GIRLS XC
PADEN BELL
Paden Bell made an early statement when taking the Area Championship as a freshman in 2019. She was then Runner-Up at the State Championships. The following year, 2020, she was again the Region Champ and finished 4th at state with her ultimate PR of 20:52.77. In 2021 as a junior, Bell ran to her 3rd straight Region Championship, and again was 4th at state. Her 2022 senior season saw her finish 5th at Region and 29th at state. She was a 3-time region champ in cross country and 3-time top-4 runner at state. Bell went on to compete in track and field at East Tennessee State University.
NEALEIGH BROADWELL
Nealeigh Broadwell was a consistent force for White County cross country. She saved the best for last, winning the State Championship and Region Championship in her 2022 senior season. Broadwell, built up to that, finishing 5th at region and 9th at state as a junior, and 12th at region and 18th at state as a sophomore. She was injured for most of her freshman season, but still had a standout career with 2 top-5s at region and 2 top-10s at state. Broadwell went on to run at the University of North Georgia in XC and T&F.
JESSIE DOTSON
Jessie Dotson was the one who paved the way for White County cross country and her heir to the program, Jenna Gearing. Dotson went on to a solid career at Charleston Southern, but not before a standout two years for the Warriors. She was a region champion in 2010, finishing 37th at state that year, and followed that up with a senior year that included a 3rd-place finish at region and 6th-place finish at state. Her PR was 18:16.
EMMA GARRISON
Garrison was an often-overlooked talent in long distance running, as her career coincided with White County legend Jenna Gearing and other great runners in the North Georgia area (Towns Co Ansley Vardeman). However, Garrison had a stellar career for the Lady Panthers. She won a pair of 2A state cross country titles (Freshman 2012 & Sophomore 2013). She was state runner-up in the 800 meters as a senior and fourth in the 1600. Her PRs include times of 18:35 (5000 M), 5:17 (1600 M) and 2:21 (800 M). Garrison finished in the top seven a combined four times at the state meet in the 800 and 1600 during her sophomore and junior years, earning the Fleetest of Foot Award for all four years on the Union cross country team. She also won Region 8-AA cross titles as a freshman, sophomore and senior (second as a junior), finishing first in the region meet in the 1600 from her sophomore to her senior year, and won the 800 as a junior and senior (runner-up as a sophomore). Garrison was a state finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, and ran one year at UGA for the Lady Bulldogs cross country and track & field team.
JENNA GEARING
The White County (Class of 2016) long distance champ is far and away the most decorated in school history. From day one as a freshman, Gearing was a rare talent, who also embodied the humbleness that is a breath of fresh air among high school athletes who have even a portion of her talent. Gearing’s career is unmatched, with 12 individual region titles (four straight in cross country; eight straight in 1600/3200 track & field) and five state championships. She easily could have had six state titles, but broke her leg in her senior year of cross country just meters away from the finish with plenty of distance between her and the next runner. She rebounded, as only she could, with the help of a solid support system and her unwavering faith, to return months later and win two region titles in track and finish runner-up in both 1600 & 3200 in the state meet. Gearing was the BLITZ Cross Country Runner of the Year all four years of her career, and added two BLITZ Track Athlete of the Year awards! Gearing is went on to run for Clemson University and later the University of Kentucky, becoming a standout in the SEC.
MAKAYLA HEWELL
Hewell was a former Region Champion as a senior in 2014, and was region runner-up as a junior the year prior. She improved significantly from a 17th place finish as a sophomore. She led the Banks girls to back-to-back state meets, and finished seventh individually in both years. Her PR was 17:38 in high school. She had a stellar career at Emmanuel College, where she crushed school records and as a junior won the individual NCCAA South Region Championship.
AUDREY HOTARD
Habersham Central’s all-time GOAT in distance is Audrey Hotard. The 4-time region champion in cross country came in the top-15 at state three times, including 10th in 2023. Her PR of 18:28.30 is a school record.
KATHERINE LAW
Katherine Law is one of the top runners we’ve seen in north Georgia. She guided the Jefferson program to multiple hardware at the region and state level. She was a state champion as a junior and 3-time top-10 finisher, and was the region champ each year from her sophomore to senior year. She was runner-up as a freshman. Her 17:55 PR was set in her junior year, and she was the top runner 12 times in her cross country career in various meets. She even placed sixth in the Meet of Champions in 2020, of which she was three times invited to. Law went on to run for UGA.
KATE MASSEY
Massey had an equally impressive career in cross country as she did in track & field, which is typical for long distance runners. In cross country, she was a two-time Area Champion as both a sophomore and junior, and runner-up as a senior. At state, she was runner-up twice (freshman & junior years) and was fourth as a sophomore and sixth as a senior. Her 3-mile PR was 21:09 and 5K PR was 20:57. Massey was a T&F Athlete of the Year in 2016. In T&F, she was a State Champion three times (2016 twice; once in 2018).
KRISTEN MITCHELL
Kristen Mitchell was a pivotal part to the success of coach Sam Borg’s White County cross country team. She was the perfect compliment to Jenna Gearing, a 2-time State Champion in CC. Mitchell herself was a star, twice finishing top 5 in the region, and those same two years finished top 10 at state. Her 20:01 PR was evidence of her abilities as a distance runner. Mitchell tragically was killed in a car accident in May 2021, so we determined it was time to honor her life and career as a HOF selection.
FRANKIE MULDOON
Muldoon (also a track star/HOFer), left Dawson County as a 4-time region champion in cross country, and all four years placed in the top-10 at state, including a pair of top-five finishes. Her PR was 18:22. Muldoon was named BLITZ Runner of the Year in back-to-back years as a sophomore and junior. Muldoon continued her career at Georgia State University.
ZOE SANCHEZ
Was there ever any doubt here? Zoe Sanchez is right up there with one of the best we’ve ever seen in cross country, save Jenna Gearing of White County, who won 5 state titles. Sanchez won back-to-back state titles and region titles (and finished region runner-up another time). She PR’d to the tune of 19:03, and won at least (what we could find) 12 races. Incredible performer for the Mercer-bound star. Sanchez is a four-time BLITZ Runner/Athlete of the Year winner.
CAITLIN SCHROEDER
Caitlin Schroeder had the unenviable task of running behind Katherine Law, one year behind her. After winning a region title for Jefferson in 2018, Schroeder then continued to finish just behind Law (runner-up in 2019) on multiple occasions. She was 3 times a top-15 placer at state, twice coming in the top 10. She logged a PR of 19:09.
ANSLEY VARDEMAN
Vardeman was instrumental in getting Towns County on the map, leading the team to its first of five straight state titles. She was the overall state champion as a junior (2012) and was the state runner-up as a senior (2013). Both of those seasons she was the Area individual champion. She was 6th in the area as a freshman and 7th as a sophomore, finishing 50th and 61st respectively in the state meets those years. Her 5K PR was 21:25, and her 2-mile PR was 14:01. Vardeman went on the UGA as a Cheerdancer, and then went pro with the Boston Celtics of the NBA.
MADALYN WALTERS
Before Muldoon (above), there was Madalyn Walters. Look at the numbers and they are almost identical. Walters was a 2-time region champion in cross country, and once runner-up. She placed in the top-5 at state twice, and had a PR of 18:33. Walters, like Muldoon, is a T&F HOFer as well.
BLITZ 