Webb boys, 2 runners XC state champs; HVA girls #2
HENDERSONVILLE — Having three girls, including twins, finish in the top eight, and five in the top 17 among TSSAA Division II-AA runners, Webb School of Knoxville grabbed a cross country state championship at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville late last week.
Meanwhile, local private school boys swept the individual honors in Middle Tennessee, as Webb senior Colin Eckerman was Division II-AA champ (14:51.54) while Christian Academy of Knoxville senior Joshua Cross finished first in Division II-A (16:33.03).
Webb girls team No. 1
The Lady Spartans finished with 41, 21 better than runner-up Harpeth Hall (62), led by sophomore twins Jazzlyn Garner, taking fourth (18:05.74), followed by twin sister Calysta Garmer in seventh (18:19.49) and fellow sophomore Carolina Areheart capturing eighth (18:25.26).
Senior Lauren Davis placed 12th, while Webb freshman Ariana Vargas took 17th.
HVA girls 2nd
Hardin Valley Academy’s girls finished second to Brentwood in Division I-AAA (92 versus 136), led by freshman fourth-place finisher Emma Cessna (18:11.43), ninth-place senior Maddie Archdale (18:43.38) and 13th-place freshman Alexandra Vesser.
Farragut’s girls finished 10th.
CAK boys 3rd, KCHS 5th
Cross’ top finish allowed CAK to finish third as a team with 92 points. Warriors junior Andrew Mansfield placed ninth (17:13.26).
Local champion Keegan Smith of Knoxville Catholic, a junior, placed third in Division II-AA (15:02.24), helping his Irish claim fifth place as a team along with fifth-place individual finisher Radek Molchan, a KCHS sophomore (15:19.32). Eckerman’s top individual performance helped Webb capture eighth as a team.
Other top boys
Behind state champ Farragut in Division I-AA boys (see page 1A), HVA”s boys grabbed eighth-place led by Carson Long’s 16th-place finish.
Tops at Middle School state
While Farragut captured the state Varsity Middle School crown in Memphis Saturday, Oct. 28 (see page 1A of our Nov. 1 issue), Hardin Valley Middle had the individual champ and runner-up. Evan Van De Griff finished the 2-mile course No. 1 at 10:31.00, followed closely by teammate Isaac Socha (10:32.60) in leading the Hawks to a fourth-place team finish.
Top Admirals were John Williams in sixth (10:50.70), Chase Temples close behind in seventh (10:53.60) and Lucas Spadafora capturing 17th place. Silas Collins of Episcopal School of Knoxville took 15th.
Top local runner among Varsity School girls was Ava Brinley of FMS, who finished 15th.
Hardin Valley’s JV boys finished a close second to Houston (34 versus 25), led by four Hawks in the top nine: Liam Hurst, runner-up (11:52.50); Troy Fleming, third (12:10.30); Ignacio Almonte, sixth (12:22.00); and Dakota Gillen, ninth (12:47.50). Hawk Kade Hendrix was 16th.
Farragut finished third led by Evan Russ (11th), Joaquin Vargas (15th), Pierce Ward (18th), Lincoln Lockhart (20th) and Zachary Van Order (21st).
The Lady Admirals JV girls also captured third in state with three of the top six placers: Madison Harman, third (14:09.30); Sophie Brown, fifth (14:19.70); and Alex King, sixth (14.20.10); along with Elizabeth Scaffidi taking 18th-place.
Riley Cadmus of HVMS was 16th.
