Coach Yvette Green’s Bainbridge High School Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country teams turned in strong performances Saturday at the State Class AAAA cross-country meet in Carrollton.

The Bearcats secured a school-best effort with a solid 16th place finish in a 69 school field from Class AAAA schools. The top 31 schools were present.

Junior Poncherella Leonard, who finished ninth overall under what coach Greene called extremely wet conditions, led the Bearcats. Leonard, who also received All-State status, is the first Bainbridge High School cross-country runner to place in the top 10 at the state meet.

“The course was saturated with rain that turned it from green grass to muddy terrain,” coach Greene said. “True cross-country running was experienced by all.

Bearcats scoring behind Leonard were Caleb Harris, Bennett Enfinger, Brenden Greene and Grayson Graham.

Coach Greene praised her Bearcats senior leadership pointing out that seniors Bennett Enfinger, Grayson Graham, Brenden Greene and Perry Waddell have won three region championships and a region runner-up in qualifying for the state championship meet all four years.

Coach Greene said her young Lady Cats also had an outstanding year and are expected to continue their rise in the state rankings as they compete in the seasons to come.

“The Lady Cats finished 25 out of 31 teams competing in the state meet,” coach Greene said. The top five runners were Uriyah Davis, Camry Fillingame, Aileen Mejia, Aida Diaz and Alaiya Schuyler.”

Coach Greene said that she and her fellow cross-country coaches Daniel Graham and Greg Waddell are very proud of all of their Bearcats and Lady Cats cross-country runners.

“Our cross-country runners have persevered through tough workouts since June to reach their potential and have represented their school well,” she said.