HAZLEHURST — Host Jeff Davis made a clean sweep of the girls’ and boys’ Class A DI Sectional titles here Saturday with Brantley County’s Lady Herons and Herons earning state berths at the finals in Columbus.
The top 12 teams in each of the two Sectionals for each classification advance to the state finals scheduled to begin Friday, November 7 at Carrollton High School for Class 5A, Class 4A and Private (1A-3A). Class 6A, Class 3A, Class 2A, Class A DI and Class A DII will compete Saturday, November 8.
The first 20 individual finishers from each Sectional in all classes qualify for the state meet regardless of whether they are a member of a qualifying team.
The Lady Herons placed fourth in the 15-team girls’ event hosted by Jeff Davis while the Herons finished ninth in the 21-team boys meet held November 1.
The host Lady Yellow Jackets posted a team score of 44 points to easily run away from the field claiming four of the top nine spots.
They were followed by Jasper County (79), Vidalia (121), Brantley County (141), Banks County (148), Rabun County (171), Toombs County (198), Bacon County (204), Barrow Arts & Science Academy (218), Woodville-Tompkins (219), Fitzgerald (244) and Berrien (297).
Also competing were Social Circle (372), Worth County (373) and Thomasville (399).
Julia Miller paced the Lady Herons finishing 11th in the field of 108 runners posting a time of 22:51.70. The winning time was 19:50.
Miller was followed by teammates Jaelynn Evans (22nd; 23:25), Linzi Parker (34th; 24:44.80), Klara Banes (39th; 24:53.30) and Delaney Lloyd (44th; 25:08.80).
In the boys’ meet, the Yellow Jacket totaled 77 points with all five runners inside the top 25. They were followed by Vidalia (83), Toombs County (142), Barrow Arts & Science Academy (148), Worth County (151), Oglethorpe (181), Jasper County (181), Lamar County (202), Brantley County (221), Social Circle (255), Woodville-Tompkins (261) and Berrien (263).
The rest of the field included Commerce (341), Elbert County (351), Fitzgerald (373), Rabun County (404), Banks County (442), Thomasville (501), Swainsboro (507), Bacon County (554) and Putnam County (606).
Nathan Howell topped the Herons placing 27th with a time of 18:36.30 in the field of 143 runners. The winning time was 16:15.20.
Howell was followed by Grant Middleton (28th; 18:39.90), Brayden Middleton (39th; 19:08.50), Max Herrin (63rd; 19:52.70), Hayze Evans (69th; 20:02.80), Eli Nielson (91stl 20L42,70) and Jayden Simmons (126th; 22:26).
BCHS had four runners participate in the junior varsity event. Evinrude Green (15th; 21:32.80) led the way and was followed by Carter Lentz (16th; 21:40.50), Cayson Lentz (25th; 23:17.50) and Bryan Chevalier (32nd; 27:25).
