The Bleckley County boys and girls cross country teams finished in the top five Saturday at the state cross country meet.

The boys finished third, while the girls came in fourth place in the Class AA race in Carrollton. Both Royals teams were the highest finishing public school squads in their respective races. Bryson Holloman finished 18th to lead the boys, and Ellen Powell came in fifth in the girls race.

The Perry boys finished fifth in Class AAAA, led by Jimmy Mehserle’s 18th place finish. Jackson Reid and John Weaks also finished in the top 30 for the Panthers. The Veterans boys finished ninth, and Mary Persons was 11th. The fastest Middle Georgia was Mary Persons’ Caleb Watson, who ran a 17:23.77.

Mary Persons’ Anna Leigh Nix finished third overall in the Class AAAA race. A balanced effort from Veterans helped the Warhawks girls finish eighth in the team standings.