GEORGIA STATE MEET

Averi Lowen Adds To Her Legacy In Georgia With Historic State Meet Performance

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Bowdon junior Averi Lowen delivered one of the most commanding performances in Georgia cross country history at the 2025 GHSA State Cross Country Championships, held Nov. 7–8 at the storied Carrollton Course and presented by the Atlanta Track Club.

Lowen captured her third consecutive state title in emphatic fashion, stopping the clock in 16 minutes, 56.12 seconds to defend her 1A Division 2 crown and cement her status as the fastest female runner in the state across all classifications.

Already ranked No. 1 nationally in the DyeStat XC rankings, Lowen lowered her previous state-championship best by nearly a full minute and ran more than three minutes faster than her freshman winning time. Her margin of victory was staggering:

 • 5.5 minutes ahead of the next Class A-D2 finisher

 • 1.5 minutes ahead of the next-fastest female in Georgia

 • 15 seconds quicker than the Class A-D2 boys champion

Atlanta Classical claimed both the boys and girls 1A-D2 team titles, with the boys scoring 29 points behind a powerhouse 1-2-4 finish and the girls totaling 54 with four runners in the top 17. The individual boys winner was Atlanta Classical’s Sanders Hearne III in 17:10.90. 

In 6A girls action, Harrison’s Paige Comstock (18:47.84) and Norah Hickerson (18:58.96) opened the weekend with a powerful 1–2 finish, though Marietta’s depth ultimately sealed the team title for the program's sixth straight state title with 38 points.

Collins Hill’s Jameson Pifer Jr, a senior, charged to the 6A title in 15:45.56, leading a deep field that produced multiple sub-16:10 efforts. West Forsyth, however, controlled the team race with a low-scoring 53-point total.

Pope junior Aislynn Dunn edged Evans standout Liliana Beemer in a tight finish, 18:52-18:53, sparking Pope’s dominant team win and another 5A crown.

Despite Lakeside DeKalb’s Andrew Bitsko capturing the individual crown in 15:58.96, Creekview packed up early and often, scoring 63 points to secure the program’s first 5A championship.

Midtown senior Cameron Collier used a decisive late-race surge to pull away for the 4A individual championship, clocking 16:07.78, just enough to hold off Maynard Jackson’s Everett Sanders (16:09.01) and Benedictine Military’s Cole Minnich (16:12.09). The team battle was one of the tightest of the meet as Westminster reclaimed the 4A title with 88 points, using a disciplined pack that placed 4–16–21–23–24 among their scoring five. Starr's Mill was second with 91 points.

Maynard Jackson senior Grace Danser closed out her final state high school cross country meet with a signature win, capturing the 4A girls championship in 19:04.53. Marist sophomore Morgan Waddell kept it close throughout, finishing just one second back in 19:05.52. On the team side, Westminster delivered a balanced, veteran-driven performance to win with 85 points, edging past Marist (87) and Harris County (94). 

Oconee County junior Aaron Brodrick turned in one of the strongest performances of the weekend, powering to the 3A individual state title in 16:04.23. Brodrick’s front-running also set the tone for Oconee County’s team championship, as the Warriors packed efficiently to secure the 3A boys crown.

North Hall sophomore Summer Muxlow claimed the 3A girls individual title with a poised, controlled win in 19:23.03. Muxlow’s victory led a dominant team showing as North Hall scored just 63 points, placing their top five well inside the scoring window to secure the win.

Franklin County senior Will Gipson surged away over the final mile to capture the 2A individual state championship, running 17:09.60 to finish comfortably ahead of Union County’s Holden Payne (17:30.69). Behind the individual storyline, Columbus  secured the 2A boys team championship with 68 points.

Olivia DiQuattro of Columbus won the 3A girls race in 20:54.21, pulling away from Savannah Arts senior Francie Tedder (21:29.23) and eighth grader McKay Bennett (21:55.18).

Savannah Arts, however, owned the team storyline. The Panthers scored 37 points and put five runners in the top 16, sealing the 2A girls team title with one of the most complete performances of the day. Columbus finished second with 44 points.

Bleckley County delivered one of the most dominant performances of the entire championship weekend, sweeping the top three individual spots and cruising to the 1A-Division I boys team title with just 26 points.

Senior Jack Harrell powered away late to win the individual crown in 16:50.42, followed closely by teammates Ryder Garrett (16:53.92) and Brody Gibbs (17:05.38).

Bleckley County doubled up with yet another strong run in the girls race. Junior Lily Farrell took the 1A-D1 individual title in 18:38.92, one of the fastest times of the day across the small-school divisions. Bleckley dominated the team scoring with 23 points. 

Mount Vernon sophomore Morgan Huggins surged to the front early and never looked back, taking the 1A–3A Private girls championship in 19:48.06. Wesleyan used depth and balance to secure the team title with 58 points.

Wesleyan senior Landon Jonas claimed the 1A–3A Private individual state title with a composed, powerful 16:30.37, setting the tone early on a fast first mile before pulling away from Trinity Christian senior Samuel Wood (16:36.90).

In the team race, Hebron Christian Academy secured the championship with 109 points, just ahead of Whitefield Academy (112).

TEAM CHAMPIONS

6A: West Forsyth boys 53 points; Marietta girls 38 points - RESULTS

5A: Creekview boys 63 points; Pope girls  35 points - RESULTS

4A: Westminster boys  88 points; Westminster girls 85 points - RESULTS

3A: Oconee County boys 55 points; North Hall girls 63 points - RESULTS

2A: Columbus boys 68 points; Savannah Arts girls  37 points - RESULTS

1A Division I: Bleckley County boys  26 points; Bleckley County girls  23 points - RESULTS

1A Division II: Atlanta Classical Academy boys  29 points; Atlanta Classical Academy girls  54 points - RESULTS

1A–3A Private: Hebron Christian boys  109 points; Wesleyan girls  58 points - RESULTS