The Pierce County High School (PCHS) Girls Varsity cross country team finished their season second in the region at this year’s Georgia High School Association State Cross Country Championships
At state, varsity girls placed second amonst regional competitors and 16 out of 28 in the state.
Varsity Girls beat Toombs and Vidalia, who beat them at region.
Coach LeighAnne Hersey pointed that achievement out as especially meaningful.
“Normally, I don’t push too hard at state because the conditions are so tough— and honestly unfair for the southern teams— but I asked them to prove something today and they did!” said Hersey.
Yuri Gaona was the number one runner, at 24:11.84.
Also running for Pierce County were Natalie Daniel (24:52.03), Neveah Grant (25:48.45), Ana Llamas-Diaz (28:40.48), Maya Cochran (29:23.32), Becky Thigpen (34:19.71), and Rylin Richie (out due to injury).
Previously (Oct. 26), PCHS traveled to Toombs County for the Georgia High School Associations 2A - Region 3 championship (Oct. 26) with the girls team advancing to state and the boys falling just short.
Once again, Dylan Hersey led the boys top five with a time of 18:59.70.
Filling the reamining four spots were Walker Sergent (20:09.78), Spencer Hawkins (20:11.62) Joe Drew (20:17.17) and Corbin Hunzeker (20:36.44).
Overall, varsity boys placed fifth. Only teams in the top four qualified for state competition.
Varsity girls placed fourth overall, earning a spot in Carrolton, where state competition took place last week (Nov. 4 and 5).
Natalie Daniels led the top five girls with a time of 23:22.02.
Rounding out the top five were Yuri Gaona (24:15.12), Neveah Grant (27:02.91), Ana Llamas-Diaz (27:47.30) and Maya Cochran (29:18.90).
“The new region is tough,” said Coach LeighAnne Hersey. “Three of the new region competitors (placed) first through third. Our girls have been region champions for as long as I can remember, but the region shuffle introduced new competitors.”
Savannah Arts, who won the region, won state.
