Parkview Baptist's Lucy Cramer came into Monday's LHSAA State Cross Country Championships with the fastest three-mile time in the state. Her effort of 17:27 at the St. Joseph's Invitational was the standard for every female distance runner in the state.
However, it was her younger sister, Molly, who came away with the win. Molly Cramer picked up her first state championship with a time of 18:19 in the record-breaking heat at the Walter Ledet Track & Field Complex.
"During the race, it was very hot," Molly Cramer said. "I was just telling myself that I have to do this for my team, and I have to do it for the glory of God."
Both Cramer sisters along with senior Georgia Theriot, helped the Parkview Baptist girls to their second consecutive team title. The Eagles scored 27 points to win the title. Episcopal, led by sophomore runner-up Neva Lambert (18:33) finished second.
Other scoring runners for Parkview Baptist included Brynlie Monistere (No. 9; 20:54) and freshman Quinn Saucier (No. 10; 21:01).
On the boys' side, it was another Eagle--Andrew Watts--who soared to a Division 3 victory once he hit the newly renovated track at NSU and made his move surpassing Episcopal's William Foster Lambert in the race's last 200 meters.
"It's so unbelievable," Watts said. "I knew it was a possibility to win, but I still didn't feel like it was my race. I was a junior among a bunch of seniors. A very talented group of hard-working seniors, who I know have been putting in so much work--like my teammate Cooper Hunt."
Watching Watts on MileSplit LA all the way from Ames, Iowa where he is competing for Iowa State was Aiden Monistere, winner of the last two Division 3 state championships.
Watts finished with a 15:55. Lambert was third with a 16:06. University Lab's Max Tsolakis was the runner-up with a time of 16:04.
All was not lost for Lambert who led his team, under the direction of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame coach Claney Dupelechin, to a state championship.
Since joining the school in 1978, Dupelechin's teams have won 40 state championships. This number includes cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
Lambert was just one of four Knights in the top ten. Other top ten finishes were turned in by Jacob Hutchinson-Johnson (No. 6; 16:23), Mason Kelly (No. 7; 16:31), Aiden Grassmann (No. 10; 16:45). Episcopal's No. 5 was senior Daniel Piazza (No. 13; 17:11)
