This year the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) implemented a new means for state championship qualification in cross country as sectional meets were held in various locations Saturday, each one pitting four regions per classification against each other with the top 12 teams earning the right to vie for the ultimate title.

The Red Elephants’ region ran against regions 3, 5, and 6 out of Class 5A and even with the new format, it was the same old results for Big Red as the girls and boys teams both qualified for Friday’s state championship meet in Carrollton with the girls finishing fourth overall and the boys seventh in sectionals, second and third respectively against teams from Region 7-5A.

Vanessa Torres and Josabeth Graciano, who finished third and fourth against region opponents at sectionals, were both named first-team all region.

Arianny Hoyos was named to the second team, as was Logan Jordan from the boys side.