Gilmer High cross-country runners opened their season with a pair of meets last week.
GHS made its way to the Run For the Hills 5K in Union County Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Pickens Preview.
The Bobcats finished fourth out of five teams with 80 points at Meeks Park Thursday. The Lady Cats did not have enough runners to qualify a team score but three completed the 5K course.
While times were not available, Bobcat senior Carson Purvis was the No. 1 runner at the meet, and teammate John Keener was also near the top of the standings in 10th. Gilmer’s Melvin Oxlaj finished 20th and was followed by Austin Long (24th place) and Talyn Mesner (25th).
Three Lady Cats turned in times and included Haley Wilson (20th), Laney Hensley (34th) and Carly Becerra (35th).
Lumpkin County (43 points) finished first on the boys side and Fannin County nipped Union County for second, 60-66. Behind Gilmer were Rabun County (113) and Towns County did not have enough runners for a team score.
Union (44) won the girls race ahead of Fannin (47), Rabun (58), Lumpkin (77) and Towns (159).
Saturday’s annual race was held at Jasper’s Roper Park. The Bobcats placed 22nd out of 23 teams while the Lady Cats were still short on runners because of quarantine.
Purvis cracked the top 100 and led all GHS runners in 74th place with a time of 18:52.30. Fellow seniors Zach Bobak clocked in at 19:29 for 104th and Jessie Hernandez-Murillo placed 169th in 21:26.80.
Sophomores Mesner (175th) and Drew Little (199th) posted times of 21:47 and 23:18.40, respectively.
Gilmer juniors Madison Stanley (78th, 24:15.9) and Helana Garland (78th, 28:41.90) were the top Lady Cats. They were followed by teammates Becerra (144th, 29:37.20) and Hensley (149th, 31:09.60).
Cambridge (58 points) placed first in the girls 5K while South Forsyth (85) was second and Etowah (90) took third. West Forsyth (65) dominated on the boys side ahead of Etowah (139) and South Forsyth (151).
Five Bobcats ran in the junior varsity race. GHS placed 15th (460) out of 17 teams as West Forsyth (41), Cambridge (49) and Gainesville (71) rounded out the top three.
GHS runners included Matthew Grice (148th, 23:52.30), Larz Fowler (149th, 23:52.30), Damian Pratt (164th, 24.1920), Will Capstick (172nd, 24:32.30) and Little (189th, 25:23.40).