CARROLLTON — The Rabun County girls and the Banks County boys each finished as state runners-up Friday after the first day of the state cross country meet at the West Georgia Course.
The Lady Wildcats placed three runners in the top 10. Georgia Stockton finished fifth, Laken Stiles seventh, and Hanna Cannon 10th for the Lady Wildcats, who tallied a 117 score to finish behind champion Bleckley County, who finished with 80 points.
The Banks County girls finished sixth, paced by Allison Smith, who finished ninth overall.
In the boys competition, Banks County took second behind Bleckley County. The Leopards were nipped by Bleckley 43 to 55. It was a tight battle the entire race.
Both teams placed four runners in the top 13 but Bleckley’s fifth runner finished 15th to Banks County’s No. 4 runner placing 25th and that would prove to be the difference.
Samual Davidson finished fourth as Banks County’s top finisher.
The Rabun County boys finished 14th, led by Guy Gober, who finished sixth overall.
In the Class A Private boys competition, Lakeview Academy took seventh in the 16-team field.
The Lions were paced by a 10th-place finish from Wright Allen. Allen became just the third Lakeview Academy runner to finish in the top 10 in the state.
The state meet will resume and conclude on Saturday in Carrollton at the West Georgia Course.
