The 2025 GHSA State championships are unfortunately over. But since we just can't get enough of amazing XC races, let's take the next week to recap what happened at the meet. Also, don't forget to check out the state meet hub for full coverage of the meet including results, photos, and videos. Or go back to the preview articles to see just how accurate (or inaccurate) the predictions were:
Or you can go check out some of our other coverage like the most Improved Athletes from State or vote on the best performance from the state meet:
Ok. On to the recaps. I think the 3A fields might have gotten the worst of the weather. The rain definitely affected things, but what's worse is that it made them steamy after the rain stopped.
3A Girls
There wasn't supposed to be too much drama coming into this race. And we did see a solid battle for the win, but more or less this thing went according to the script. Emma Dobson will likely be a force in the sport moving forward, and she certainly gave it a valiant effort by pushing things early and trying to give Summer Muxlow her best efforts. But in the end Muxlow was just too strong. She seemed to be in control the whole way, even when she wasn't leading. She never got flustered, and made sure she stayed within herself until it was time to make her bid for the win. It was a wise race from a well coached runner. Muxlow's teammate Ealyn Kennedy also ran the smartest race possible, likely keeping the team score in mind as she paced herself well the first loop and took over 3rd place with relative ease on the 2nd loop. Hayden Hand ran tough all day to take 4th place and Julie Black snuck into the top 5 after what was probably her best race of the year.
In the team battle, North Hall looked to be in control the whole way. They were clearly running a patient first lap and then did what was asked of them during the 2nd lap. It was a very comfortable victory and one that showed great patience and wisdom on this course. I feel like Oconee County gave them their best effort, it's just hard to knock off a team that strong and they settled for 2nd place. Dawson County ran well to take 3rd place but it was White County who really showed up the best to snag the final trophy.
3A Boys
Again, there wasn't really much surprise going on for this race. But what was interesting to see was just how exhausted Aaron Brodrick was after this race. I'm sure that mostly had to do with the fact that it just go too warm and humid for him to truly attack the course the way he maybe wanted to when the season started. And he still threw down the 4th fastest time of the weekend, which is nothing to be ashamed of considering he was all alone and the 3 guys ahead of him on the results merge were pushed by other runners. But if I had to guess, he wanted more and will be looking to "bounce back" this weekend and prove that he's one of the best in Georgia as he pursues a national championship berth. Witt Windham also took a strong 2nd place and was one of the fastest underclassmen all weekend, it just seems like he had to wiat his turn next year before we see him take charge next year as an older runner. Still, 16:36 was nothing to scoff at in those conditions. But the rest of the top five all clearly were on a mission to prove me wrong as they put themselves up front and Levi Dailey took 3rd place Demetrius Clavino barely edged out Jacoby Stanley for 4th place. Solid running by those three runners when it mattered most.
In the team battle I know that North Hall gave it their best effort, but ultimately Oconee County was too experienced and too strong for anybody to contend with them. No reason for North Hall to not try, but Oconee was the clear favorite all year and they acted like it on the day as they ran a strong race that left little room for error. Lumpkin took a strong 3rd place, much like I predicted, but Cherokee Bluff proved me wrong by snagging the final podium spot in 4th place.