Austin Perez and Macy Moe finished 1-2 to lead Bleckley County’s girls to a convincing GHSA Class AA girls cross country state title Saturday morning in Carrollton, while GMC’s boys defended their Class A public title.

          Bleckley County’s boys won last year by 12 points over Banks County, which got revenge this year with a fairly dominant team win in Class AA boys over Armuchee and the third-place Royals.

          Garrett Rogers of Bleckley County won the boys individual title with five Banks County runners finishing in the top eight, Bleckley County’s Jaylen Thigpen taking ninth.

          Perez ran a 21:09.52 and Moe was next at 21:31.95, 16 seconds ahead of third place.

          Monticello’s Alina Jablonski was fifth and Mari Jablonski ninth, with Molly Sims of Bleckley County 10th, giving Central Georgia half of the top 10.

          Bleckley County had 32 points to 101 for Banks County and 122 for Rockmart.

          Lamar County was 11th, East Laurens 19th, Washington County 22nd and Northeast 25th.

          Aaron Kirkland led GMC by winning the individual title by more than 45 seconds, with teammates Jacob Kauzlarich sixth, Ethan Yopp 12th and Taylor Sherwood 13th.

          Hawkinsville’s Bryce Murkerson was ninth.

          Justin Wachtel of Mary Persons was third by 14 seconds in Class 4A boys, while Perry’s Tanner Reid was eighth and West Laurens’ Paul Kellam 10th. West Laurens finished ninth, Perry 15th, Mary Persons 21st, and Baldwin 29th.

          West Laurens’ Ansley Long finished 10th in Class 4A girls. The Raiders were 10th, Mary Persons 20th, Howard 22nd, and Perry 25th.

          Houston County’s girls were 29th in Class 6A while Northside’s boys were 22nd.

In Class AA boys, Banks County had 38 points to 111 for Armuchee and 143 for Bleckley County.

          Putnam County finished ninth, Dodge County 15th and Lamar County 16th, and Washington County 23rd out of 29 teams.

           Central finished 16th in Class AAA girls and 26th in boys.

          ACE took sixth in Class A public girls, led by Katelyn Taylor’s fourth-place finish. Hawkinsville’s Slaon Grinstead was 11th, helping the Red Devils to a seventh-place finish. GMC was 11th.