DOUGLAS — Ware County’s cross-country teams were joined by Pierce County here Saturday at the Third Annual Blake Smith Invitational hosted by Coffee High.
Both the Lady Gators and Gators recorded sixth-place finishes while the Lady Bears logged a third-place finish and the Bears posted a seventh-place finish in the September 6 meet.
Host Coffee grabbed the girls’ title in the nine-team race totaling 21 points with five runners finishing in the top eight positions. The Lady Trojans were followed by Camden County (61), PCHS (131), Berrien (134), Cook (139), Ware County (143), Fitzgerald (153), Atkinson County (168) and Lanier County (210).
Camden County claimed the boys’ title scoring 34 points with all seven team members finishing in the top 12 spots in the 11-team race. The Wildcats were followed by Coffee (54), Valdosta (85), Berrien (117), Atkinson County (148), Ware County (151), PCHS (217), Cook (226), Telfair County (231), Fitzgerald (266) and Lanier County (315).
Ware County’s Destiney Mendoza paced her teammates logging a 24:06.1 time to place ninth in the field of 71 runners. Coffee’s Kellah Smith led the field with a time of 20:19.91.
Following Mendoza was Kiyoko Ward (29th; 27:42.56), Millie Bennett (32nd; 28:13.04), Faith Williams (35th; 29:01.01) and Bronwyn Bennett (60th; 34:14.77) for the team score. Ah’Zion Smith placed 67th with a time of 39:28.77.
The Lady Bears were paced by the
14th-place finish of Selah Griffis with a time of 25:01.78. She was followed by Nevaeh Grant (17th;
25:25.72), Baylee Rose Tippins
(23rd; 26:15.96), Anna Llamas-Diaz
(46th; 30:33.66) and Addison Polette (51st; 31:48.78) for the fivemember team score.
Also participating were Myla Martinez (52nd; 31:55.95) and Kymber Minchew (58th; 33:58.27).
The Gators were led by the 26thplace finish of Brayten Hood with a time of 19:39.43. Coffee’s Liam LaBroocq set the pace posting a winning time of 16:33.05 in the field of
102 runners.
Trailing Hood for the team points were Wesley Frye (27th; 19:42.05), Brock Payne (29th; 19:51.13), Damari Bennett (41st; 20:29.28) and Damarion Danders (43rd;
20:33.35). Also running were Silas Mixon (49th; 20:57.96), Giovanni Solorio (55th; 21:18.86), Seth King
(90th; 24:25.50) and Ashton Stormant (99th; 26:30.74).
Leading PCHS were Breck Benton
(31st, 19:54.09) and Brandon Yepes
(32nd; 19:55.07). The duo was followed by Samuel Carrillo (50th;
21:07.05), Jared Watson (52nd;
21:08.97) and Jeb Bradley (63rd;
21:47.42).
Also competing for the Bears were James Alonso (74th; 22:13.64), Coleman Lee (79th; 22:43.21) and
