Coach Yvette Greene’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country teams turned in strong efforts Saturday at the Godby High School Cougars and Lady Cougars Cross-Country Challenge at Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park in Tallahassee.

The Bearcats, led by Poncherella Leonard who finished seventh with a time of 17.29, were sixth overall in a strong 21-team field.

The Lady Cats finished 12th in a strong 15-team field. Their top five runners were Uriyah Davis, Camry Fillingame, Adia Diaz, Aileen Mejia and Alaiya Schuyler. Davis was their top finisher, finishing 26th in a 162-girl field with a time of 18.17. The top four Bearcats runners behind Leonard were Caleb Harris, Bennett Enfinger, Perry Waddell and Brenden Greene. Leonard and Harris, who finished 18th overall with a time of 18.17, received individual medals.

Coach Greene said Saturday’s Tallahassee course terrain, which was comprised of grass, dirt and hard packed gravel roads, was very challenging.

“With 800 meters left to go, runners were greeted by a 300-meter hill,” she said. We are improving our times every week and that is important. All of our runners have a great work ethic.”

Coach Gina Conley’s Bainbridge Middle School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country teams had strong efforts Saturday in Pelham.

The Bearcats placed third overall. Their top five Bearcats runners were Stokes Moore, who placed third overall, Jackson Conley, Joe Emmon, Aiden Matthews and Jonathan Carrington.

The top five Lady Cats runners were Sandy Baker, Viviana Schuyler Ivy Christopher, Anna Marie Hall and Brittany Tomlinson.

Coach Conley said she was extremely proud of the efforts of her two teams Saturday in Pelham.

“We have some dedicated young runners in the middle school program.” coach Conley said. “Their goal is to improve their times from week to week and be ready to help the Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross country teams in the future.