Royals XC team is state runner-up

The Mason County Royals cross country team is the state runner-up, the best finish in program history.

The Royals had 151 points at the KHSAA Class 2A meet at Kentucky Horse Park on Saturday. 

The Covington Catholic Colonels won the state championship with 62 points.

Deshawn Overly led Mason County with a 16th place finish with a time of 17:16.94.

Ed Brannon was 24th (17:44.76), Bryant Curtis 35th (17:58.85), Peyton Ullery 41st (18:04.96) and Nicholas Schiltz 51st (18:16.16) to roundout the Mason County team score.

Two other Royals ran in the race: Elijah Reed finished 140th (20:10.18) and Casey Magee came in 229th (22:50.10).

In the girls' race Kolby Galloway was 34th (22:06.61) and Calleigh Passmore finished in 121st place (25:08.95).

Boys XC Class 2A State Runner-Up ! pic.twitter.com/e4aZsHGR9S

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) October 28, 2023

Royals XC team wins first region championship since 1973

The Mason County boys' cross country team's 50-year wait for another region championship ended Saturday.

The Royals had four of the top five finishers and won the Class 2A Region 6 meet at Morgan County.

It is the boys' first region championship since 1973.

Bryant Curtis won the individual championship with a time of 17:11.78. Ed Brannon was the runner-up (17:17.11), Nicholas Schiltz was third (17:24.69) and Peyton Ullery was fifth (17:35.83). 

Those four combined for 11 points.

Elijah Reed finished in 14th place (19:43.59) giving Mason County a team score of 25.

Casey Magee was 38th (21:46.86) and Daniel Klump 46th (25:37.26).

The top five finishers account for the team score.

One of the Royals' top runners, Deshawn Overly, sat out the race due to an injury.

East Carter was the runner-up with 65 points and Boyd County was third with 76 points.

Mason County had four runners in the girls' race: Kolby Galloway finished 10th (22:31.89), Calleigh Passmore was 34th (27:39. 62), Lily Dean was 37th (28:39.16) and Cece Hiatt was 38th (29:07.09).

Galloway and Passmore are individual qualifiers for state.

The KHSAA State Cross Country Championships are next Saturday at Kentucky Horse Park.

Royals XC 2023 Region Champs ! pic.twitter.com/uZSTcK1Y2j

— Mason Co. Athletics (@RoyalsAth1etics) October 21, 2023