2025 Cross Country State Championship race
The ACHS cross country team ended its history-making season on Saturday with sophomore Elly Nash winning second place in the VHSL Class 2 State Championships. One year after an injury that ended her freshman cross country season early, Nash left the starting line with the first pack of girls and never let up. Early on, Nash nestled in behind Floyd County runners Annika Beegle and Reagan Lynch, but by the second half of the race she had left both girls behind.
Nash finished second, behind Elizabeth Trant of Poquoson, in 19:33. The second lady Raider to clear the finish was sophomore Shylynn Randolph in 23:15. Freshmen Raegan Wells and Martha Robindolph followed a little more than a minute later, crossing the line in 24:27 and 25:11 respectively. Seniors Julie Goodman and Bella Perry finished in 26:02 and 26:37 respectively and freshman Olivia Tucker completed the pack in 27:02. The lady Raiders placed 7th out of 11 teams.
Senior Clay Hamilton was the lone Raider representing boys cross country on Saturday. In his third appearance at states, Hamilton was among the top 50 runners out of more than 100 boys. After two solid miles of picking off the competition, Hamilton crossed the finish line in a time of 18:12
For the first time in school history the girls cross country team earned the Dogwood District title, and for only the second time in school history the full girls squad earned a trip to states. Three Raiders were named All-District, sophomores Elly Nash and Shylynn Randolph, and freshman Raegan Wells. Nash, the winner of the 2025 Dogwood District meet was also named Runner of the Year. The girls went on to win third at Regionals, where Nash received All-Region honors. Nash’s second place finish on Saturday makes her an All-State athlete as well.
On the boys side seniors Clay Hamilton, Christian Goodman and sophomore Lucas Hunter finished the season with All-District honors.
