CROSS COUNTRY: Dailey takes bronze, West Laurens runners finish strong at state

A third-overall finish by senior Levi Dailey, as well as top-20 times for sophomores Ronan Pangie and Landry Hall, headlined a fine performance by West Laurens runners Saturday as they laced ’em up for the final time this fall at the GHSA state cross country championships in Carrollton.

The Raider boys notched their best-ever finish of sixth overall, and the Westside girls ninth, in the AAA team standings. 

Dailey’s time of 17:21.17 was the race’s third fastest, behind Oconee County’s Aaron Brodrick, who ran a blazing 16:04.23, and Lumpkin County’s Witt Windham, roughly half a minute back. 

His performance, time-wise, went down as the fourth best at the event in school history, though Dailey is the first West Laurens runner to ever finish in the top three, according to head coach Danny Johnson.  

Pangie also clocked in at 14th overall, with a time of 17:59.86 to lead the rest of the West Laurens boys pack, which also included Fisher Smith, Paul Moye, Dalton Oxford, Bennett Smith and Nathan Larson. 

Hall, No. 17 with a time of 21:40.12 that ranks second fastest among all-time state results for the Raider girls, paced the Blue and White representation in the AAA girls final.

Raidyn Joiner, Rylee Howard, Adelie Saussy, Sophie Kavuri, Ashtyn Norton and Ashley Williams also competed. 

Oconee County’s boys and North Hall’s girls were crowned AAA team champions. 

Earlier Saturday, Bleckley County pulled off another Royal Flush, capturing every available state crown at the High-A level to continue its teams’ extensive winning streaks at the event. 

Purple and Gold filled up the boys podium as Jack Harrell, at 16:50.42, led a threesome of Royals who were first across the line. Ryder Garrett and Brody Gibbs were second and third, and Harrison Rogers sixth, to help them easily capture a fourth state title in program history, and second in a row. 

Bleckley’s girls made it a 4-peat as Lily Farrell broke the tape with a time of 17:38.92 to take individual gold. Ella Gibbs, Anna Lynch, Natalie Kitchens and Claira Lynch each followed in the top seven to put the Lady Royals on top for the eighth time ever.