Monroe girls take third straight region championship

Monroe’s girls’ cross country team captured its third straight region championship Thursday in Cordele as four Golden Tornadoes finished in the top eight to score 25 points. Crisp County was second with 50 points. Crisp County did win the boys region title, dominating the races with eight finishers in the top ten. Monroe’s boys finished fourth in the team competition. 

Worth County’s Brianna Zupko took first place overall for the girls with a time of 21:18, but Worth County did not compete for team honors.  

Monroe’s Jordan Elder completed the course next with a time of 22:27 and teammate Camille Milledge followed her in a time of 23:23. Nia Harris took fifth place for the Tornadoes and Catresia White finished eighth. To finish out the top five, Tkesia Mitchell crossed in 13th place for Monroe. Kenzia Williams and Marnell Davis took 14th and 15th places, respectively. 

Crisp County senior Thomas Rischar led the Crisp County domination in the boys’ race, crossing with a time of 17:17. The Cougars then took second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh. The only one who kept the Cougars from getting a perfect score in the meet was Cook County’s Jackson Johnson who came in fourth. 

Crisp County led with 17 points, followed by Cook with 62, Worth Co. With 80 and Monroe with 82. 

Monroe was led by Branden Bass in ninth place and Mandela Nelson in tenth. Marcus Cowart was the next of the Tornadoes to cross in 15th and Earnest Christian came in 22nd. Freshman Antonio Gibson finished the scoring for the Rams in 26th place. 

Worth County freshman Conner took eighth place to lead the Rams. Zalen Timmons finished 13th, and Like Paramore crossed in 18th place. Freshmen Levon Legree and Clarence Griffin finished 20th and 21st for the Rams. 

The winners now qualify for the state meet which will be held in Carrollton on November 2nd.