Several athletes from across the Teche Area came away with impressive results at the 2024 LHSAA Cross Country State Meet held at Northwestern State University on Monday.

The Episcopal School of Acadiana boys team claimed the Division IV state runners-up title behind senior Anderson Frank’s second-place finish. Frank led the Falcons with a time of 16:08.34, followed by William Brown (17:37.83), Thomas Breaux (17:45.04), Jude Foti (17:57.70), Charles White (18:58.49), Cain Meche (19:26.52) and Andrew Crochet (20:08.29). Frank finished in ninth place in his sophomore season and fifth place last year. 

In Division V, junior Tyler Blissett secured his third-consecutive state championship with a time of 15:50.2. Blissett set a blistering pace on the course, battling heavy wins to cross the finish line with his closest opponent over 400 meters and 90 seconds behind him. 

Joining Blissett in the Top 10 was freshman David Nowakowski, who finished the race with a time of 18:23.75. Fellow runner Richard Nowakowski finished with a time of 19:11.37, earning 16th place. 

The HBCS girls team had two impressive individual performances in sophomore Ella Blake, who placed second (20:06), and junior Madalynn Salsman, who placed fourth (20:19.39). The Lady Bears failed to defend their 2023 Division V state title, falling to third place overall behind Christ Episcopal and St. Martin’s Episcopal. 

“I’m proud of Ella and Madalynn,” said HBCS head coach Toby Blissett. “Ella executed her race plan perfectly, we thought she could close down on Noah (Watson, Christ Episcopal) and she fell a little short, but we’ll take a runner-up finish for her.”

Blissett said the team struggled with course conditions and a tough slate of opponents, falling short of what he expected his team to do.

“Our measuring stick is not time, especially in adverse conditions and in a heat like we had today,” Blissett explained. “Our measuring stick is how we compete against those around us and that’s where we fell short today.”

Amelia Perello (22:44.80) was Highland’s third-best runner on Monday, followed by Sophie Morris (23:09.45) and seniors Chloe Delahoussaye (23:20.72) and Lillian Nicholson (24:23.39). Middle school runner Basyn Boudoin finished with a time of 24:59.53.

Episcopal School of Acadiana’s girls team also had a Top 10 finisher in Division IV. Sophomore Jiya Lodha took eighth place with a time of 20:26.60, followed by Sara Grace Hoggatt (20:56.63), Bailey Guillotte (22:26.41), Caroline Martin (23:15.44), Sophie Wilson (24:26.57) and Sophia Thom (26:35.04). 

Erath’s Isabelle Hardin led the Lady Bobcats with a time of 21:37.57, while Parker Blanchard’s time of 17:39.24 set the pace for the boys team.