Evans will represent Herons in Carrollton
LYONS — Brantley County’s Lady Heron cross-country team earned a spot in the Class A Division I qualifying here Saturday at one of two state Sectionals.
The Lady Herons finished fifth in the 16-team girls’ meet November 2. The Herons missed by one spot of qualifying placing 13th in the 22-team boys meet.
Haze Evans’ 12th-place finish in the boys’ event of 149 runners earned him a spot to Carrollton to compete as an individual. Evans posted a seasonbest time of 18:11.68.
According to the Georgia High School Association “White Book,” the top 12 teams advance on to Carrollton as do the top 20 individual participants. The championship is slated for Saturday, November 9.
Bleckley County easily won the girls’ meet with 21 points. The Lady Royals had all five qualifying runners in the top nine spots with two finishing 10th and 11th.
Following Bleckley County were Jeff Davis (56), Vidalia (134), Jasper County (150), Brantley County (182), site host Toombs County (203), Berrien (222), Dublin (245), Putnam County (255), Thomasville (269), ACE Charter (286) and Woodville-Tompkins (292) in qualifying for the top 12 spots.
Bacon County (293), Fitzgerald (329), Worth County (341) and Jefferson County (360) rounded out the field.
Avery Crews led the Lady Herons with a 13thplace finish in the field of 113 runners. She posted a time of 22:36.95 to trail the winning time of 18:22.30.
Following Crews were Klara Barnes (19th, 23:33.37), Linzi Parker (28th, season-best 26:26.32), Delaney Lloyd (57th, 29:18.42), Mariah Wittrien (81st, 31:45.91) and Kaycee Johnson (90th, season-best 33.20.65).
Bleckley County’s boys’ squad made it a sweep with a dominating performance of 26 points with all five runners in the top 10 spots (1, 3, 5, 7, 10).
The Royals were followed in qualifying for state by Vidalia (100), Jeff Davis (127), Toombs County (156), Jasper County (204), Berrien (220), Social Circle (225), Washington County (248), East Laurens (271), Dodge County (271), Woodville-Tompkins (289) and Worth County (329).
Brantley County (382) led the list of teams missing the cut. The Herons were followed by Fitzgerald (383), ACE Charter (419), Thomasville (438), Dublin (463), Bacon County ((465), Swainsboro (486), Lamar County (494), Southwest Macon (538) and Putnam County (597).
Trailing Evans were Max Herrin (47th, 19:56.18), Steven Roberson (100th, 22:16.02), Evinrude Green (110th, 23:02.79), Carter Lentz (120th, season-best 24:01.29) and Riley Crews (149th, season-best 31:40.79).
(right) will go as a team after finishing fifth in the 16-team girls’ Sectional meet hosted by Toombs County. The Top 12 teams in the two Sectionals advanced to Carrollton. SPECIAL PHOTOS
