GRAY — Ware County’s cross-country season came to an end here Saturday when the Lady Gators and Gators failed to advance out of their respective sectionals hosted by Jones County.
Both the Lady Gators and Gators finished 18th for Regions 1, 2, 4 and 8 November 2, six spots out of berths to the Class 4A finals to be held Saturday, November 9 in Carrollton.
According to the Georgia High School Association “White Book,” the top 12 teams in the two sectionals advance on to Carrollton as do the top 20 individual participants.
Pace Academy swept the events. The Lady Knights compiled 25 points placing runners in the 1, 2, 3, 7 and 12 spots to win the 20team event. Site host Jones County (53) was next, followed by Jackson (79), North Oconee (138), Midtown (154), Flowery Branch (197), Madison County (253), Ola (262), WoodlandStockbridge (306), Locust Grove (322), Eastside (327) and Walnut Grove (335) in the top 12 spots.
Finishing without a berth were Wayne County (338), MLK (349), Union Grove (350), East Forsyth (388), Perry (421), Ware County (502), Warner Robins (536) and Hampton (547).
Leading the Lady Gators was Destiny Mendoza, who placed 53rd in the field of 138 runners. Mendoza posted a season-best time of
23:50.24 with the winning time clocked at 17:40.67.
She was followed by Olivia Sanders (89th, seasonbest 26:23.42), Kiyoka Ward (113th, 28:14.59), Madison Donlon (131st, 34:43.63) and Kali Patten (132nd,
34:43.68).
Pace Academy clipped Jones County in the boys’ event by a 70 to 73 count to win the 26-team event. Also earning berths were Stockbridge (126), North Oconee
(133), Benedictine (150), Jackson (167), Midtown (182), East Forsyth (245), Eastside (271), Flowery Branch
(276), Union Grove (278) and Madison County (329).
The rest of the field included Warner Robins (386), MLK (401), Drew (419), Woodland-Stockbridge (469), Locust Grove (492), Ware County (493), Wayne County
(515), Perry (561), Eagle’s Landing (659), Creekside
(664), Ola (668), Walnut Grove (702), Forest Park (714) and Mays (829).
Caleb Wise led the Gators finishing 48th in the field of 183 runners with a season-best time of 17:55.49. The winning time was 15:56.67.
Following Wise were Josh Smith (71st, season-best
18:37.80), Brayten Hood (104th, season-best 19:41.05), Da’Marion Zanders (139th, 20:58.16), Brock Payne
(141st, 21:00.79), Wesley Frye (153rd, 22:07.92) and Silas Mixon (154th, 22:11.45).
