Multiple Area Teams Compete in Hayesville's Cross Country Meet

HAYESVILLE, N.C. — Hayesville High School hosted a thrilling cross country meet on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, bringing together top high school runners from across the region to compete in the Varsity Boys and Girls 5000 Meter Run Finals. The event showcased fierce competition, with athletes from multiple schools posting impressive times and securing team victories in both divisions.

Varsity Boys 5000 Meter Run

In the boys’ race, Andrews High School claimed the team title with 35 points, led by strong performances from Levi Clark (17:25.42) and Elliott Salinas (17:25.44), who finished second and third, respectively. The team’s depth was evident with a tight 1:22 split between their top five runners, averaging 18:10 per runner.

Oscar Page of Hiwassee Dam took the individual crown, crossing the finish line in an impressive 16:18.10. Robbinsville’s Nathan Fredrick (17:51.41) and Benjamin Frederick (17:58.18) rounded out the top performers for their school, helping Robbinsville secure second place with 50 points. Hiwassee Dam finished third with 63 points, bolstered by Page and Maverick Hawley (17:59.42).

Hayesville’s top finisher, Noah Carter, clocked 18:23.09, leading his team to a fourth-place finish with 71 points. Cherokee’s King Beheler (20:58.16), Murphy’s Braden Edwards (19:36.16), Summit Charter’s Otto Dittrich (22:30.40), Nantahala’s Cole McCoy (23:20.54), and Carolina Mountain XC’s Nathan Wilson (22:41.73) were the top runners for their respective schools.

Varsity Girls 5000 Meter Run

The girls’ race saw Cherokee High School edge out the competition to claim the team title with 41 points, driven by a balanced effort from Lolo Bell (22:04.04) and Maya Lossiah (23:00.78). Their 8:46 split and 25:12 average time highlighted their consistency.

Robbinsville’s Abby Wehr dominated individually, finishing first with a time of 21:15.68, helping her team to a close second-place finish with 46 points. Hayesville, finishing third with 48 points, was led by Raelynn Wood’s strong 21:40.40, just behind Highlands’ Claire Worley (21:40.08).

Summit Charter High School’s Sydney Sinclair (24:12.30) led her team to fourth place with 75 points. Other notable performances included Rosman’s Ella Grace McNeely (23:16.56), Carolina Mountain XC’s Rebecca Carver (23:55.42), Hiwassee Dam’s Brooklyn Hyde (26:12.81), and Murphy’s Anna Leatherwood (28:10.95).