Central Georgians took a state title and runner-up Friday on Day 1 of the GHSA cross country meet at Carrollton.

          Favorite Justin Wachtel lived up to expectations by winning the Class 4A boys title, topping Chestatee’s Luke Gaddis by 36 seconds. He as third last year, and ran 40 seconds faster in helping the Bulldogs to an 11th-place finish

          Veterans’ Mackenze Walls was a solid second-place finisher in Class 5A girls, 28 seconds behind winner McKenna Trapheagan of Woodland-Cartersville and 39 seconds ahead of Riverwood’s Elle Mezzio. She improved on last year’s sixth-place finish by 55 seconds.

          Jones County’s Laney Doster was the lone other top-10 finisher from the area, taking 10th in Class 5A girls, chopping 10 seconds and five spots off last year’s finish.

          The Greyhound girls had the best team finish in the area at 10th place, three spots ahead of Veterans. The Warhawk boys and Greyhound boys were 13-14 in 5A.

          Classes 3A, AA, and A along with 7A get going Saturday morning at 8.

 

 

Top 50 finishers from Central Georgia (with winner in that respective group) Full results are here.

Class 6A Girls

Teams

1. Cambridge, 105; 26.Houston County, 683

Class 6A Boys

Teams

1. Harrison, 52; 29. Northside, 776

Class 5A Girls

1. McKenna Trapheagen, Woodland-Cartersville, 18:27.67

2. Mackenzie Walls, Veterans, 18:55.81

10. Laney Doster, Jones County, 20:03.08

Teams

1. McIntosh, 49; 10. Jones County, 319; 13. Veterans, 340; 26.Warner Robins, 738

Class 5A Boys

1. Anthanasius Tesfaye, Loganville, 16:19.27

20. Trent Jackson, Veterans, 17:46.76

49. Kyle Whipple, Jones County, 18:20.55

50. Kaleb Horvath, Veterans, 18:20.55

Teams

1. Decatur, 76; 13. Veterans, 368; 14. Jones County, 393

Class 4A Girls

1. Hannah Miniutti, Blessed Trinity, 18:51.49

45. Skyler Barella, West Laurens, 22:17.59

46. Maradeth L. Leverett, Mary Persons, 22:18.55

47. Georgia Maddox, Perry, 22:19.66

Teams

1. St. Pius, 46; 14. West Laurens, 419; 15. Mary Persons, 452; 16. Perry, 461; 26. Baldwin, 751

Class 4A Boys

1. Justin Wachtel, Mary Persons, 16:05.50

24. Jacob Stewart, Upson-Lee, 17:34.44

28. Paul Kellam, West Laurens, 17:40.12

Teams

1. St. Pius, 49; 11. Mary Persons, 305; 14. West Laurens, 380; 16. Perry, 490; 21. Upson-Lee, 581; 30. Baldwin, 959