With a pair of assists prior to the season, Trion coach Lanny Thomas has his boys’ cross country team in a position to win a state championship today.
The Bulldogs are the top-ranked team in Class A heading into the GHSA Cross Country Championships, which begin this morning at 7:45 at Carrollton High School. The Trion teams will run the final two races of the day in the Class A public division.
The area takes three region team champions to today’s meet: Heritage’s girls, who are ranked No. 2 in AAAA, and both Coahulla Creek teams in AAA.
“This has been a great season,” Coahulla Creek coach Josh Deslattes said. “The team has performed very well as a whole, and individuals have stepped up as needed throughout the season to help us overcome minor injuries and other adversities. The strong leadership from our seniors matched with great attitudes and natural motivation have made this team great to coach and has led to continuous improvement and success throughout the season.”
Heritage’s Lady Generals won a state championship in 2011 but since then have been stuck in second behind Marist out of Atlanta. This year’s team has been led by senior Emily Poole, who won the Region 7 championship, but the team was dominant in taking five of the top nine spots in the region meet. Northwest Whitfield’s girls qualified third.