HV girls, Cyclone boys earn state berths

from staff reports
GRAY--On Thursday afternoon, Happy Valley's girls and Elizabethon's boys secured their reservations for the state cross country meet.
Needing a top three finish in the Region 1-A/AA championship at Daniel Boone, the Lady Warriors emerged with the girls' team championship, while the Cyclones took runner-up honors on the boys' side.
Both teams will compete in state competition in Brentwood on Nov. 1.
Fueled by a second-place finish by Katie Williams (19:26.08) and a third-place showing from Kortney Goulds (20:17.71), the Lady Warriors totaled 22 points in their victory, beating out runner-up Sullivan Central (39 points) and third-place J. Frank White (86).
Volunteer's Jacklyn Talbert took top individual honors for the girls, running a personal best 19:18.62.
In the boys' race, Sullivan Central led the way with 23 points, followed by Elizabethton with 32 and Sullivan North, 108.
Todd Skelton of Volunteer was the first to cross the finish line, posting a time of 16:44.52. The Cougars' Chris Blackburn, at 16:48.10, was second.