Druid Hills Sage Walker (left) captured the Region 6-4A boys’ individual title in leading Druid Hills to the region team championship. Dunwoody’s Claire Shelton (right) took third in the Region 7-7A girls’ individual championship while leading Dunwoody to the girls’ region title. (Photos by Mark Brock)
DeKalb County picked up two team region titles, one individual champion and qualified nine teams (5 boys, 4 girls) for the GHSA State Meets on Friday (Nov. 5) and Saturday (Nov. 6) at the Carrollton High School Course.
Sage Walker (16:28.30) won the Region 6-4A boys’ individual title as part of five Druid Hills Red Devils who finished in the Top 10 at the meet held at the Druid Hills Middle School Course recently.
Druid Hills edged Marist 27-28 for the title with the solid core in the Top 10. Isaac Kiefer (16:34.80) crossed the line in third to pick up a bronze medal while Will Goldsmith (17:39.70) came in fifth. Lemi Gemed (17:51.70) was eighth and Owen Blount (18:04.80) was 10th.
Stephenson had two runners finish in the Top 10 in Ronaldo Richmond (22:18.40) in 15th and Jayden Powell (25.25.50) in 16th.
The Lady Red Devils finished second to Marist (17-43) in the 6-4A meet fueled by three Top finishes. Katie Blount (20:30.30) came in fifth followed by Harley Martz (20:36.00) in sixth and Sophia Shepherd (22:00.40) in ninth.
Region 7-7A
The other region title came via Dunwoody’s 7-7A trophy winning performance as five runners were in the first 11 to cross the finish line at Tribble Mill Park course in Lawrenceville. Defending region champion Clair Shelton (20:26.18) finished third this season 52 seconds behind winner Kyra Andrews of Norcross.
A five-six finish by Maggie Coxen (21:03.56) and Kate Bacon (21:16.44) was another key piece in the Lady Wildcats region title. Lucy Neumann (21:27.24) grabbed a ninth place finish and Ronnie Amrani (21:33.69) was 11th.
The 7-7A boys title went to Archer (42) followed by Norcross (63) and Dunwoody (77) in third to get one of the team qualifying spots.
The Wildcats had a pair of runners in the Top 10 led by fourth place finisher Ethan Archibald (17:45.06) and Mark Westrick (18:19.70) in 10th.
Region 4-6A
Three teams qualified for state out of Region 4-6A including both the girls and boy’s teams from Lakeside and the Tucker boys.
Lakeside (55) and Tucker (64) finished second and third, respectively, behind region winner North Atlanta (22) to qualify for the boys’ state meet as both teams had two Top 10 finishers.
Tucker’s Yordanos Ephram was the highest finisher for the DeKalb entries taking third in 17:40.62 followed by teammate Abedelemejid Kerebo (18:11.04) in sixth.
Lakeside’s Evan Leahy (18:16.85) was seventh followed closely by teammate Adam Grisch (18:50.68) in eighth.
The Lady Vikings (50) were also second behind North Atlanta (17) paced by Top 10 finishes by Ellie Skelton (21:56.45) in fourth and Nancy Puente (24:12.05) crossing in 10th.
Region 5-5A
Chamblee’s boys and girls both qualified for the state meet via their finishes in the Region 5-5A Meet at Legacy Park in Decatur.
The Bulldogs (80) came in third behind Decatur (24) and St. Pius X (46) to get that state qualifying spot. Chamblee had two runners in the Top 10 in sixth place finisher Matthew Coates (17:15.58) and seventh place finisher William Elder (17:19.16).
Chamblee (83) came in fourth in the girls’ race behind St. Pius X (28), Decatur (44) and Northview (77). DeKalb County girls’ champ Olivia Tabron (19:51.59) led the way for Chamblee crossing the line in fourth.
The state meet is set for Friday,November 5 and Saturday, November 6 at the Carrollton High School Course. Class 4A Druid Hills (boys 12 pm, girls 12:45 pm) are the only runners participating on Friday.
The Lakeside and Tucker boys open Saturday’s schedule with an 8:00 am start time in the Class 6A meet followed by the Lakeside girls at 8:45 am.
Chamblee hits the course in the Class 5A meet with the boys starting at 9:30 am followed by a 10:15 am start for the girls.
Dunwoody closes out the DeKalb participants at 12:00 pm (boys) and 1:15 pm (girls).
Tickets are $5 per person and only available on GoFan.co. Buy your tickets online ahead of time.
See the link below for the complete DCSD Region Cross Country Results:
2021 DCSD CROSS COUNTRY REGION RESULTS
DCSD CROSS COUNTRY STATE MEET SCHEDULE
Friday November 5, 2021
12:00 noon – 4A Boys (Druid Hills)
12:45 pm – 4A Girls (Druid Hills)
Saturday November 6, 2021
8:00 am – 6A Boys (Lakeside, Tucker)
8:45 am – 6A Girls (Lakeside)
9:30 am – 5A Boys (Chamblee)
10:15 am – 5A Girls (Chamblee)
12:30 pm – 7A Boys (Dunwoody)
1:15 pm – 7A Girls (Dunwoody)