the schoolboy division for ages 12 to 15.
More than 300 riders turned out for a day of racing Saturday at Meridian OHV Park for the Southeast Cross Country Association Bonita Lakes Harescramble.
Last week’s rainy weather, including Friday’s downpour, made the sand and dirt perfect in the trails, said David Melton, a co-owner of SECCA racing. Despite chilly morning temperatures, sunny skies made for a great race day.
Located on more than 800 acres, Meridian OHV Park is a members only off-road park located on Lakeview Golf Course Road in south Lauderdale County. Courses range in distance from one mile for the peewee riders to more than eight miles for the adult racers.
The scramble drew racers — ranging in ages from 4 to over 60 — from all over Mississippi and Alabama, as well as from Tennessee and Georgia. Five races were held at the park throughout the day on Saturday with the first starting at 8:30 a.m.
SECCA racing has been coming to Meridian since 2011 when the series originated, Melton said. Meridian Motorcycle Association members put together the course at the park and work the event. SECCA organizes the race and oversees signing up racers, scoring the event and presenting awards.
The Bonita Lakes Harescramble is Round 3 of the SECCA’s 2024 season, which will include 12 races. Round 1 took place in Waterloo, Alabama, in February and Round 2 was held in Plantersville, Alabama, on March 2. The next round will be held in Prattville, Alabama, in April. Miller Creek in Pontotoc and Twin Lakes in Water Valley are the only two other Mississippi off-road trails to host SECCA season events.
Colby Yarbrough, of Billingsley, Alabama, finished in first place overall at the Bonita scramble. He took first in Round 1 and second in Round 2. Evan Chisolm, of Heidelberg, finished second. Zane Williams, of Childersburg, Alabama, finished third after placing seventh and sixth, respectively, in the first two rounds. Trent Whisenant of Tanner, Alabama, finished in fourth place after landing in fourth place in Round 1 and fifth in Round 2. Austin Anz of Stanton, Alabama, rounded out the top 5.
Complete results from the race can be viewed, along with future events, at seccaracing.com/race-results.
