Nation Ford’s Mason Haynes approaches the finish line during the York County Championship meet Saturday.

ROCK HILL – The Nation Ford Falcons and Fort Mill Yellow Jackets were dominate in the York County Cross Country Championship Saturday at the Catawba Bend Preserve in Rock Hill.

The event could be a preview of the Region 3-5A championship, as well as possibly the state championship held in November, with both teams being strong contenders for a region and state title. The next race for Nation Ford and Fort Mill is this week at the region championship held at the Sandhills Research Center in Columbia, the same place the state meet will be held.

On Saturday, Nation Ford won the boys race with 27 points, edging out Fort Mill with 30 points. Four of the Falcons’ runners scoring points finished in the top 10, while all five of Fort Mill’s runners finished in the top 10.

The Falcons were led by race winner Mason Haynes, who won with a time of 16:14. Alex McCaskill was fourth overall for Nation Ford with a time of 16:27, followed by Chase Johnson in fifth at 16:29. Townsend Smith was sixth for the Falcons at 16:29 as well, and the fifth runner crossing the finish line for Nation Ford to round out the scoring was Alan Dayrit in 11th at 17:09.

For the Jackets, Davon Sibley was second overall in 16:20 for Fort Mill and was followed by teammate Evan Ickert in third at 16:23.  Evan Wey was seventh for the Jackets at 16:31 and Isaac Campbell was eighth for Fort Mill in 16:32. Tanner Long was 10th in 16:46 to round out the scoring for Fort Mill.

Catawba Ridge boys finished ninth with 201 points and was led by Ryan Pierson in 50th place at 20:10. Connor Myatt was 53rd at 20:31 and Luke Winterble was 57th coming in at 20:49 for the Copperheads. Braxton Boone finished the scoring for Catawba Ridge coming in 58th at 21:00.

In the girls’ varsity race, Fort Mill won with 38 points as Alivia Cleveland won the race for the Jackets in 18:37. Nation Ford was fifth as a team with 115 points.

Following Cleveland for Fort Mill was Avery Moriarty in fifth at 19:59, Kaylee Rovenstine was sixth in 20:13, Izzy Miserendino was in 12th at 21:01 and Mia Zook finished 14th at 21:07.

Nation Ford was led by Taylor Battle who finished 19th in 21:35. She was followed by Peyton MacMillan in 20th at 21:36 and Elise Posko in 22nd at 21:38. Adria Kahre finished 25th in 21:53 for Nation Ford and Jordyn Battle rounded out the scoring for the Falcons finishing 29th in 22:40.

The Copperheads girls’ team didn’t participate in the event.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep

Fort Mill’s Alivia Cleveland won the girls varsity race to lead the Jackets to winning the team race as well.