At left is Jake Merritt, third for Colquitt County High in Thursday's Region 1-7A cross country championships at Freedom Park in Valdosta. At right is Elizabeth Funderburk, the three-time girls champion from the Lady Packers team.

VALDOSTA – Never deterred by injury, questionable course markings or bad weather, Elizabeth Funderburk runs with the best of them, and she proved her worth one more time in the 2016 season. The Colquitt County High junior on Thursday won the Region 1-7A championship at Freedom Park in Valdosta. This makes her 3-for-3 winning her league title in her high school career.

Colquitt County Packer Jake Merritt (shown at left with Funderburk) was third in the boys race.

“Tiffany Carruthers and Jennifer Castillo ran the best races they have ever run to help the girls team finish second (above),” said coach Mell Wier. “We were seeded fourth going in to the meet. Other girls running were Danielle Brown, Alaina Taylor, Gloria Lorenzo,  Sarah Perry, Deliza Gachuz, Ashley Garcia, and Sugeili Gachuz.

Other boys running were Collin Daniels, Savonte Wilson, Mitchell Riley, Robert Wood, Zack Brinson, Kasey Croft, Brett Tyson, Travis Davis.

Under a new GHSA cross country format, the Packers will go this upcoming Saturday to Conyers for an area meet, which is one more level added prior to the state meet in Carrollton. The venue in Conyers is the Georgia International Horse Park, the same used for Olympic Equestrian events in 1996. It also is used for several Spartan endurance obstacle course runs.