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

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

Boys First Team

Girls Second Team

Boys Second Team

Girls Third Team

Boys Third Team