Running on familiar grounds at Sam Michaels Park, both Jefferson cross country teams completed their pre-Regional schedules by winning divisions of the Eastern Panhandle Athletic Conference (EPAC) meet.

With the Regional Meet awaiting this week, the Jefferson boys were able to place all five of their runners whose finishes counted toward the team total in the meet’s top 10 and easily outran the team efforts from second-place Musselman (45), Spring Mills (83), Hedgesville (90) and Washington (97). Martinsburg fielded an incomplete team.

Jefferson’s meet-winning score was 27.

Hedgesville’s Daniel Beaver was the boys division winner with his time of 16:49, but Jefferson’s Colin Hayes (17:14) and Dylan Stamper (17:28) placed second and third to lead the Jefferson contingent.

Mason Young (17:52) was sixth overall, Nick Whitehair was seventh and Ethan Stead was ninth as the Cougars took the conference championship.

The Jefferson girls also ran to a conference championship finish with Abby Colbert winning the individual title with a time of 18:09.

Morgan May finished third overall and was timed in 20:36, while Grace Valentine was sixth with a time of 21:55.

Jordan Phillips was eighth overall and Madison Adams was 16th as the Lady Cougars won the meet with a team total of 32.

Following Jefferson in the team standings were Musselman (43), Spring Mills (82) and Hedgesville (86). Neither Washington nor Martinsburg could field a full team.

Both Jefferson teams will move ahead to this week’s Regional event where they will see the same EPAC schools as well as others from Hampshire, Elkins, Buckhannon and Lewis County.

The week after the Regional run will be the state meet to be held again this year at Cabell Midland High School in Ona.