With one month remaining in the cross country season, many top teams throughout Georgia made road trips last weekend to begin their stretch runs to the state meet.
Peachtree Ridge’s boys won the title at the Bale N Trail Cross Country Original in Jacksonville, Fla. The Lions dominated the field with four runners in the top 10, including Kevin Millis’ individual title in 15:37.
At the Wendy’s Invitational in Charlotte, N.C., Etowah turned in impressive performances. The girls finished fifth in their heat with an average time of 19:51. Etowah’s boys tied for third with Flowery Branch, the No. 1 team in Class AAAAA. Both squads posted average times of 16:29. Westminster’s boys finished third in the Class AAA heat and were led by Jordan Flowers’ eighth-place showing in 16:08.
No out-of-state competition was more heavily populated by Georgia schools than the Great American Cross Country Festival in Cary, N.C. The St. Pius boys raced to an eighth-place performance in the Champions heat, just ahead of Brookwood (10th) and Mill Creek (14th) and Marist (17th). All four of those teams boasted average times between 16:17 and 16:34. Austin Sprague paced St. Pius in 13th overall at 15:24. Three Georgia representatives finished in the top 10 of the girls seeded heat at the GACCF — Mill Creek (second), Centennial (third) and Dunwoody (ninth). Mill Creek’s Lauren Hovis came in second with a blistering time of 18:56.
One of this weekend’s bigger events is the Asics Cross Country Invitational. Alexander, the host school, will welcome a strong field that includes Blessed Trinity, LaGrange, Landmark Christian, North Hall, Peachtree Ridge and Woodward Academy.
Softball: Class AAAA No. 10 Marist beat Chamblee in the Region 6 tournament Tuesday night and will play Redan on Thursday for the region championship. Redan beat Therrell 15-5 on Tuesday to advance to the region final. Marist (15-10, 5-0) has won its region championship 13 consecutive seasons and was state champion in AAAA in 2008 and 2009. Marist has been led at the plate by junior Grace Packer, who has a .569 batting average, and senior catcher Taylor Bradley, who committed to Georgia State, who is batting .429. … On Tuesday, AAA No. 1 Buford beat East Hall 8-0 to clinch a spot in Thursday's Region 7-AAA championship game. The Wolves (28-1) won the tournament's top seed after finishing unbeaten in region play.
Volleyball: In AA, Wesleyan dominated Rabun County (25-8, 25-6), and Greater Atlanta Christian topped Jefferson (25-21, 25-20). Wesleyan and Greater Atlanta Christian will face each other in the Area 6-AA championship match Thursday. … Hillgrove will open the Area 3-AAAAAA tournament Thursday as a No. 3 seed, and it will face No. 6 Campbell. Hillgrove closed the regular season Tuesday with victories against Creekview and Allatoona. … AAA No. 1 Blessed Trinity held off Buford in straight sets Tuesday (25-18, 25-18) to move to 54-7. … In Class A, Walker topped Darlington and Mount Paran Christian on Tuesday and will play in its area championship Thursday. Walker's Brooke Warner paced the Wolverines with 37 kills and added 12 digs.
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