DOUGLASVILLE, Ga. — Johns Creek High School Cross Country put on a clinic at the Sectional meet, putting exclamation points on a huge postseason run and punching State Finals tickets for both squads.
From locking up back-to-back region titles to breaking decades-old program benchmarks, the Gladiators executed across the board.
Girls Squad: Dominant Sectional Win En Route to Carrollton
The Johns Creek girls took care of business in Douglasville, winning the Sectional title by a massive 60-point margin. The victory locks up their 4th consecutive State Finals appearance, where they will compete for their 3rd straight podium finish.
This performance builds right on top of their recent postseason hardware, having just secured their second straight Region Championship. The girls executed their pack-running strategy to perfection, stringing together a tight 36-second spread across their top five runners:
Tasneem Ahmed (SR): 6th place (19:16.70) — 6th Fastest in JCHS History
Ava Reames (SR): 10th place (19:29.63)
Isabella Skeens (FR): 12th place (19:33.55) — 9th Fastest in JCHS History
Amber Rossi (SR): 14th place (19:37.61)
Hayden Huston (SR): 17th place (19:53.31)
Molly Lovelace (SO): 20th place (19:58.04)
With all five scoring runners placing inside the top 17, the girls put real estate between themselves and the field early, holding standard all the way through the line.
Boys Squad: Program Milestone & A 14-Year Record Shattered
The Johns Creek boys made program history with a performance over a decade in the making. The boys placed 6th at Sectionals, securing their first State Meet appearance since 2012. That result follows a standout region performance where they finished 3rd, tying the highest region finish in school history.
Lincoln Hipp provided the exclamation point on the day. Hipp broke the Johns Creek school record that had stood untouched for 14 years, stopping the clock at 16:11.76 to lead the way. The rest of the varsity roster packed it up to secure the team's qualifying spot:
Lincoln Hipp (SR): 15th place (16:11.76) — New School Record
Stryder Jones (SR): 25th place (16:23.01) — 4th Fastest in JCHS History
David Laughlin (SR): 32nd place (16:34.71)
Clarke Boy (SR): 66th place (17:22.37)
James Uptegraph (SO): 70th place (17:25.23)
Chase James (SO): 93rd place (17:49.02)
On to Carrollton - Both teams now shift focus to the GHSA State Cross Country Championship at Carrollton High School. The girls head in looking to grab hardware on the podium once again, while the boys bring momentum into the state field.
