Warriors Sweep VACA Cross Country Titles

ROCKY MOUNT, Va. – Grace Christian School won both the girls’ and boys’ VACA State Cross Country Championships on Saturday. The meet was hosted by Christian Heritage Academy.

Grace Christian’s Georgia Babish won the girls’ individual title, running the 5K course in 21:19.02, more than one minute ahead of second-place finisher Jazzy Flanders of Christian Heritage Academy.

 Five schools fielded complete teams in the meet with Grace easily defeating Timberlake Christian and Heritage Christian. Grace finished with 23 points while Timberlake and Heritage Christian each scored 37. Grace placed all four of its scorers inside the Top 14 in the 25-girl field, including three in the Top 5.

Supporting Babish near the front of pack were teammates Hailey Johnson (23:08.12) in fourth place and Holly Kahn (23:38.60) in fifth.

Evie Hobbs finished 13th with a time of 25:36.47 to round out the scoring. Teammate Emery Murdock finished 14th with a time of 25:49.85 and Eden Murdock placed 19th in 28:29.92.

In the boys’ championship race, the Warriors placed four runners inside the Top 10 to edge Christian Heritage for the title, 26-30.

Jed Derrick paced Grace with a second-place finish in the field of 43 runners, running the 5K course in 18:16.83. Canon Reid also cracked the Top 5, placing fifth with a time of 18:53.01.

Isaac Ranck finished ninth overall in 19:58.37 with teammate Caleb Lum in 10th place with a time of 20:22.40 to complete the scoring. 

Cian Ivers finished 17th, running 21:49.62. Reuben Malcolm placed 21st for the Warriros and Chris Jones finished 29th. 

Heritage Christian’s Wyatt Bowker won the boys’ race with a time of 17:54.79.