Spartans, Irish sweep top two at championship
Memphis — A pair of area high school girls cross country teams swept the top two team spots at the 2025 TSSAA Division II Class AA Championships last week.
Webb School of Knoxville won the team championship at Shelby Farms Park.
The Lady Spartans’ Calysta Garner won the individual state championship as she completed the 5,000-meter course in 17 minutes, 5.62 seconds.
Four of Webb’s scoring runners finished inside the top-10.
Jazzlyn Garner came in third as she posted a time of 17:30.34. Carolina Areheart finished fourth (18:07.40) and Emma Cissna was ninth (19:01.41). Ariana Vargas rounded at the scoring for the Lady Spartans. She took 16th place (19:27.35).
Knoxville Catholic was runner-up in the team standings. The Lady Irish had all their scorers inside the top-20.
Kasey Holliday finished sixth (18:34.33). Drew Gerken was eighth (18:48.97). Caitlin Daniels was 15th (19:26.87). Livi Ray claimed 18th place (19:41.94) and Julia Joyce finished 19th (19:48.01).
In the Division I Class AAA Championship, Hardin Valley Academy finished fourth while Farragut came in eighth.
Ana Berkheimer was 16th with a time of 16:45.22. She was the top finisher for the Lady Hawks. HVA’s Rachel Benson came in 26th (19:15.55). Alexandra Besser was 28th (19:19.15). Ava Berkheimer was 43rd (19:53.45) and Ava Woodyat rounded out the scoring for the Lady Hawks as she finished 46th with a time of 19:55.74).
The Lady Admirals were led by Christie George, who finished 31st (19:30.15), Zoi LeCours was 35th (19:40.26), Addison Haynes finished 40th (19:47.01). Bailey Ann Smith came in 64th (20:13.94) and Emily Graber was 115th (21:16.03).
Bearden had two state qualifiers. Afton Cruze finished 127th (21:43.43) and Payton Hall was 219th (23:58.16).
In Division II Class A: Christian Academy of Knoxville was seventh in the team standings.
Emery Adams was the top finisher for the Lady Warriors, coming in seventh and posting a time of 20:03.65. Lindsay Lloyd came in 12th (20:53.39). Abby Payne came in 59th (23:16.38). Carlie Rouse was 65th (23:30.76) and Ellen Kate Bell was 66th (23:34.04).
