GEORGIA STATE MEET

Mill Creek Slips Past Marietta For 7A Boys Title, 102-104

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Led by Ethan Nordman’s third-place finish, the Mill Creek boys cross country team collected its first state title since 2012 on Saturday at the Georgia State High School Cross Country Championships at Carrollton High (Nov. 5-6). Mill Creek edged out defending champion Marietta 102-104 to claim the 7A title. Individually, Denmark’s Ethan Ashley, a senior, easily ran away with the title, clocking 15:45.7, the only runner to go under 16 minutes. 

For the girls, Marietta placed three in the top 20 to repeat as 7A team champs, claiming the program’s fourth title in the last five years. Harrison’s Samantha McGarity, a sophomore, ran an impressive time of 18:39.4, more than 30 seconds faster than the runner-up.

In 6A, a pair of first-time team winners emerged. The Richmond Hill boys placed two in the top five to score 105 points. North Atlanta won the girls title with 72 points as it edged out Cambridge (70). Individually. Shiloh’s Nathan Soloman claimed the boys title in 15:55.9, while the girls overall winner was Evans’ Simone Rojas in 18:55.3. 

It was another year, another title for the St. Pius X girls. Guided by Grace Von Biberstein’s 5A crown, (18:56.6) the team won its third straight state championship and sixth overall. 

Christian Gonzalez led Decatur to a 5A team title, winning the race in 15:56.9. 

A year after finishing second, Marist’s Ruby Little left no doubt she’s one of the state’s top runners. The sophomore clocked 18:54.2, winning by nearly 45 seconds. Little guided Marist to another program title as the team claimed the top four spots and finished with five runners in the top seven to score a near-perfect 17 points. 

On the boys side, Chestatee repeated as team champions with 38 points as senior Garrett Grater was second (16:41.67) overall to lead the team.​​ Druid Hills’ Sage Walker was the top runner (16:34.63). 

The 3A scene was once again dominated by Westminster. The boys and girls won team and individual titles. Matthew Fernando led the way for the boys, clocking first in 15:59.0, winning the race by 41 seconds. Westminster scored 19 points with four runners in the top six. For the girls, Palmer Walstad won the race in 19:22.6 as three Westminster girls finished in the top 10.

Pace Academy swept the 2A titles. Sophomore Caroline Hood helped Pace defend its title, winning in 19:09.3. Pace placed four in the top seven to finish with 27 points. Edward Blaha was first overall (16:09.6). Pace had six runners in the top 12.

Trace Harris led Armuchee to a 1A Public boys team trophy, winning the race in 17:47.6, while the girls 1A title was also won by Armuchee with 67 points. Marissa Kimple won in 20:03.7, while Armuchee teammate Shelby Green (20:48.77) was runner-up.

The 1A Private boys team championship was claimed by Whitefield Academy (60 points), led by Peyton Golden, who finished in second 16:26.42. Holy Innocents Episcopal’s Joe Sapone was the top runner in 16:22.25. 

In the girls 1A Private race, the Wesleyan girls repeated as team champions, as Atlanta International’s Joyce Cara was the top finisher in 19:18.89.

Team Champions -

Class 7A:Mill Creek boys 102 points; Marietta girls 107 points - RESULTS

Class 6A: Richmond Hill 105 points; North Atlanta girls 70 points - RESULTS

Class 5A: Decatur boys 46 points; St. Pius girls 36 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Chestatee boys 38 points; Marist girls 17 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: Westminster boys 19 points; Westminster girls 43 points - RESULTS

Class 2A: Pace Academy boys 28 points; Pace Academy girls 27 points - RESULTS

Class 1A Public: Armuchee boys 37 points; Armuchee girls 67 points - RESULTS

Class 1A Private: Whitfield Academy boys 60 points; Wesleyan girls 96 points - RESULTS