Cartersville cross country teams win the 2025 Georgia Highlands College Invitational

August 24, 2025

The Cartersville girls’ and boys’ cross country teams won the 2025 Georgia Highlands College Invitational Saturday at the Rome GHC campus, with Sofia Burns of the Lady Canes running to an individual title.

The Canes finished with 99 points and were 38 points ahead of Armuchee (137). Central-Carroll (151) was third, followed by Cornerstone Prep Academy (161), and Woodland (180). Cass (545) finished 17th of the 20 teams in the race.

The Lady Canes dominated with a 35-point total, followed by Rome (85) and Woodland (138).

Top runners for the Cartersville boys were Ethan Empie (15th, 18:04), Kaleb Lanier (18th, 18:15), Carson Robinson (20th, 18:26), Tripp Chitwood (22nd, 18:38), and Micah Sanders (24th, 18:38). Malachi Weir (31st, 19:09), Kyle Camper II (37th, 19:24), Ben Russell (45th, 19:37), and Knox Matthews (46th, 19:40) also ran in the opening race for the Hurricanes.

Top placers for the Woodland boys included Jonathan Ringwell (14th, 18:03), James Morris (17th, 18:12), Charlie Hennington (43rd, 19:32), Conner Cruz (51st, 19:47), and Logan Marr (55th, 19:50).

Cartersville girls XC

Nicholas Robinson of Cass finished 23rd in 18:46, and Booker Gearhart was 34th in 19:16.

In the girls’ race, Burns was first in 20:30.80. She was followed by teammates Sydney Burris (6th, 21:47), Zoe McCurry (7th, 21:53), Adalin Empie (10th, 22:24), Samantha Stepp (11th, 22:24), Genevieve Alessandro (12th, 22:39), Harper Gilstrap (17th, 23:10), Kylie Ham (20th, 23:26), and Hadley Finnemore (29th, 24:01).

Allison Snead finished fifth (21:37) representing Woodland. Teammates Rylee Maxwell (14th, 22:56), Addison Brown (23rd, 23:35), Jette Julius (45th, 26:00), Lily Hiott (51st, 26:42), and Sinclair Foy (65th, 27:37) followed.

Cass did not field a complete girls team, but Karishma Archarya finished 44th in 25:46 and Charley Doyle was 57th in 27:05.

Cartersville competes September 6 at the OrthoWest Invitational in Carrollton. Cass will run at Woodland’s 19th annual Run at the Rock, also on September 6.