St. Pius X High School is currently ranked first in Class AAA cross country and third in the state in all classifications behind nationally ranked Brookwood High School, Snellville, and Parkview High School, Lilburn. Pius finished third at last month’s Berry Invitational, Rome, behind Brookwood and Parkview and second at the Marist School Double Dip. The team had first-place finishes at the Altitude Invitational, Mercer University, the Atlanta Classic, Clinton Farms, and the Westover Invitational, Robert Cross Middle School. At the Westover meet, senior Brendan Hoban ran a 15:06, improving on his own school record and running the fastest time in the state—plus the 21st fastest time in the country so far this year. Austin Sprague ran a 15:32, which is the fastest time in the country for a freshman. Calvin Tirrell ran 15:55, the 28th fastest time in the country for a sophomore. The St. Pius team average of 15:48.45 is a new school record and the fastest average in the state so far this year. Their next meet is at the Coach Wood Invitational, Gainesville, Saturday, Oct. 16.

Marist School’s varsity boys and girls clinched four first- and two second-place trophies during three meets to begin the season. Finishing first at the Westminster School’s Kosh Classic Invitational, Aug. 21, the boys had three runners finishing in the top ten—senior captains Scott Selvey, Ben Campbell and Matthew Webber. Senior captain Sophie Harkins, who set a new course record by 57 seconds, led the girls team. She was followed closely by sophomore Kate Northrop. Marist girls and boys defended their home course with a first-place finish during the school’s Double Dip Invitational, Sept. 21, and they continued to drop time at the Great American Invitational, Cary, N.C. Marist races again at the Coach Wood Invitational, Gainesville, Saturday, Oct. 16.

In the Sept. 14 meet against Stratford Academy, Macon, the Holy Spirit Preparatory School boys team finished second out of 15 teams. Ryan Doyle finished in first place for the boys. For the girls Hannah Meadows finished in first place and Angela Dale finished in fourth place. As a team the girls finished in second place out of nine teams.  Four of the Holy Spirit’s top seven varsity boys were out of action for the Sept. 25 Heritage Invitational Classic, Newnan, but other runners like Alex Rodriguez, who finished third overall, and Tomas Rodriguez, who finished seventh overall, stepped up in their absence. Doyle finished in first place once again, and the team finished in second place. The varsity girls were also missing several runners, but Meadows took first place, Dale finished second and Carolyn Perez finished in sixth place. As a team the girls captured first place.

During an Oct. 5 meet at Mill Springs Academy, Alpharetta, the boys team earned a first-place finish as Doyle finished in first place and Rodriguez finished in the top 10. The girls team also captured a first-place finish as Meadows finished first, Dale finished second and Perez finished fourth. Holy Spirit returns to Alpharetta for another meet against Mill Springs, Thursday, Oct. 14, and the region meet takes place Monday, Oct. 18.