Banks County senior Griffin Stephens took 5,539 votes of the total 12,938 to lay claim to Runner of the Week honors. Dawson’s Ethan Smith (3,867) and Towns County’s Jenson Brown (1,678) also did well in the voting.

GRIFFIN STEPHENS

Griffin Stephens has long been a force for Banks County cross country, and he finally earns his first Runner of the Week award. Stephens has been remarkable as of late, posting a 1st-place finish October 15 at the Region Preview, a 4th-place finish at the Wingfoot Classic on September 20, and an 8th-place finish at the Runners Fit Mountain Invite on October 3. His 16:11 at the Wingfoot Classic was his best time of the season and of his illustrious career.

The senior was the state and region runner-up a year ago. As a sophomore, he was also region runner-up and finished third at state. He was 3rd in region and 7th at state as a freshman (2016). This year could be his year to take the crown in both.

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