STATESBORO – Richmond Hill High School girls and Benedictine Military School boys set the pace for the 2025 cross country season with top finishes at the Frazier-Hite Invitational on Aug. 28 at 7 Mile Farm. The meet, hosted by Southeast Bulloch, featured more than 500 (Boys & Girls per MileSpiltGA.com) runners in the first major competition of the cross country season.
Richmond Hill girls cross country with the first-place trophy after winning the Frazier-Hite Invitational on Aug. 28, 2025, in Statesboro, Ga. Photo courtesy of Heather Beeker Sybert/RHHS Cross Country & Track and Field Facebook.
The Richmond Hill Lady Wildcats placed three runners in the top three for a 57-point finish. Sophomore Chloe Miller (20:20) edged teammate Gabriella Francis (20:23) by three seconds for the individual win, while senior Adeline Althen (21:22) rounded out the sweep. Savannah Arts Academy (70) and Savannah Country Day (104) followed in second and third.
Richmond Hill’s Adeline Althen, Chloe Miller, and Gabriella Francis swept the top three spots at the Frazier-Hite Invitational in Statesboro. Photo: Heather Beeker Sybert/RHHS XC Facebook
Girls Top 10 (out of 222 runners)
- Chloe Miller – Richmond Hill – 20:20.77
- Gabriella Francis – Richmond Hill – 20:23.99
- Adeline Althen – Richmond Hill – 21:22.42
- Francie Tedder – Savannah Arts Academy – 21:33.19
- Rebecca Long – South Effingham – 21:55.46
- Emmery Strickland – Southeast Bulloch – 22:03.41
- McKay Bennett – Savannah Arts Academy – 22:07.04
- Ava Treece – Savannah Arts Academy – 22:13.85
- Lily Barrow – Savannah Country Day – 22:21.68
- Gaby Kenard – Habersham School – 22:31.58
On the boys’ side, Greenbrier edged Benedictine by a single point, 54–55, in one of the day’s closest battles. Greenbrier senior Taylor Simpkins ran away with the individual title in 16:42, but Benedictine’s Cole Minnich (16:54) and Asher Herrin (17:49) kept the Cadets in contention. Richmond Hill placed third with 74 points behind strong runs from Eddie Howell (17:51, 5th) and Caden Gross (17:59, 8th). The Habersham School's Harry Cleland (17:00) placed third.
Boys Top 10 (out of 358 runners)
- Taylor Simpkins – Greenbrier – 16:42.10
- Cole Minnich – Benedictine – 16:54.59
- Harry Cleland – Habersham School – 17:00.74
- Asher Herrin – Benedictine – 17:49.70
- Eddie Howell – Richmond Hill – 17:51.11
- Calvin Andrews – Greenbrier – 17:53.19
- Juan Luna – Toombs County – 17:55.19
- Caden Gross – Richmond Hill – 17:59.57
- John Ball – Habersham School – 18:07.99
- Ben Fluegel – South Effingham – 18:25.00
Top six boys’ finishers at the Frazier-Hite Invitational on Aug. 28, 2025, in Statesboro, Ga. From left: Calvin Andrews, Cole Minnich, Harry Cleland, Asher Herrin, Eddie Howell, and Taylor Simpkins. Photo courtesy of Heather Beeker Sybert/RHHS Cross Country & Track & Field Facebook.
Richmond Hill’s performance built on its season debut last week at the Cecil Field Summer Classic in Jacksonville, where the boys finished second among 34 teams and the girls placed eighth in a 26-team field.
Looking Ahead to Sept. 6
The next cross-country races take place on Saturday, September 6, with several invitationals across Georgia, as per the MileSplitGa website.
OrthoWest Invitational (Carrollton, GA)
Local teams Attending:
Benedictine Military School
Savannah Christian Prep
Richmond Hill High School
South Effingham High School
SCCPSS Rock XC Invitational (Savannah, GA – hosted by New Hampstead)
Local teams Attending:
Beach High School
Groves High School
Habersham School
Johnson High School
New Hampstead High School
Savannah Arts Academy
Windsor Forest High School
Woodville-Tompkins High School
Jackets’ Catch ‘Em Challenge Invitational (Evans County, GA – hosted by Southeast Bulloch)
Local teams Attending:
Bradwell Institute
Effingham County High School
Groves High School
Islands High School
(Note: Times and locations are as listed on the MileSplitGa website. Fans should double-check with the schools for any changes.)
PHOTO CREDIT: Heather Beeker SybertRichmond Hill High - Cross Country / Track & Field on Facebook
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