Eight high school cross-country teams gathered at Clear Creek Middle School last week.
The annual North Georgia Championships took place Tuesday, and the Gilmer High School Bobcats and Lady Cats were in attendance.
The 5K race drew teams from three different classifications, and the Bobcats secured a runner-up finish while the Lady Cats placed third.
There were 109 runners in the boys race, and all Bobcat point scorers finished in the top 20.
Following Bobcat Dylan Byrd (19:24) in fourth place were teammates Jakob Dobbs (10th, 20:14), Austin Long (11th, 20:19), Ricky Perez (17th, 20:53), Nate Mooney (19th, 21:16), Carson Purvis (21st, 21:20), Jon Nix (29th, 21:46) and Malvin Oxlaj (30th, 21:48).
For the girls, Gilmer’s Naomi Coombs landed in fourth place overall at 24:24. Ashley Spagnola clocked in at 25:39 for ninth, and Madison Stanley (26:32) finished 12th.
Gilmer’s Helana Garland placed 21st, but her time was not available by press deadline. Laney Hensley tallied team points by finishing 37th at 30:13.
Remaining Lady Cat runners included Anna Byrd (50th place, 31:30), Mallory Henson (52nd, 31:40), Chloe Hensley (78th, 36:38) and Shayanne Little (81st, 37:49).
Union County (19 points) dominated the boys race by claiming five of the top seven placements, including the top three.
Following the Bobcats (61) in second place were Towns County (84), Lumpkin County (89), Rabun County (182), Northwest Whitfield (191), Fannin County (192) and Hiwassee Dam, N.C. (353).
Lumpkin (66) won the girls race and remaining teams included Southeast (80), Gilmer (83), Rabun (89), Union (91), Fannin (123), Northwest (160) and Towns (228).
GHS hosted the Hurry Back Invitational at Tuesday’s press deadline.