TCHS Runs At Sectionals

Courtesy of TCHS

On Saturday, the Toombs County High School Bulldogs hosted the GHSA Sectional Cross Country Meet, which showcased a new format this year.

The traditional Region meets were replaced, sending all teams to a Sectional event featuring schools from four different Regions across the state. In this new setup, teams had to finish in the top 12 to qualify for the State Meet in Carrollton this weekend. The GHSA also determined Region winners based on Sectional results, adding an extra layer of competition to the day.

Boys

The boys were up first, running an impressive race and securing a 4th place finish out of 22 teams, which qualified them for the State Meet.

Sophomore Juan Luna led the charge, clocking a personal record of 16:50. A time that not only earned him a PR but also crowned him as the individual Region Champion. Freshman Luis Valentin, who has shown steady improvement all season, was the second finisher for Toombs County. Completing the team’s top five were Kevin Mentado, Cole Russell, and Victor Valentin, all of whom contributed to the Bulldogs’ successful day.

Girls

In the second race, the girls’ team ran a strong race of their own, finishing 6th out of 16 teams and also securing a spot at the State Meet in Carrollton. Junior Camila Hernandez led the Lady Bulldogs with a time of 25:09, followed closely by teammates Mareli Luna, Deanna Gonzalez, Bryleigh Woods, and Josseline Zamorano.

Despite facing more injuries than the boys’ team, the girls displayed resilience and put together a solid performance to qualify.

Coach Jeremy Moore shared his pride in both groups, highlighting the boys’ consistency and depth as they improved their times over the season, with several team members hitting PRs in the final month. He also praised the girls for overcoming injuries and working hard to secure a spot in the State Meet despite a smaller roster.

The Bulldogs will compete at State in Carrollton this Friday, with the boys’ race set for 12:00 p.m. and the girls’ race at 12:45 p.m.

State Shotgun Champion – Robert Toombs’ Lily Cauley brought home the State Championship in Shotgun last week. She won skeet and trap, and is the 2024 GIAA class AA high overall State Champion.Photo by RTCA