Catawba Ridge’s Sam Rich competes during a local race on the Anne Springs Close Greenway. Rich has recently become the top male runner in 4A in the state.

Both Nation Ford and Catawba Ridge runners had good showings at different meets Saturday, with a Copperhead runner being named the top runner in the state.

Nation Ford boys’ team won the Pee Dee Classic in Florence Saturday with a score of 43, and was followed by Carolina Forest in second with a 51.

The Falcons’ Connor O’Flynn won the meet in 16:40 for Nation Ford. He was followed by Alan Dayrit in fifth overall at 17:20 and Justin Storms in ninth overall in 18:01. Chase Johnson was 11th in 18:06 and Mason Haynes was 17th overall in 18:16.

The Nation Ford girls’ team finished second at the event with a 71. The event was won by Waccamaw with a 30.

Ansley Archuleta was the top finisher for the Falcons as she came in sixth in 20:30. Mia Royall was 12th overall for Nation Ford in 22:04 and Marysa Brenner was 17th in 22:24. The final two scoring runners Adria Kahre, who was 19th overall in 22:25 and Madison Hager in 21st in 22:49.

In Greenwood at the Lakelands Invitational, Catawba Ridge’s Sam Rich won the boys race and in doing so became the number one ranked runner in 4A in the state. Rich won the race in 15:06 beating Eastside’s Spain Vaughn by six seconds.

The Catawba Ridge boys finished the race as a team in third place behind Eastside, who won the event, and JL Mann, who was second. Caden Westover came in third overall in 16:45 and Joshua Silverman was sixth overall in 17:05 for the Copperheads. Spencer Predmore was 30th and Ty Massey was 35th to finish the scoring for Catawba Ridge.

The Copperheads’ girls team finished sixth overall. Maddy Mack led Catawba Ridge finishing 14th in 20:49. Hayla Banish was 54th and Hunter Mattes was 55th in 23:03 and 23:06 respectively, while Peyton Pierson and Talia Gluff each finished 57th and 58th in 23:17 and 23:20.

Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep