The high school cross country season will come to an end this weekend at the GHSA Cross Country State Championships, presented by Atlanta Track Club, at the Carrollton cross country course at Carrollton High School on Friday and Saturday.
There are noteworthy storylines on both the boys and girls sides of the competition and on the boys side, St. Pius X in Class 5A will try to win its fourth-straight title (2018 and 2019 in 4A). Westminster in Class 3A will try to win its fifth-straight state title and Wesleyan in Class A Private will try for its fourth-straight championship. In A Public, Commerce is hoping for its third-straight title. For the girls, the decorated Westminster program will be trying for its eighth straight title in Class 3A.
TOTAL DOMINATION
Last season, four programs won both the boys and girls championships. Marietta’s boys and girls controlled the event in Class 7A alongside St. Pius X in 5A, Westminster in 3A and Wesleyan in A Private.
WE ARE GOING TO NEED A BIGGER TROPHY CASE
On the girls side, all eyes are on Westminster. The Wildcats have won 33 titles, eight-straight (including a tie with Wesleyan in 2013 in Class 2A) and 12 titles in the past 14 seasons. Since 1981 when Westminster won its first state championship, the Wildcats have won a title in each season except 1982, 1983, 1991, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2012.
IMMENSE TALENT RETURNS TO CARROLLTON
In the state’s highest class, Mill Creek’s boys enter the championships at the top of the poll and lead Harrison, Marietta, Denmark and West Forsyth in the top 5. The Hawks are looking for the program’s second title and runners Luke Kalarickal, Jaden Miller, Sam Costa, Tyler Woodrome and Ethan Nordman are favorites for Mill Creek. Defending-champion Marietta’s top-runners are Jared Fortenberry, Tom Eldrige and Kamari Miller. On the girls side, defending-champion and top-ranked Marietta is coming off a statement-making win at the Region 7-3A championships led by Kristal McQueen, Maddie Jones, Nora Hart, Collete DePasquale and Gabi Comsudes.
In Class 6A, Richmond Hill’s boys top the poll and enter the meet hoping for the program’s first-ever title. According to MileSplitGA, the Wildcats are the team to beat. Richmond Hill placed seven runners in the top-10 at the Region 2-6A meet and are riding a head of steam. Alexander, North Atlanta, host Carrollton and Sequoyah are some of the top contenders. On the girls side, Cambridge won three state titles from 2017-2019 – the program’s only titles – and the Bears enter the state meet at the top of the class. Cambridge’s top runners are Ashley Sechrest, Alexis Lay, Chloe Paskins and Caroline Willis. North Atlanta, Pope, Sequoyah and Lakeside-DeKalb are other favorites.
In Class 5A, the Decatur boys enter the meet at the top of the class and after winning the program’s first title in 2019, the Bulldogs want another and will face quality talent on their path to a second title. Blessed Trinity, St. Pius X, Starr’s Mill and McIntosh are some of the top contenders. On the girls side, Blessed Trinity enters as the top-ranked program ahead of defending-champion St. Pius X. Decatur, McIntosh and Midtown are some of the favorites entering the meet.
In Class 4A, Marist tops the class entering the meet with defending champion Chestatee close behind. Druid Hills, Jefferson and Flowery Branch are other teams to watch. For the girls, defending-champion Marist enters as the favorite and leads Jefferson, Central-Carroll, Flowery Branch and Druid Hills in the poll.
In Class 3A, it’s all about Westminster, which enters the state meet as the favorite on both the boys and girls side of the class. For the boys, Oconee County, Greater Atlanta Christian, Hart County and Southeast Bulloch are some of the top contenders. For the girls, North Hall, Oconee County, Mary Persons and Savannah Arts are chasing the Wildcats.
In Class 2A: Pace Academy enters the state meet as the top-ranked program on both the boys and girls side. For the boys, the Knights are looking for the team’s seventh title but first since 1994 and Lovett, Bleckley County, Bremen and Jeff Davis are the top challengers. On the girls side, Pace is looking to defend last year’s title and win its 13th overall championship. Lovett, Bleckley County, Vidalia and Jeff Davis are the top contenders.
In Class A Public, defending-champion Commerce enters the meet as the ninth-ranked team in the class. Top-ranked Armuchee is the favorite with ACE Charter, Barrow Arts, Lake Oconee Academy and Gordon Lee are chasing. For the girls, defending-champion Armuchee enters as the top-ranked program looking for its second-ever state title. ACE Charter, Barrow Arts, Atlanta Classical and Gordon Lee are the top contenders.
In Class A Private, Whitefield Academy enters as the top-ranked team with Holy Innocents’, Paideia, Darlington and defending-champion Wesleyan chasing in the top 5. On the girls side, Landmark Christian is the top-ranked program with defending-champion Wesleyan a close second. Paideia, Athens Academy and Hebron Christian are some of the other favorites.
2020 Boys Champions: 7A: Marietta, 6A: Cambridge, 5A: St. Pius X, 4A: Chestatee, 3A: Westminster, 2A: Lovett, A Private: Wesleyan, A Public: Commerce.
2020 Girls Champions: 7A: Marietta, 6A: Pope, 5A: St. PIus X, 4A: Marist, 3A: Westminster, 2A: Pace Academy, A Private: Wesleyan, A Public: Armuchee.
When
November 5-6, 2021
Where
Carrollton Course
Carrollton High School
202 Trojan Drive
Carrollton, GA
Schedule
Friday November 5, 2021
9:00 am – 2A Boys
9:45 am – 2A Girls
10:30 am – 3A Boys
11:15 am – 3A Girls
12:00 noon – 4A Boys
12:45 pm – 4A Girls
Saturday November 6, 2021
8:00 am – 6A Boys
8:45 am – 6A Girls
9:30 am – 5A Boys
10:15 am – 5A Girls
11:00 am – A Private Boys
11:45 am – A Private Girls
12:30 pm – 7A Boys
1:15 pm – 7A Girls
2:00 pm – A Public Boys
2:45 pm – A Public Girls
Meet Results
View “live” State Meet Results by Perfect Timing Group
Course Map
Download the Course Map by clicking here.
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