The Elizabethton Cyclone cross country teams capped off a solid regular season and followed those showings by taking first place in the boys’ regional race held at Daniel Boone High School in A-AA by placing five boys in the top 25 finishers while the girls team also finished strong with a fourth place finish.

Both teams qualified for the TSSAA Class A-AA State Championship on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Sanders Ferry Park. Sanders Ferry Park is a 70-acre lakeside park operated by the City of Hendersonville located on a peninsula surrounded by Old Hickory Lake. The park is located northeast of Nashville about 10 miles east of I-65.

The boys will race at 3:40 pm EST at the conclusion of the girls race that begins at 2:50 pm. The team is coached by Mark Newman.

In the regional meet, Max Garner set the pace for the Cyclones as he finished the course in 17:49.90 to collect third place. Right on the heels of Garner was junior Riley Vernon who legged a time of 17:54.00 for fourth place.

Jerry Behrmann was the third Cyclone in the top 10 as he crossed the finish line in seventh place with a time of 18:11.40. Cooper Jack brought home a 19th place finish with a time of 19:03.80.

Cooper Chinault finished 24th as the sophomore finished the course in a time of 19:26.80.

Other Cyclone finishers were: William Snodgrass 26th (19:29.30), Brian Presley 59th (21:15.10), and Jacob Jenkins 84th (23:34.00).

Following Elizabethton in the team scores were Sullivan East, Volunteer, Tennessee High, Gatlinburg Pittman, University School, Greeneville, Unicoi Co., Cherokee, Claiborne, South Greene, Northview, Pigeon Forge, and Grainger.

Happy Valley’s Jullian Pate finished 107th with a time of 29:53.30.

On the girls’ side of the competition, Elizabethton freshman Helen Hackett had the best time finishing 8th with a time of 22:57.40. Grace Artz came across the finish line with a 20th place finish in a time of 24:32.20.

Jasey Hyatt was right behind Artz as the Lady Cyclone came in with a 24:32.70 good enough for a 21st place finish.

Other finishers for the Lady Cyclones were: Brenann Vance 41st (27:13.30), Amberlin Grindstaff 51st (28:32.70), and Maggie Howland 70th (32:33.00).

The Lady Warriors of Happy Valley saw Seilah Pickering finish in 9th place with a time of 22:57.80. Juley Nieminski also finished 62nd for the Lady Warriors in a time of 29:58.20. Rylee Lyle crossed the finish line in 77th place with a finishing time of 34:48.50. Daisy Conley closed out the event for Happy Valley with a time of 36:07.30  to finish in 81st place.

Team scores resulted in the following finish: Volunteer, Tennessee High, Gatlinburg-Pittman, Elizabethton, Greeneville, Sullivan East, West Greene, and Northview.