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Jefferson and Marist mix it up early in the race.
The 4A girls race featured Marist versus Jefferson and those squads top runners Ruby Little and Katherine Law squaring off for the individual title. Marist won the team title as expected, but the battle for the overall crown was the highlight of this event.
Overall Champ Katherine Law of Jefferson.
In one of the best battles of the day for a girl's individual championship. Katherine Law shot off the starting line establishing the pace splitting mile one at 5:47 with Ruby Little behind her at 6:02. On top of the horseshoe hill before loop 2 Law had a 30 meter lead on Little with Ava Caldwell third. By mile 2 Little began to whittle away Law's lead both splitting a 12:17. Law made several moves to break away, with Little answering them. Law used her speed on the final downhill to separate crossing the mats in 19:24 for the win.
Ruby Little of Marist
Little ran a gutsy race making several moves in the last 900 meters trying to take the lead from overall Champ Katherine Law. Just a freshman, her future looks very bright. She hung tough till the end in a time of 19:27 placing 2nd overall.
Johna Grisik of Marist.
Marist is back in the saddle again after a tough loss in 2019 to a very good St. Pius X squad (who won 5A early Saturday morning) The War Eagles had 4 girls make the top 10, including going 2, 3, 4. Little led the way as the individual runner-up in 19:27, Johna Grisik was 3rd place in 20:27 with Kate Selover 4th at 20:35.
Anna James from Thomas County High School.
Most don't expect runners from south Georgia to come up to hilly Carrollton and be successful. But, Anna James, a senior from Thomas County Central (15 miles from Florida) proved them wrong as she churned to 5th place overall going 20:43.
Freshman Ava Caldwell of North Oconee.
Somehow, North Oconee seems to get blessed with a talented freshman girl dating back to the Greenwall twins in 2008. They have yet another one with Ava Caldwell. She was consistently good all year and only raced 5 times during the regular season making for fresh legs at Carrollton. She placed 6th overall a step behind Anna James in 20:44 leading the Titans to a 3rd place team finish.
Lucy Barker of Central HS
Central had a great season and capped it off by racing to 4th as a team led by freshman Lucy Barker who placed 8th overall posting a time of 20:49.