Athens schools represented strongly at the state cross country meet, with the Athens High School boys and Athens Bible School girls bringing home top seven team finishes in their respective classifications.

The Athens High boys performed very well in the Class 6A race, with four Golden Eagles runners breaking the 18-minute barrier.

Guy Greenhaw was the top Athens finisher, coming in 25th in a field of 232 runners in a time of 17:16.60. Elijah Frankel was just over a tenth of a second behind, finishing in a time of 17:16.77. Chase Irland finished 33rd in a time of 17:32.38, while Matthew Waldron finished 54th in a time of 17:50.86. Also scoring for Athens was Joshua Simmons, who finished his race in a time of 18:34.11.

The Athens High girls also competed as a team in the Class 6A meet, coming home 16th. Ella Romine was the top Athens finisher, placing 52nd in a time of 21:53.26. Ella Marloe was eight spots behind in a time of 22:04.30. Kate James, Abbie Ogles and AnnaLisa Lindsay also scored points for the Golden Eagles.

In the Class 1A-2A girls meet, the Athens Bible Trojans brought home seventh place with some strong performances.

Lillian Bradford was the top ABS runner, coming home with a 15th-place finish in a time of 22:13.65. Jessie Green was next with a 51st-place finish in a time of 24:27.11. Hannah Britnell, Jolie Green and Mallory Hall also scored points for the Trojans.

Running as individuals in the 1A-2A girls race were Tanner’s Yami Mendoza, who finished 36th in a time of 23:39.92, and Lindsay Lane Christian’s Ashleigh Madagan, who placed 54th in a time of 24:33.10.

Athens Bible competed as a team in the 1A-2A boys race, finishing 11th. The Trojans were led by Nicolas Ulrich, who came home 16th in a time of 17:57.00. Andrew Hall also finished in the top 30 with a 29th-place finish in a time of 18:38.18. Grey Fortenberry, Eli Fortenberry and Jack Bradford also scored points for the Trojans.

Tanner and Lindsay Lane didn’t compete as a team but had runners competing individually. Tanner’s Richard Rosas came home 30th in a time of 18:38.24, while Lindsay Lane’s Brady Anderson was 41st in a time of 19:07.69.

No local schools qualified in the team competition in other classifications, but several local runners competed as individuals in those races.

In the Class 4A girls race, a trio of West Limestone runners placed in the top 20. Avery Keenon finished eighth in a time of 20:21.13, while Katie Serrato was 14th in a time of 20:38.93. Cassidy Winter was 16th in a time of 20:54.40.

Elkmont’s Claudia Allen also competed in the 4A girls race, finishing 46th in a time of 22:42.59.

In the Class 4A boys race, West Limestone’s Levi Jackson was the top local finisher, coming in 62ndwith a time of 18:33.36. Teammate Alan Satterlee was right behind in a time of 18:34.54, while Ethan Navas finished in 19:14.55.

In the Class 3A girls race, Clements’ Darby Moore came home 61st in a time of 23:20.22.