The Perry boys cross country team recorded the best local finish at the GHSA state meet Saturday in Carrollton. The Panthers finished fifth in Class AAAA with a five-man average of 18:05.36. Marist won the classification after placing each of its five runners in the top 20. Veterans finished ninth. Clay Woolfolk of Veterans finished 17th in the individual competition, one spot ahead of Perry’s Jimmy Mehserle.

The Veterans girls finished eighth in their division with an average time of 22:55.71. Marist completed a sweep by placing all five runners in the top 15. Abby Booth of Perry finished ninth overall.

In Class AAAAA, Megan Asadian of Houston County finished 14th.

Team winners in the other classifications were: Mill Creek (6-A boys) and Brookwood (6-A girls); McIntosh (5-A boys) and Dunwoody (5-A girls); St. Pius X (3-A boys) and St. Pius X (3-A girls) and Westminster (2-A boys) and Wesleyan (2-A girls).

Sharks win handball title

The Houston County Sharks wheelchair varsity handball team successfully defended its state championship with a 6-5 overtime win over the West Georgia Wolverines Saturday in Stockbridge.

Seeded second for the semifinals, Houston County defeated the Atlanta Wolfpack to set up the championship game. The Sharks had lost twice to West Georgia during the regular season.

Contact Chris Deighan at cdeighan@cox.net.