LOUISIANA STATE MEET

St. Joseph's Academy Girls Make It Five Straight In Class 5A, Catholic BR Boys Win Fourth In A Row

By Mary Albl of DyeStat/Photos courtesy John Sullivan

Led by a runner-up finish Tuesday from senior Sophie Martin (18:37.6), the St. Joseph's Academy of Baton Rouge girls ran to an impressive fifth-straight 5A Louisiana team championship with 40 points at Northwestern State. The team placed three runners in the top nine. Dominican’s Kelsey Major, a junior, won the race in the fastest time of the meet for any female, clocking 18:33.5 and moving up one spot from 2019.

The Catholic of Baton Rouge boys won the 5A title for the fourth consecutive year, scoring 44 points. This marked the 52nd championship for long-time head coach Pete Boudreaux. Junior Daniel Sullivan was the top finisher for the team, placing third in 15:35.2. Catholic had three runners in the top 10. The overall winner was Ruston senior Dyllon Nimmers in 15:16.5, who clocked the fastest time of the two-day meet. Evan Pardo of St. Paul's was right behind for second, in 15:18.6.

Paced by a first-place finish from junior Ella Chestnut (18:51.4) the Vanderbilt Catholic girls easily defended the 4A crown scoring 35 points with four runners finishing in the top six. 

Senior Louden Boudreaux paced the Belle Chasse boys to a 4A title as he won the race in 16:15.6. The team scored 31 points, placing four in the top seven.  

The E.D. White Catholic girls and boys both successfully defended the 3A titles. The girls placed six in the top 15 to score 38 points and cruised to the team crown. Individually, freshman Cayden Boudreaux of Albany finished first in 18:57.7. She was the only girl under 19 minutes. In the boys race, E.D. White senior Braedon Methvin finished runner-up (15:29.6), as the team placed three in the top 10. St. Louis’ Ivan Appleton was the top finisher in 15:27.9. 

Monday: Episcopal Boys Win 25th Straight 2A Title

While an unusual high school cross country season wrapped up this Monday and Tuesday in the state of Louisiana, the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge boys proved once again to be a reliable constant.

Monday, at Northwestern State’s Walter Ledet Track in Natchitoches, the Knights’ extended the nation's longest active streak of boys cross country state titles, winning the program’s 25 straight Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Cross Country Championship. Led by sophomore Alex Hollier’s sixth-place finish (17:05.6) it was a total team effort for Episcopal, as it placed all five runners in the top 15 to score 47 points and edge out Dunham (53 points) for the 2A crown. Dunham junior John Walker McDonald won the 3.1-mile race in 16:13. 

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge girls once again made it a program sweep, scoring 24 points to win the team title. The Knights were led by a 1-2 punch from senior Callie Hardy (18:45) and eight grader Scarlett Spender (18:53.4). 

Led by senior Wilbert Odem’s win (16:40.1), the Metairie Park Country Day boys placed three in the top five to score 38 points and easily win the 1A title.

In 1A girls action, Cedar Creek senior Ashley Long posted the fastest time of the day for any female, clocking 18:36.9 to win the individual title by more than a minute. She also had the second fastest time of the entire two-day meet for any female. In the team race, St. Martin's Episcopal placed five in the top 13 to score 40 points and claim the title. 

The Episcopal Of Acadiana boys and girls both repeated as Class B champions. The boys were led by Christian Herpin’s runner-up finish in 16:39.3, while the girls went 2-3-4, as senior Aline Malek finished second in 19:16. Individually, Christ Episcopal finished with the top runners overall, with Jake Tournillion winning the boys race in 16:21.1, while Svenya Stoyanoff won the girls race in 19:03.1. 

The Hornbeck cross country teams had a near-perfect day. Led by senior Christian Condon’s winning time of 17:42.2, the Horbeck boys team cruised to the Class C title, claiming  the top four spots and had all seven runners in the top 10 to score 15 points. The Hornbeck girls put six runners in the top 13 to win the team title with 34 points. Runner-up Claiborne Christian (43 points) was led by Anisten Dunn’s first-place finish in 21:37.5. 

Team Champions

Class 5A: Catholic boys 44 points; St. Joseph's Academy girls 40 points - RESULTS

Class 4A: Belle Chasse boys 31 points; Vandebilt Catholic girls 28 points - RESULTS

Class 3A: E. D. White Catholic boys 53 points; E.D. White Catholic girls 38 points  - RESULTS

Class 2A: Episcopal School of Baton Rouge boys 47 points; Episcopal School of Baton Rouge girls 24. Points - RESULTS

Class 1A: Metairie Park Country Day boys 38 points; St. Martin's Episcopal girls 40 points  - RESULTS

Class B: Episcopal Of Acadiana boys 42 points; Episcopal Of Acadiana girls 24 points  - RESULTS

Class C: Hornbeck boys 15 points; Hornbeck girls 34 points - RESULTS