Mavs XC teams place in Top 10 at state
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Anderson County High School boys and girls cross country teams competed in the TSSAA Cross Country A/AA championship meet on Friday. Ava Moody (24) placed third in the state with a time of 18:47.45. - Tony Cox
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Vance Laster finished in the Top 10 and took home all-state honors at the TSSAA state championship XC meet last Friday. - Tony Cox
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Cameron Hardy ran a season-best time of 16:52.57 at the TSSAA state championship at Sanders Ferry Park. - Tony Cox
Anderson County High School concluded its 2023 cross country season on a high note.
Both the Mavericks and Lady Mavericks posted Top 10 finishes at the Class A/AA state championships at Sanders Ferry Park in Hendersonville.
The boys culminated their season by finishing sixth in the Midstate. The girls, who had been plagued by injuries all season, came in 10th.
The boys are steadily climbing on the grand stage as they finished 18th in 2021 and came in 10th in 2022.
Vance Laster was the Mavs’ top finisher, and he became Anderson County’s first boy to achieve all-state status as he posted a 10th-place individual finish. He completed the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 29.26 seconds.
“I was really proud of Vance; he ran really well and became the first boy at our school to make all-state,” Anderson County Coach Derek Wallace said.
Laster was one of two ACHS runners to receive all-state honors. The Lady Mavericks’ Ava Moody claimed that status after finishing third (18:47.45) overall in the race. She’s the third Lady Maverick to earn all-state status, joining Kaitlyn Fisher, who was an all-state standout last season, and Madison Moody (her sister), who was an all-state performer during her time at ACHS. All-state honors are awarded to the Top 15 individual finishers.
Other finishers for the boys included: Cameron Hardy, who came in 19th with a time of 16:52.57); Ben Clotfelder, who overcame injury to come in 34th with a time of (17:16.47); John Cutler, who completed the course in 17:35.89; Darren Anderson (132nd 18:45.87); Toby Day (187th, 19:38.80);and Ethan Bolton (189th, 19:39.75).
“After finishing 18th two years ago and finishing 10th last year, our boys are climbing the ranks,” Wallace said. “I was pleased.”
As for the Lady Mavericks, Moody was third. Fisher finished 29th (20:34.21) despite nursing an injury. Marley Caldwell finished 83rd (22:37.79). Sydney Day came in 121st (23:21.70). Emily Boring came in 125th (23:27.73). Morgan Lindsay was 184th (25:44.11), and Emma Johnson was 240th (30:33.56).
“I’m really pleased with the girls,” Wallace said. “Emma wasn’t expecting to run and she gutted it out. I was really happy with Marley, and Sydney didn’t run there last year,” Wallace said.
Many of the Lady Mavericks posted their best times last week at Sanders Ferry Park.