The Cougar cross country team finished its season Saturday in fine style, coming through with an 18th-place finish in the 27-team field at the Kentucky State Cross Country Championships, held at the Horse Park in Lexington.

Sophomore Brady Clemons paced the Cougars by finishing in the top 50 in the field of 221 runners. Clemons was 50th with a time of 17:34.77. Greenwood’s Ryan Eaton won the event for the third straight year, finishing in 15:54.36. Louisville Trinity’s Jake Wildenmann was second and Daviess County’s Evan Ehrenheim finished third.

The Lady Cougars’ sole representative, sophomore Kylee Gorby, ran the fastest time of her career to finisher 54th overall in the field of 218 runners. Her time was 20:52.49. Sacred Heart’s Emma Brink, the two-time defending champion, won with a time of 18:45.89, with Ryle’s Gabby Gonzales finishing second and Daviess County’s Whitney O’Brien taking third.

The state finals have been held at the Horse Park for a number of years, but this year the course was moved to a different area of the park and the runners ran a markedly different course.

“It wasn’t the easiest course I’ve run on,” Gorby said after her race. “It was kind of hilly... a difficult course, though I liked it better than last year.

“I still managed to run a personal best and I beat people today I’ve never beaten before, so I’m happy,” she said.

Clemons agreed with Gorby on the course.

“It was really hilly,” he said. “I think it’s about the same as the old course... I don’t like either one.”

Earning points for the Cougars along with Clemons were sophomores Carter Cannon, 96th in 18:13.13, and Zach Berry, 106th in 18:16.97, and juniors Clay Cannon, 154th in 18:50.80, and Austin Curtis, 156th in 18:52.19.

Senior Bryant Clemons and junior Tyler Deacon both had non-scoring finishes for the Cougars. Clemons finished 186th with a time of 19:24.38, while Deacon was 206th in 19:52.51

St. Xavier, of Louisville, was the winning team of the boys race, with 72 points. Daviess County finished second with 149 points, while Trinity was third with 152. Grayson County finished with 469 points.

Sacred Heart took the girls’ title with 89 points. Daviess County was second with 112 points, just one point ahead of third-place Assumption.