Bowers, Yanek lead Milton to Class 7A title

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

The Milton boys cross country team continued its dream season this past weekend at the Georgia State Championships at State Meet Course in Carrollton. 

Led by senior Sam Bowers, Milton, No. 6 in the DyeStat team rankings, placed five runners in the top 16 to score 40 points and win the program's first 7A state title. 

Bowers won the individual race on the 5,000-meter course in a time of 15 minutes, 58.9 seconds, while teammate Nicholas Yanek was second in 16:04.3. 

In girls 7A, senior Elizabeth Funderburk of Colquitt County ran 18:29.1 to win the individual title, while Marietta placed all five scorers in the top 20 to accumulate 62 points and win the team championship. 

Senior Adrian Hernandez of Allatoona won the boys 6A title in 16:26.4, with freshman Makena Gates of Creekview winning the 6A girls title in 18:58.3. Both the Cambridge boys and girls won team titles. 

In 5A, junior Nick Nyman of Starrs Mill claimed the individual title in 16:09.2, with Erin Leonard of Jones County capturing the girls title in 18:43.7. McIntosh boys and girls swept the team titles. 

Senior Knox Pittman of Marist led his team to a 4A title as he won in 16:32.6. Marist scored 58 points to edge out St. Pius X (63).  

The 4A girls individual title was won by senior Nicole Pachuta of Oconee County in 19:26.6. Marist won the girls title with 38 points, as Kathleen Maley led the way, finishing runner-up in 19:29.9. 

The 3A boys individual crown went to Devan Crow of North Hall in 16:26.3, with Grace Clements of Bremen High crossing first in 19:44.6 to win the girls race. Westminster made it a sweep, winning the boys and girls titles. 

In 2A, Bleckley County swept the individual honors as Garrett Rogers won in 17:16.3, with sophomore Austin Perez claiming the girls crown in 21:09.5. Banks County won the boys team title and Bleckley placed all five runners in the top 13. 

Senior Aaron Kirkland led Georgia Military College Prep to a 1A Public team title, winning the race in 17:47.2. Sophomore Gracie O'Neal of Gordon Lee won the 1A Public crown in 20:23.8 and Telfair placed four in the top 20 to win the team title. 

The 1A Private title was claimed by senior Griffin McCauley of Paideia (17:02.4), while Hebron Christian placed four in the top 15 to win the team championship. 

Mary Kellison Thorne led Landmark Christian to a 1A Private title winning the race in 19:33.7. Four runners finished in the top eight for Landmark Christian.

RESULTS - Class 7A | Class 6A | Class 5A | Class 4A | Class 3A | Class 2A  | Class 1A Public | Class 1A Private

Team Champions

Boys 7A - Milton 40 points

Girls 7A - Marietta 62 points

Boys 6A –Cambridge 77 points

Girls 6A – Cambridge 59 points

Boys 5A - McIntosh 72 points

Girls 5A – McIntosh – 52 points

Boys 4A – Marist 58 points

Girls 4A – Marist 38 points

Boys 3A – Westminster 50 points

Girls 3A – Westminster 25 points

Boys 2A – Banks County 38 points

Girls 2A – Bleckley County 32 points

Boys 1A Public – Georgia Military College Prep 51

Girls 1A Public - Telfair County 64 points

Boys 1A Private - Hebron Christian 63 points

Girls 1A Private – Landmark Christian 60 points