HAZLEHURST — Brantley County High School kicked off the 2026 cross-country season participating in the annual Peach State Preview hosted by Jeff Davis with 20 schools and 420 runners across the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
The Lady Herons only had three runners (need five for a team score) compete in the Saturday, August 15 event covering 5,000 meters. Klara Barnes (23:45.50) finished 30th in the field of 155 runners. Amber Capps (37:40.60) placed 147th. Cheryl Tencza did not finish.
Four-time Class A DI champion Bleckley County outran the 17team girls’ field finishing with 67 points. The Lady Royals’ Lily Farrell posted the winning time of 18:14.80.
Two Region 3-AAA members also competed with Islands of Savannah finishing 12th with 297 points while Toombs County placed 16th with 466 points.
The Herons finished 16th in the field of 20 teams totaling 400 points. Bleckley County made it a clean sweep with the two-time defending Class A DI Royals easily outdistancing the field with 41 points. They had all five qualifiers finish in the top 17 spots.
Bleckley County was followed by Jones County (92 points), Grovetown (118), Vidalia (140), Glynn Academy (191), Coffee (212), Long County (235), host Jeff Davis (240), Warner Robins (241) and West Laurens (242) in the Top 10.
Rounding out the field were Brunswick (290), Region 3 mate Tattnall County (332), Camden County (335), Region 3 mate Islands (339), Region 3 mate (Toombs County (400 - tiebreaker), BCHS, Berrien (426), East Laurens (464), South Effingham (474) and Cook (537).
Bleckley County’s Brody Gibbs paced the field posting a winning time of 16:05.70 in the field of 261 runners.
Brayen Middlton led the Herons’ contingent of nine runners with a time of 19:40 to finish 37th. He was followed by Grant Middleton (39th; 19:41.20), Jace Hunnicutt (91st; 21:09.30), Max Herrin (138th; 22:55), Carter Lentz (192nd; 25:12.10), Tyler Kelly (211th; 26:17.70), Cayson Lentz (221st; 26:50.70), Steven Rios (257th; 32:25) and Colten Green (260th; (34:59.90).
Brantley County’s next event is Thursday, August 27 at Ware County.
Comments