HAZLEHURST — Ware County, Pierce County and Brantley County competed here Thursday in the Southern Georgia Cross-Country Championship hosted by Jeff Davis.
Ware County’s Lady Gators placed 10th in the event featuring 130 runners from 20 schools with the Lady Bears 11th. Brantley County did not have a fifth runner for a team score.
Savannah Arts Academy easily won the meet with 31 points placing four runners in the top seven. The Lady Panthers were followed by host Jeff Davis (74), Coffee (85), Brunswick (103), Islands of Savannah (141), Appling County (208), Long County (225), Vidalia (233), Bacon County (262) and Ware County (278) to round out the Top 10.
PCHS (285) led the rest of the field. Trailing the Lady Bears were Portal (312), Tattnall County (333), Fitzgerald (373), Atkinson County (374), Lanier County (417) and Treutlen (442).
In the boys’ meet, Benedictine topped the 23 qualifying teams scoring 23 points with four runners inside the Top 10 finishers featuring a field of 185 participants. Brantley County placed 12th with 307 points, the Gators were 13th with 323 points and Pierce County was 16th with 397 points.
Finishing behind the Cadets in the Top 10 were Savannah Arts Academy (80), Jeff Davis (89), Vidalia (120), Effingham County (191), Coffee (217), Brunswick (222), Toombs County (222), Long County (265) and Atkinson County (287).
Tattnall County (305) led the 11-20 finishers. The Warriors were followed by Brantley County, Ware County, Berrien (331), Islands of Savannah (369), PCHS, Portal (459), Appling County (477), Lanier County (515) and Echols County (553).
Rounding out the field were Fitztgerald (576), Bacon County (681) and Montgomery County (733).
Girls’ meet
The Lady Gators’ Destiney Mendoza posted the highest finish amongst the three area schools placing 21st with a time of 24:12.20. The winning time was 20:20.90.
Mendoza was followed by Alaya McMillen (69th; 28:00.50), Kiyoko Ward (70th; 28:09.10), Faith Williams (89th; 29:38.90), Millie Bennett (91st; 29:57.60), Brownwyn Bennett (121st; 35:40) and Ah’Zion Smith (128th; 42:02.30).
The Lady Bears were led by the 37th- and 38th-place finishes of Nevaeah Grant (25:36.20) and Selah Griffis (25:44.10) They were followed by Ana Llamas-Diaz (74th; 28:21.70), Baylee Rose Tippins (88thg; 29:30.90), Addison Folette (107th; 31:58:10), Myla Martinez (112th; 33:19.80) and Kymber Minchew (114th).
Klara Barnes led Brantley County’s four-member team finishing 35th with a time of 25:31.50. Delaney Lloyd (66th; 27:55.80), Linzi Parker (67th; 27:56.30) and Aubree Purvis (106th; 31:57.70) rounded out the team.
Boys’ meet
Brantley County’s Haze Evans recorded the best finish in the area placing sixth with a time of 18:00.80. The winning time was 16:35.90.
Haze was followed by Brayden Middleton (65th; 20:36.20), Grant Middleton (71st; 20:48.80), Max Herrin (77th; 21:01.10), Eli Nielson (96th; 21:24.50), Carter Lentz (132nd; 23:20.50), Evinrude Green (144th; 23:50.30) and Jett Florey (149th; 24:05.10).
The Gators were paced by Brayten Hood’s time of 19:56.30 to place 43rd. He was followed by Wesley Frye (45th; 19:59.20), Lorenzo Harris (78th; 21:04.60), Damari Bennett (81st; 21:08.30), Brock Payne (82nd; 21:08.70), Silas Mixon (105th; 22:04.60), Giovanni Solorio (116th; 22:26.80) and Damarion Zanders (166th; 25:27.40).
Brandon Yepes paced the Bears placing 54th with a time of 20:08.50. Yepes was followed by Breck Benton (74th; 20:56.40), Samuel Carrillo (80th, 21:07.70), Jared Watson (92nd; 21:22.50), James Alonso (109th; 22:15.50), Jeb Bradley (126th; 23:00.60), Coleman Lee (137th; 23:41.90) and Jaxson Williams (161st; 24:56.50).
Jayvee boys’ meet
The Gators and Herons jayvee squads participated in the JV meet with Ware County placing 11th in the 13-team event. Brantley County only had three runners and did not qualify for a team score.
Savannah Arts Academy placed first with 26 points after six of its seven runners finished 17th or better in the field of 115 participants.
Trailing the Panthers were Jeff Davis (53), Atkinson County (93), Tattnall County (115), Long County (158), Effingham County (189), Brunswick (193), Berrien (200), Islands of Savannah (286), Coffee (291), Ware County (292), Fitzgerald (296) and Bacon County (317).
Brantley County’s Jayden Simmons recorded the best showing placing 28th with a time of 23:58.90. The winning time was 20:00.70.
Simmons was followed by Cayson Lentz (71st; 27:13.30) and Bryan Chevalier (109th; 33:31.20).
Ashton Stormant paced the Gators (46th; 25:35). He was followed by Jax Yarger (48th; 25:37.90), Antwan Baker (74th; 27:17.30), Colton Landrum (99th; 30:59), Zaleron Baker (113th; 35:43.20) and Jameson Addison (114th; 36:19.40).
