Hornets sweep region cross country titles

Kyle Dawson, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Oct. 27—Aiken High's boys' cross country team added another trophy to its region championship winning streak Wednesday, while the Hornets' girls reclaimed the title at the Region 5-AAAA meet at Generations Park.

For the boys, it's region title No. 7 in a row, and it's seven of eight for the girls after South Aiken snapped their streak a year ago.

Aiken's boys swept the top three spots and placed five in the top 11 on their way to victory with a team total of 24 points, 30 clear of South Aiken. Anthony Defillips won the individual title with a time of 17:46.08, with Luke Fundak (17:53.00) and Adam Fundak (18:28.50) following behind.

Noah Bloese-Bueno (19:29.59) made it four Hornets on the All-Region team with a seventh-place finish. Zoro Baez (20:15.67) rounded out the scoring in 11th.

South Aiken was second with 54 points, followed by North Augusta (69) and Airport (87).

The T-Breds placed two runners on the All-Region team: Andrew Singer (18:32.73) finished fourth, and Aydan Masterson (18:40.11) took fifth. South Aiken also counted scores from Thomas Baker (10th in 20:07.46), Paul Hommel (16th in 21:03.32) and Isaiah Smalls (21st in 21:44.74).

North Augusta's Titus Sabean (19:44.11) earned a spot on the All-Region team with his eighth-place finish. The Yellow Jackets counted points from Benjamin Burch (12th in 20:16.22), Thomas Burch (13th in 20:46.90), Hayden Carter (17th in 21:15.47) and Carter Padgett (20th in 21:43.55).

Airport's Jalen Jackson (19:14.92) finished sixth to make the All-Region team.

Tyler White (20:48.01) was Midland Valley's top finisher in 14th place. Other Mustangs finishers were Wyatt McClearen (25th in 23:45.48), Zac Proctor (30th in 30:14.23) and Cohen Harrison (32nd in 44:40.24).

Aiken's girls regained the region title after, like the boys, placing five runners in the top 11 for a team score of 28 points. Victoria Colon-LaBorde once again led the way with a title-winning time of 20:43.79 and was joined on the All-Region team by Lindsey Malyszek (fourth in 22:27.39), Emily Heath (sixth in 23:07.99) and Carolina Pettigrew (23:25.06). Anne Masters Calfee added an 11th-place finish in 24:08.98.

South Aiken wasn't far behind with 33 points and placed three of the All-Region team. Lexi Taylor (20:54.14) finished second, followed by Ryley Graham (21:41.29) in third and Trista Brown (22:53.23) in fifth. Bailey Kirkland was 12th in 26:00.55, and Rachel Graham was 13th in 26:01.11.

North Augusta was third with 75 points, led by Sophia Lafont (10th in 23:50.91. The Yellow Jackets also counted scores from Madison Steed (15th in 26:17.94), Alyssa Sabean (18th in 26:54.26), Kiersten Thatcher (20th in 27:52.70) and Sydney Enevoldsen (21st in 28:45.46).

Midland Valley was fourth with 101 points, led by an All-Region performance from Grace Ann Thompkins (eighth in 23:31.88). Following her were Marlen Rosales (24th in 29:32.46), Mallorie Smith (26th in 32:53.10), Adrianna Ashley (27th in 33:43.71) and Lily Boswell (28th in 33:58.58).

The state's top 40 teams will next race Nov. 5 in the state championship qualifier at Newberry College. The state championship race is scheduled for Nov. 11 at Columbia's Sandhill Research and Education Center.