Union County Dominates Sectional Cross Country Meet at Meeks Park

The Union County Panthers delivered a commanding performance on their home course at Meeks Park on Saturday, capturing first place in the GHSA 2A Sectional 2 meet and earning a trip to the state championship.

Senior Holden Payne led the charge, taking the individual win with an impressive time of 17:46.70 on the challenging 5K course. He was backed by a strong pack of teammates who filled out the top 15, helping Union County finish with a team score of just 36 points, well ahead of second-place Rockmart’s 60.

Junior Andrew Nushtayev crossed the line in 18:45.00 for fifth place, while Ander Faulkner finished close behind in 19:01.00, taking seventh. Rounding out the Panthers’ scoring five were Noah James Payne (11th, 19:12.80) and Cody Dupuis (12th, 19:13.20).

Union’s depth was on full display, with senior Trey Hawley (13th, 19:14.30) and Oliver Hillman (17th, 19:41.40) also finishing strong and pushing down the scores of other teams.

The Panthers averaged 18:47 per runner with a tight one-minute, five-second split from their first to fifth finishers — a sign of a well-balanced and disciplined squad.

Head coach and fans alike had plenty to cheer about as Union County proved they are peaking at the right time heading into the GHSA State Championship meet. Competing against schools from Regions 4, 5, 6, and 7, the Panthers not only showed endurance and speed but also the poise of a veteran team familiar with championship pressure.

Union County will now shift its focus to the state finals, where they’ll look to continue their dominance and bring home a title for Blairsville.

Top Union County Finishers:

1. Holden Payne – 17:46.70 (1st overall)

2. Andrew Nushtayev – 18:45.00 (5th)

3. Ander Faulkner – 19:01.00 (7th)

4. Noah James Payne – 19:12.80 (11th)

5. Cody Dupuis – 19:13.20 (12th)

6. Trey Hawley – 19:14.30 (13th)

7. Oliver Hillman – 19:41.40 (17th)

Union County’s title marks another strong showing for the Panthers, who continue to set the standard for high school cross country in North Georgia.

The Lady Panthers put together a commanding team performance, finishing with just 32 points—a full 75 points ahead of second-place Rockmart High School. Union’s top five runners all placed in the top 13 overall, showcasing the depth and consistency that has defined their season.

Leading the charge was senior Lola Hunter, who claimed the individual sectional championship with a winning time of 22:21.30. Hunter’s steady pace and strong finish capped off an impressive senior campaign.

She was followed closely by teammates Avery Hussion (23:55.20, 6th), Macy Payne (24:12.40, 7th), Averie Tanner (25:04.20, 11th), and Neva Brott (25:22.60, 13th)—all finishing within just over three minutes of one another. Rounding out the strong showing were Kate Barrett (25:27.10, 15th) and Grace Wright (26:56.80, 25th), who also contributed valuable depth to the team’s effort.

Union County’s tight pack running made the difference, as the squad posted a 24:11 average time and an impressive three-minute spread between its scoring runners.

With the sectional title in hand, the Panthers now turn their focus to the GHSA 2A State Championship, where they’ll aim to build on this momentum and challenge for a spot on the podium.