Girls and boys place 4th in state cross country
The Jeff Davis High school cross country teams represented well this past weekend at the GHSA State Championships in Carrollton. Both the boys and girls teams finished fourth overall in the field of 24 teams in Class 1A Division 1.
Bleckley County dominated the class winning both the boys and girls team titles, along with multiple All-State runners. Ellie Marchant was the JD squads only All-State runner with an 8th place finish in the girls championship race, matching her All-State run from the 2024 season but running just slightly faster this year.
Prior to Saturday’s state meet, a MileSplit Meet Preview Article was released and the JD squads were really not even mentioned. The girls team got a small mention but another team was favored to take the podium spot. The boys team was not mentioned at all.
JDHS Cross Country Coach Will Wood used the MoileSplit article as bulletin board material and motivation going into the meet. Both teams had really good regular seasons and Sectional Meet performances, but for some reason MileSplit overlooked them and projected North Georgia teams on the podium. This served as pretty good fuel going into meet day.
The JD squads have established themselves as one of the best programs in the class. They were one of three schools to have both boys and girls on the podium for the 2025 season. Bleckley (Boys & Girls both 1st), Fannin (Boys 2nd & Girls 3rd), and Jeff Davis (Boys & Girls both 4th).
Boys Results
17. Mario Franco, 18:20.09; 24. Will Morris; 31. Eric Trejo; 40. Angel Pineda; 47. Luke Relihan; 56. Konnor Munsayac; 62. Bryan Hulett.
Team Scores
1. Bleckley County 26
2. Fannin County 97
3. Armuchee 137
4. Jeff Davis 148
5. Vidalia 183
6. Barrow Academy 213
7. Bremen 247
8. Toombs County 253
9. Model 312
10. Washington County 315
11. Jasper County 325
12. Oglethorpe County 344
13. Social Circle 391
14. Dodge County 396
15. Worth County 424
16. Woodville-Tompkins 426
17. Gordon Lee 433
18. ACE Charter 445
19. Gordon Central 461
20. Berrien County 491
21. Brantley County 492
22. Lamar County 495
23. Temple 524
24. Dade County 552
Girls Results
8. Ellie Kate Marchant 21:06.54; 21. Avery Haley; 40. Jade Franco; 42. Laysie Lewis; 53. Aurie Taylor; 56. Çhristina Wilcox; 74. Marley Powell.
Team Scores
1. Bleckley County 23
2. Bremen 109
3. Fannin County 110
4. Jeff Davis 160
5. Jasper County 198
6. Model 200
7. Armuchee 234
8. Banks County 299
9. Vidalia 322
10. Haralson County 323
11. Brantley County 335
12. Gordon Lee 365
13. Toombs County 369
14. Rabun County 404
15. Bacon County 411
16. Temple 425
17. Barrow Academy 441
18. Coosa 448
19. Fitzgerald 453
20. Woodville-Tompkins 478
21. Heard County 498
22. Berrien County 492
23. Gordon Central 609
24. Jefferson County 611
I would like to congratulate Jeff Davis’ cross country teams on a wonderful season. Coach Wood is a remarkable man, who, along with his coaching staff, have done an amazing job again this year. His teams are always ready on race day, and his kids are always so respectful and always show such great sportsmanship. It is an honor to get to compete against his teams, and it is more of an honor to call him my friend! Congrats again to both teams and coaches!!
[EDITOR’S NOTE: High praise, indeed, coming from Shelly Cranford, the long-time cross country coach at Bleckley County High School. This year, Cranford’s boys and girls cross country teams both won the GHSA state championships, and Coach Wood’s teams both finished 4th. Cranford’s success story at his alma mater, Bleckley County, has made a name for himself in cross country circles across Georgia and beyond. Praise from him is indeed an honor, both for Coach Will Wood and the athletes he has mentored over the years. We join Coach Cranford in his admiration for the job Will Wood has done at his alma mater, Jeff Davis High School.