Ragsdale junior Elle Dawson delivered a state championship performance to lead Guilford County Schools at the 2026 N.C. High School Athletic Association cross country state championships, while Northern Guilford earned a top-10 team finish in both the boys and girls competitions.
Dawson captured the 6A girls individual state championship with a time of 16:48.54 at Ivey Redmon Sports Complex.
Her performance was the fastest time recorded in any of the eight girls championships races and was nearly 57 seconds ahead of 6A runner-up Calie Townsend of Watauga, who finished in 17:45.41.
Dawson’s championship highlighted a strong showing for Guilford County athletes across the event.
Northern Guilford placed seventh in the 6A girls team competition with 190 points.
The Nighthawks also earned a top-10 finish in the 6A boys championship, placing 10th with 273 points.
Northern Guilford freshman Hunter Solesbee led the boys performances, finishing sixth individually with a time of 16:26.34.
Solesbee was the highest-finishing Guilford County runner in the boys championship races.
Ragsdale also competed as a team in the 6A girls championship, finishing 13th with 329 points.