BGA Cross Country Team Makes History
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This fall, the Battle Ground Academy Boys Cross Country team completed their season with the highest team finish in program history at the TSSAA State Cross Country Championship.
The team secured State Runner-Up honors in DII-A. They were led by individual runner-up Trace Alexander ’22 (15:54) and medalist Jack Evans ’23 (17:29, 13th), both of whom received All-State honors for their top 15 finishes. Other scoring runners were Will Bauer ’25 (17:45, 19th), Brady Zhang ’22 (18:35, 43rd), and Zach Kenyon ’25 (19:13, 51st).
In the girls’ race, Lindsay Phelps ’22 competed as an individual and ran a new personal best on the Sanders Ferry course (21:57) to finish 24th.
"I can't adequately express what a pleasure it's been to coach this team,” said head cross country coach Luke Johnson. “It's a special group of young people, and a talented group of runners. From the start of our training in June, they've been focused on bringing home a state championship, and while we fell short of our ultimate goal, the way in which this group competed, supported one another, and pushed through adversity has been inspiring. They've helped to move our program forward in significant ways, and future BGA runners will reap the benefits of the culture they've helped to establish."
The team secured State Runner-Up honors in DII-A. They were led by individual runner-up Trace Alexander ’22 (15:54) and medalist Jack Evans ’23 (17:29, 13th), both of whom received All-State honors for their top 15 finishes. Other scoring runners were Will Bauer ’25 (17:45, 19th), Brady Zhang ’22 (18:35, 43rd), and Zach Kenyon ’25 (19:13, 51st).
In the girls’ race, Lindsay Phelps ’22 competed as an individual and ran a new personal best on the Sanders Ferry course (21:57) to finish 24th.
"I can't adequately express what a pleasure it's been to coach this team,” said head cross country coach Luke Johnson. “It's a special group of young people, and a talented group of runners. From the start of our training in June, they've been focused on bringing home a state championship, and while we fell short of our ultimate goal, the way in which this group competed, supported one another, and pushed through adversity has been inspiring. They've helped to move our program forward in significant ways, and future BGA runners will reap the benefits of the culture they've helped to establish."