Overholt wins WHC cross country title; Polk boys, girls place second

Olivia Overholt claimed the Western Highlands Conference girls cross country title on Thursday, dominating the field competing at Montreat College.

Overholt finished the course in a time of 19:53.1, breaking the 20-minute mark for the first time and winning the race by 26 seconds over runner-up Laila Burk of Owen.

Polk County finished second in the team race, 17 points behind Owen.

Photo Gallery: 2019 WHC Cross Country Championships

Owen and Polk County also finished 1-2 in the boys race, with the Warhorses claiming the top seven places and posting a minimum team score of 15.

Polk County finished with 58 points, led by Mark Teague’s ninth-place effort in 19:14.7.

Overholt, a sophomore, is the first Polk County individual girls champion since India Godlock in 2016.

The Polk girls had one other top-10 finisher, that being Taytem Johnson’s sixth-place effort with a time of 21:52.3. Lindsey Jenkins took 12th in 22:55.4, with Tori Thompson in 13th in 23:11.5 and Syler Purtill in 14th in 23.16.1.

Also competing for the Wolverines were Emma Brunell (17th, 23:40.2), Anna McFadden (21st, 24:16.4) and Lauren Dotson (23rd, 24:33.0).

Braxton Edwards placed 10th for the Wolverine boys in 19:21.3, with Chris Rickman finishing 15th in 20:05.8, Kiyon Staley claiming 16th in 20:11.1 and Gus Maass taking 17th in 20:43.2

Also competing for the Wolverines were Grant Wooten (23rd, 21:57.5), Ridge Burnett (25th, 22:27.9), Jackson Geddings (26th, 22:38.9), Michael Simoncic (27th, 22:55.9) and Broddy Reynolds (35th, 27:42.3).