Dollar and Latham Named All-Metro XC Runners of the Year

ATLANTA - DECEMBER 5, 2023 - Both of the reigning GHSA 6A state champions were named Runners of the Year at Atlanta Track Club's 2023 All-Metro Cross Country Awards ceremony on Tuesday night.

Katelynn Dollar, a Creekview High School senior, and Tommy Latham, a junior from Marist School, received the year's top honors among the 42 high school runners named to the first, second and third teams at the annual event.

The fastest boy in Georgia this fall thanks to his time of 14:41.01 at the Southern Showcase in September, Latham not only repeated as state champion but also notched a commanding win at Wingfoot XC Presented by Publix. After placing third at Southeast Regional qualifying, he ended his season with a 15th-place finish at Nike Cross Nationals.

Latham was also named boys' Runner of the Year in 2022.

"I feel very grateful," said Latham. "I've seen a bunch of runners come through and I watched this banquet for all the time I was in middle school. To be named to this award twice is an honor."

Also named to the boys' first team were Jacob Pullen (Maynard H. Jackson), Joseph Jacquot (Westminster), Joseph Minecci (Walton), Jackson Hogsed (Lambert), Jameson Pifer (Collins Hill) and Esfan Daya (Westminster).

Fresh from setting a course record on the notoriously challenging Carrollton state meet course, running 17:49 for 5K to win the state crown, Dollar is also the 2023 Cherokee Country Cross Country champion. Her time of 17:31.78 at a meet in September makes her the second-fastest girl in Georgia this season.

"Those are such wonderful girls that I was up there with," said Dollar after leaving the stage where the first team was presented. "On any other day it could have been anybody else. Being the top on this day is incredible, but I know that's not set in stone and I want to keep working until it is."

She is joined on the girls' first team by Caroline Hood (Pace Academy), Mary Nesmith (Marietta), Jewell Wells (Mill Creek), Zahara Bernal (Pace Academy), Sanam Rangaraj (Cambridge) and Ruby Little (Marist School). It's the fourth time Little has been named to the All-Metro team.

Full first-, second- and third-team lists are below. First teams are ranked as a traditional cross country team by performance while the second and third teams are listed alphabetically.

Held annually since 1964, the All-Metro Cross Country and Track & Field ceremonies are Atlanta Track Club's longest-standing tradition. Athletes are selected by their performance at the state meet, season overview and performances in major meets against other All-Metro contenders. This year's group of 21 boys and 21 girls includes runners from 26 different schools and seven counties. It also boasts nine runners who won state titles at the GHSA State Championship Meet.

ALL-METRO CROSS COUNTRY AWARDS

Girls First Team

Katelynn Dollar	Creekview High School	12
Caroline Hood	Pace Academy	12
Mary Nesmith	Marietta High School	10
Ruby Little	Marist School	12
Jewell Wells	Mill Creek High School	11
Zahara Bernal	Pace Academy	11
Sanam Rangaraj	Cambridge High School	12

Boys First Team

Tommy Latham	Marist School	11
Jacob Pullen	Maynard H. Jackson High School	12
Joseph Jacquot	Westminster School	12
Joseph Minecci	Walton High School	12
Jackson Hogsed	Lambert High School	11
Jameson Pifer	Collins Hill High School	10
Esfan Daya	Westminster School	12

Girls Second Team

Stella Chambless	Marist School	12
Josie Hutchinson	Pope High School	10
Maddie Jones	Marietta High School	11
Weezie Moore	Wesleyan School	9
Olivia Resnick	Pace Academy	11
Morgan Grace Sheffield	Denmark High School	12
Isabel Yonas	South Forsyth High School	12

Boys Second Team

Chris Connolly	Chattahoochee High School	12
Davis Drake	Johnson Ferry Christian Academy	11
Eli Griggs	Mill Creek High School	12
Liam Hanemann	Marist School	11
Christian Jimenez	Roswell High School	12
Wood Moore	Wesleyan School	11
Ben Winn	South Forsyth High School	11

Girls Third Team

Sophie D'Elena	Decatur High School	11
Zoe Garcia	St. Pius X	12
Nora Hart	Marietta High School	12
Samantha McGarity	Harrison High School	12
Claire Petersen	Blessed Trinity High School	12
Caroline Rogers	Marist School	9
Claire Shelton	Dunwoody High School	12

Boys Third Team

Ethan Bridge	Denmark High School	11
Malachi Burnett	Creekview High School	10
Riley Comstock	Harrison High School	9
Haris Flynn	The Mount Vernon School	10
Teddy Meredith	North Atlanta High School	12
Andrew Rothwell	Whitefield Academy	12
Ben Sydell	Denmark High School	12