The seventh annual Bobcat Classic cross country race was a charm for the host Buchholz High cross country teams, under coach Ron Norris. The Buchholz boys team won the event and the Buchholz girls earned a fifth place finish in the 17-team girls race, while the P.K. Yonge girls took fourth place.

The Buchholz boys earned the victory in the boys’ 5K (3.1-mile) competition by 22 points over Dacula, a team that placed fourth in the Georgia’s state championships last season. The Bobcats were led by senior Phillip Wise, who ran his best time (16:33.12) and took third place out of 126 runners. Wise was just five seconds behind the overall winner from Fletcher High.

Buchholz senior Sean Foster came in fifth place (16:47.09), junior Carter Robertson earned 11th place with a time of 17:29.57 and senior Alyn Wesley was 13th at 17:38.49. Sophomore Ryan McDonald also placed in the top 20, as his time of 17:49.12 was good for 17th place. Senior Jordan Maren and sophomore Andrew Scarborough also posted times under 19 minutes.

The Buchholz girls were led by sophomore Mary Kate Barnes, who was the only Bobcat in the top 20 of the 120-runner 5K race. Barnes finished the race in 21:43.38 for 19th place. Freshman Mary Johnston posted a time of 22:17.78. Junior Justine Michaels (22:39.13), senior Cassie Torres (23:33.49) and junior Molly Teague (23:35.66) rounded out the Bobcats’ scoring.