Georgia Bulletin

The Newspaper of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta

  • The Marist School girls cross-country team captured the Class AAAA state championship once again Nov. 7. They have made a habit of holding the championship trophy on the podium every year since 2008.
  • Coach Debbie Guilbeau, far left, and the St. Pius X High School girls cross-country team stand on the podium with their second place trophy following the Class AAAA state championship meet. It was the third consecutive state runner-up finish for the school. In a field of 211 runners St. Pius freshman Ellie Glenn (#2200) came in first.
  • Both Marist School boys and girls cross-country teams captured the Class AAAA state championship Nov. 7. The Marist girls have stood on the championship podium for eight straight years. Eric Heintz, who just completed his 10th season, coaches the teams.
  • After finishing as the state runner-up in 2014, the Marist School boys cross-country team won the Class AAAA state championship this year by edging out St. Pius X High School.

The Marist School girls cross-country team captured the Class AAAA state championship once again Nov. 7. They have made a habit of holding the championship trophy on the podium every year since 2008.

Atlanta

Blessed Trinity, Marist, Pius share state cross-country success

By MICHAEL ALEXANDER, Staff Photographer | Published November 12, 2015

ATLANTA—Catholic high schools experienced triumph once again in the 2015 state cross-country championships in Class AAA and Class AAAA. The meets took place at Carrollton High School Nov. 7.

Blessed Trinity High School, Roswell

Blessed Trinity High School boys won their second consecutive Class AAA state championship, outscoring second place Oconee County High School by 39 points. In a field of 223 competitors, six BT runners finished in the top 20. They were Ben McCoy (fourth, 17:40.85), Robby Gipson (seventh, 18:04.14), Brennan O’Connor (11th, 18:09.74), Leo Pryor (12th, 18:11.34), Ben Simonsen (15th, 18:23.54) and Matthew Lubert (17th, 18:28.58).

The Blessed Trinity High School boys cross-country team and coaches pose for a post meet photograph after capturing the state championship at Carrollton High School Nov. 7.

The Blessed Trinity High School boys cross-country team and coaches pose for a post meet photograph after capturing the state championship at Carrollton High School Nov. 7.

The Blessed Trinity girls were state runners-up to Westminster School. In a field of 207 runners, Mary Claire Solomon (third), Emma Rose Bagwell (10th) and Lauren Maresca (15th) cracked the top 20 for Blessed Trinity with times of 20:37.15, 21:58.04 and 22:16.83, respectively.

Marist, St. Pius boys flip the script

In 2014 St. Pius won its fifth straight state boys cross-country title after finishing ahead of Marist School. In 2015 it was the reverse with Marist finishing in first place and St. Pius earning Class AAAA state runner-up.

Frank Pittman (first, 17:08.92), Knox Pittman (10th, 17:44.48), Quinn Burden (15th, 17:54.37) and Jimmy Brewster (16th, 17:55.15) were the top four finishers for Marist in a field of 213 runners.

George Meyer (seventh), Daniel Grosch (13th), Thomas Pardue (14th) and Jacob Ressler (17th) were the top four runners for St. Pius with times of 17:30.32, 17:52.53, 17:54.00 and 17:59.52, respectively.

Marist, St. Pius girls repeat 1-2 finish

In a repeat of last year’s state cross-country championship, the Marist School girls finished in first place and St. Pius X High School followed in second place. For Marist it was their eighth consecutive girls Class AAAA state cross-country championship.

Josie Wirtz (second, 21:16.35), Myriam Alvarez (sixth, 21:31.68) and Kendall Nelson (seventh, 21:38.46) were the top three finishers for Marist in a field of 211 runners, with Kiki Popescu (10th, 21:48.98) and Olivia Baljet (12th, 22:02.23) also finishing in the top 20.

Ellie Glenn (first), Katie Glenn (11th) and Mallory Grace (18th) were the top three runners for St. Pius with times of 21:00.88, 21:50.63 and 22:17.42, respectively.