CARROLLTON — Gainesville's Ashley Thompson kept pace the entire way but could not get past South Forsyth's Carmel Yonas as the two battled for the Class 7A girls state cross country championship.
In the end, Yonas was able to pull away late to finish in 18:48.88, which was 16 seconds faster than Thompson, who eventually finished as state runner-up in a time of 19:05.17.
It was also a strong dy for Region 6-7A, which went 1-2-3 in the individual race with Denmark's Morgan Grace Sheffield taking third.
In other action, the Banks County boys finished third in Class 2A with 104 points. Lovett nipped Pace Academy for the title with 39 points to Pace Academy's 41.
The Leopards' Buck Ledford finish fifth in the individual race. Union County finished 10th with 264 points, paced by Luke Gambrell, who took 10th.
The Lakeview Academy girls finished 22nd in the Class A Private meet.
