With the state championship cross-country meet coming up this weekend, a number of local teams and other individual runners have qualified to participate on the basis of impressive showings in last week’s region meets.
The top four teams and the top six individuals in each region qualify for the state championship meet in Carrollton this Saturday.
The three Fayette schools in Region 4-AAAAA dominated the region meet last Thursday, with McIntosh winning team honors for boys and girls. Starr’s Mill came in second on both sides, with Whitewater’s boys placing third and girls coming in fourth behind Northgate.
The Chiefs took the top two spots in the boys’ race, with Joshua Mattingly (16:08) edging past Taylor Huntley (16:15). Three teammates finished in the top 20: Andrew Jaeger (16:40); Josh Reynolds (17:21); and Alex Wilson (17:29).
Whitewater’s John Raville came in third overall (16:16), with Seamus Murrock finishing ninth (16:48), Don Harp (16:56) 11th, Parker Nail (16:59) 13th and Harry Harp (17:52) 29th.
Starr’s Mill was led by fourth-place finisher James Adams (16:25), with the sixth and seventh spots going to Joshua Warren (16:32) and Ryan Phillips (16:37). Alex Casado was 15th (17:13) and Joshua Tysor was 21st (17:29).
The top girls’ finisher was Hailey Gollnick of Starr’s Mill (19:19). Other Lady Panthers included Emily Sims (12th, 20:37); Sarah Phinney (13th, 20:40); Tori Nails (15th, 20:47); and Sophie Handel (16th, 21:07).
Taylor Snell of McIntosh came in fourth (19:53), followed by teammates Alyssa LeClaire (sixth, 20:05); Rachel Ward (seventh, 20:06); Caitlin Umila (10th, 20:25); and Tarna Zander-Velloso (14th, 20:41).
Whitewater was led by Alana Hood, who came in fifth at 19:56, and eighth-place Alexis Smith at 20:07. Madison Hunt (21:45), Katie Kirkland (21:57), and McKenzie Hembold (22:31) placed in the top 30 for the Lady Wildcats.
All of these teams will be competing in Carrollton this weekend.
Landmark’s varsity boys won the Region 5-A meet by placing five runners in the top 15. Spencer Geerlings (16:55) came in third overall, with Brandon Regan (17:37) and Austin Taylor (17:45) finishing seventh and eighth. Joe Humphries (18:01) was 11th and Daniel Wilson (18:20) was 15th.
Our Lady of Mercy, who hosted the meet, came in sixth on the boys’ side behind Maddox Caporini (24th, 18:54); Caleb Lewis (30th, 19:04); Michael Andrews (35th, 19:11); Dylan Eckert (46th, 19:41); and Alex Hennie-Roed (48th, 19:52).
Landmark’s girls placed fourth as a team, as Kathryn Foreman (18:09) crossed the finish line first and Nicole Fegans (19:20) came in third. Other scorers for the Lady War Eagles included Olivia Bouchard (18th, 22:28); Rebecca Moody (34th, 23:39); and Kaylin Deel (44th, 24:21).
For the Lady Bobcats, who finished sixth as a team, Pauline Cobb (21:14) and Leah Banks (21:32) came in eighth and ninth. Also scoring were Landy Thomas (31th, 23:29); Shelby Sheehan (33th, 23:35); and Stephanie Reveredo (36th, 23:47).
Both Landmark teams advance to Carrollton.
