Staff reports

ALBANY — Valwood’s Lady Valiants and Highland Christian’s Eagles will compete in the GIAA state cross country meet later this month after qualifying at district Wednesday.

The Lady Valiants were fourth at the District 3-3A meet Wednesday, which took place on the Darton campus in Albany.  Highland’s boys were fourth

The GIAA has announced that the top four teams in each district, as well as any other individuals in the top 10 of each conference meet make state.

State will take place Oct. 26 at the Peake Cross Country Trail in Macon. First Presbyterian Day is to serve as host.

Vanessa Smith placed fifth overall, crossing the finish in 23:13, according to official results on MileSplit. Lillie Moore was 15th in 25:27 and Ava Garrett was 16th in 26:16.

Julia Soshnik’s time was 27:13 for 19th, Annabel Musgrove was 29th in 32:33 and Megan Allison was 31st in 34:03.

Valwood barely missed out on third place. Both the Lady Valiants and Brookwood scored 86 points, but Brookwood’s sixth runner placed ahead of Valwood’s.

Deerfield-Windsor ran away with the 3-3A title at 21 points.

Lane Peterman was Valwood’s only male runner. He finished in 32:57.

Sherwood Christian was the host for District 3-2A, which featured both Highland Christian and Georgia Christian.

Noah Howington was the first Highland Eagle across the finish line, fifth place in 18:16. Ian Hulett was 10th in 18:59. Gabe Fisher and Deacon Fisher were both in the top 25, Gabe 22nd in 21:26. Deacon was two minutes behind him.

Philip Judd and Will Kinney completed Highland’s lineup.

Highland’s girls barely missed state, as a team and with an individual. The Lady Eagles were fifth in 3-2A and Susannah Byram, their top runner, was 12th overall.

Byram’s time was 23:45, only 24 seconds off 10th place.

Rachel Wartman, Emma Skweres, April Powell and Maggie Bush ran for the Lady Eagles. Wartman was 25th in 27:19.

Gentry Dees of Georgia Christian also had a close call making state. She was 13th at district, a time of 24:04. Joy Frazier was 20th for the Lady Generals.

Georgia Christian’s lone male runner was Downing Connor, whose time was 28:23.