Led by three stellar seventh-graders, John Paul II’s girls broke through for their first meet victory in six years, while Hilton Head Prep’s boys defended home turf in a SCISA cross country battle Thursday in Sea Pines.
Ayla Reynolds (22:53.60) claimed the individual title to lead the Golden Warriors (32 pts) to victory. Fellow seventh-graders Holis Melnick (25:16.83) and Abby Brock (26:24.52) took seventh and eighth, while Brady Mahoney (24:32.25) placed fifth.
Sixth-grader Ava Richards (23:03.82) continued her spectacular season for Beaufort Academy in second place, and Anna Kate Taylor (24:53.58) led Hilton Head Christian Academy with a sixth-place finish.
With three Dolphin runners finishing inside the top five, Hilton Head Prep (33 pts) held off an impressive performance from John Paul II (46 pts) for the boys title. Jimmy Kuehler (19:14.40) led the way in second place as CBCCA’s Jesse Richardson (18:31.35) cruised to the individual title. Freshman Ernest Friday (19:22.77) put up a terrific third-place finish for the Dolphins, and Luke Aragon (19:40.14) took fifth.
The Golden Warriors made a strong push for a clean sweep on the day, as Kelon Reynolds (19:43.47), Jack Brock (20:08.95), and Blake Hubick (20:12.60) finished sixth, seventh, and eighth. Oliver Witkowski (20:19.28) crossed the line just seven seconds later to take 10th for JPII. Noah Kaufman (19:31.77) impressed for Hilton Head Christian Academy with a fourth-place finish, while eighth-graders Weaver Cohen (22:31.19) and Burgin Topper (22:46.29) paced Beaufort Academy.
The next Grounded Running high school cross country meet is scheduled for Tuesday at Cross Schools.
By Wes Kerr
