Rutherford County runner places in Highland Games

A Union Mills athlete placed in the 67th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland games in Linville.

Garry Ankrom, Jr. said it was his first year to participate in the games and had no idea a person could simply sign up and compete in the games.

Ankrom, his parents and sister were among the thousands attending the Highland Games recently when he discovered he could participate that very day just by signing up to compete.

"I had just graduated in May and ran a marathon and had taken some time off of running since," he said. "But when we were there, I saw you could sign up and race, so I did," he said.

Ankrom also tried triple jumping and long jumping for the first time. He placed third in the triple jump, third in the 800 meter and he placed fourth in the 400 meter and the long jump.

In high school, Ankrom ran track at R-S Central and continued running track at Gardner-Webb University.

At home here in Rutherford County, he runs approximately three miles every day when he's not at his job as a cadet at the Forest City Police Department where he works in administration. He will enroll in the Basic Law Enforcement Training class at Isothermal Community College soon to become an officer.

For participating athletes, the Highland Games offer a chance to display their talents at a culturally significant event that has been in place at Grandfather Mountain's MacRae Meadows for several decades.

The 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games took place July 6-9. To learn more about the Highland Games, visit www.gmhg.org.