The Gilmer High cross-country season came to an end last week.
The GHS Bobcats and Lady Cats traveled to Unicoi State Park Wednesday for the Region 7-3A Championships.
A top-four team placement or a top-six individual finish was needed to qualify for state. The Bobcats landed in fifth (120 points) in the boys 5K, while the Lady Cats placed seventh (171) in their race.
Gilmer’s Carson Purvis just missed going to state with an eighth-place time of 17:47, which earned him a spot on the all-region team. Cherokee Bluff’s Austin Click took first in 17:25.
Zachary Bobak was next for GHS in 17th place at 18:43, and he was followed by teammates John Keener (26th, 19:15), Michael Little (28th, 19:20), Melvin Oxlaj (20:08), Talyn Mesner (45th, 20:26) and Jesse Hernandez (48th, 21:15).
Clodahg O’Bryant of North Hall set the top time in the girls race in 19:27. Madison Stanley was the first Lady Cat to cross the finish line in 25th place at 23:35.
Gilmer’s Helana Garland turned in a time of 24:32 for 32nd, and was followed closely by teammate Sophia Lykins in 33rd at 24:42. Remaining GHS runners included Kamryn Baxter (39th, 25:52), Haley Wilson (42nd, 26:18) and Carly Becerra (47th, 27:25).
Region 7-3A will be represented at state by region champion North Hall (31 points), runner-up White County (62), third-place Cherokee Bluff (64) and fourth-place Lumpkin County on the girls side. Dawson County (120) finished fifth, and East Forsyth (131) was sixth ahead of the Lady Cats.
Boys final region standings included Cherokee Bluff (57) at the top followed by North Hall (64), Dawson (56), Lumpkin (97), Gilmer, East Forsyth (133), White (168) and West Hall (196).