Marist, Westminster win girls, boys cross country state titles

On the girls side, upstart Lakeside-Evans was the favorite, and the Panthers’ top three runners finished in the top 10, paced by individual champion Anna Bowles, Katie Townsend (fourth) and Sarah Bowles (sixth), Anna’s sister. But Marist countered with two runners in the top 10 -- Sophie Harkins (fifth) and Kate Northrop (10th) -- while Erin Connolly, Tori Andrews and Courtney Marburger all finished in the top 30.

“Our third, fourth and fifth runners ran their hearts out, and that was the difference,” Heintz said.

For the boys, no War Eagle finished in the top 10. However, the team’s top five runners -- paced by Matthew Weber’s 11th-place finish -- all were in the top 25. Chattahoochee’s Austin Ulich took home the boys individual title.

Heintz said his team’s effort is an illustration of the Marist way.

“These kids are part of a culture of excellence, whether it’s sports, academics, band, art, drama,” Heintz said. “They’re going to always strive to be the best they can be, and all work together to get the job done, no matter the sport or activity. That’s how we were able to succeed today.”

In AAA, Saturday was supposed to be the big day for St. Pius senior Brendan Hoban. Entering the final Hoban had the state’s best time in all classifications.

But in the most competitive race, where the top four runners finished the course in under 16 minutes, Hoban ran out of gas as he approached the final hill on the course, 300 meters from the finish line. North Hall senior Cody Barger seized the moment and went on to win the individual title in a meet-best time of 15:35.91. Then, immediately after the awards ceremony, Barger ran almost as fast to his parent’s car, where he was whisked away to a meeting with one of Georgia’s senators to interview for an appointment to West Point.

Hoban was left to take solace in the fact that his team won its fourth state championship, its first since 1996.

“It’s disappointing because I definitely wanted that No. 1 spot,” Hoban said. “This is something I’ve dreamed of for a long time and to come up short … this will be on my mind for a long time. But at the same time, I’m really happy for our team.”

The Columbus girls claimed their second AAA championship in three years, paced by Kristina Delpesche’s second-place finish, just behind individual title winner Ericka Taylor of Westover.

In AA, Westminster’s boys won their fourth consecutive state title, their 20th overall, while the girls won their third in four years and their 24th overall. The girls held off a strong Blessed Trinity team by claiming five of the top 15 spots, including individual champion Sahara Fletcher, whose time of 18:27 was nearly a minute faster than runner-up Kate Beecham of Blessed Trinity. Just a sophomore, Fletcher now is a two-time cross country state champion.

For the Wildcats boys, all seven competing runners finished in the top 15, led by Parker Whitlock's fourth-place finish and freshman Jordan Flowers' eighth-place finish. Cross Keys' Leonel Ayala won the individual AA crown.

In A, the Darlington girls won their fifth championship, but their first since 1999, while Grace Tinkey of First Presbyterian won the individual championship. Wesleyan's boys repeated as champions. Cameron Thornton of Whitefield Academy, who placed 10th last season, won the individual title.