The NCHS Boys’ and Girls’ Cross Country teams qualified for the state championship meet for the first time in school history while competing in the LHSAA Division 2 – Region 1 Championships at Acadiana Park in Lafayette on Thursday, November 5th.
Senior Aiden Cooper led the boys’ team with a blistering 5k time of 17:52, earning 24th place, All-Region honors, and an automatic qualifying bid to the state championship meet. The scoring was rounded out by Pierce Hyams (26th, 18:02), Patrick Martinez (32nd, 18:13), Weston Dunagan (36th, 18:21), and Tate Scribner (52nd, 19:32). The final two Chiefs to cross the finish line were Gabriel Bush (61st, 20:42) and Joseph Stephens (68th, 21:31).
In the team event, the boys qualified for state in sixth place with a 5k team average of 18:24—the fastest time by an NCHS cross country team in twenty years.
Freshman Molly Morris led the Lady Chiefs with a personal best 5k time of 25:15 earning 45th place. The rest of the scoring runners were Cora Scribner (54th, 28:19), Emery Bryant (55th, 28:40), Isabela Soto (56th, 28:44), and Carsyn Goings (60th, 29:38). Khloe Willis (61st, 29:48) and Bella Clark (68th, 31:08) were the final two Lady Chiefs across the line.
The girls’ team earned the eighth and final qualifying spot in the team event with a 5k team average of 28:07.
Both the Chiefs and Lady Chiefs will end their historic season by competing in the LHSAA Cross Country Championships in Natchitoches on November 16th.
Back (from left): Jackson Henderson, Brian Morris, Joseph Stephens, Weston Dunagan, Braxton Lambert, Patrick Martinez, Aiden Cooper, Pierce Hyams, Tate Scribner, Tano Eleyae, Gabriel Bush.
Front (from left): Molly Morris, Cora Scribner, Emery Bryant, Jenna Garcie, Carter Jackson, Bella Clark, Khloe Willis, Isabela Soto, Carsyn Goings.