Cross Country Final 2021 Update: The State Meet

Athletics

11/9/2021

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our Wildcat runners!

After claiming both boys and girls individual region champions (Eli Scott and Claire Peacock), 11 out of 20 all region awards, and both region team championships, the teams had two and half weeks to prepare for the state meet. The boys’ team was the heavy favorite entering the state meet, while it looked like the girls’ title was going to be a battle between our girls and Frederica Academy out of St. Simons.

Saturday morning in Macon was less than ideal at 42 degrees and a steady wind. Fortunately the Class AA teams were running early which gave it time to warm up at least a couple of degrees before the Class AAA races. Augusta Prep won both boys and girls AA state titles. In the Class AAA girls’ race, Abigail Knight (3rd), Claire Peacock (5th) and Rachel Goodell (10th) claimed all state honors with Abigail setting a new PR and Rachel just over 1 second from her PR, but Frederica Academy placed 5 in the top 20 to claim the 2021 state title. Our girls finished as State Runner-up. 

The boys’ race started fast with Frederica Academy’s boys and a couple of boys from Trinity-Dublin doing their best to keep pace with our top 5. The meet was close at the 1 mile mark, but as some of the Frederica runners and those from other teams started to fade, it was clear by mile 2 that there was a reason we had been the top ranked independent team all season. Eli Scott would outsprint a young runner from Trinity-Dublin to claim the individual state title and the boys would place five on the all state team including Scott (1st), Adam Lippe (3rd), Brad Joiner (6th), Christian Vitacco (9th), and Lucas Johnson (10th). The boys finished 37 points ahead of runner up, Frederica Academy.

Final tally for the state meet: 1 individual champion (Eli Scott), 8 out of 20 all state awards, 1 state team title and 1 state runner up. Thanks for a great season, Wildcats!