The Mathews High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams both took first place in the Virginia High School League Region A Championships last Thursday at Newport News Park. They raced against Middlesex, Northampton, West Point, Lancaster, Rappahannock and Northumberland high schools.

Gavin Dustin placed first overall during the boys’ race with a time of 16:50. Next for Mathews was Chance Higginbotham with a time of 17:01, followed by Seth James (17:24), Blake Hunley (17:24.50), Jaxon McDonald (17:35), Zachary Salvadori (18:06) and Adam Greve (18:18). The boys finished with a team score of 24.

In the girls’ contest, Elizabeth Moore placed first overall with a time of 22:00, followed by Lorena Carballo in third place with a time of 22:08. Next for Mathews was Lauren Johnson with a time of 22:29, followed by Baylee Bell (23:16), Morgan Stearns (23:56), Lyla Duff (24:50) and Jordan Sadeg (25:48). The girls finished with a team score of 25.

Mathews will travel to Blacksburg on Saturday to compete in the VHSL Class 1 State Cross Country Meet.

PHOTOS BY JIM AGNEW

The Mathews High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took first place in the region finals last Thursday. Above, runners on the boys’ team are, from left, Samuel Miranda, Colin Moore, Jon Jenkins, Adam Greve, Chance Higginbotham, Seth James, Blake Hunley, Gavin Dustin, Jaxon McDonald, Zachary Salvadori, along with coach Drew Greve. In photo below are girls’ team runners, from left, Jordan Sadeg, Morgan Stearns, Lyla Duff, Lorena Carballo, Baylee Bell, Elizabeth Moore, Lauren Johnson and coach Greve.