CLINTON — Both the Natchez High School girls and boys cross country teams placed within the top 10 Monday at the MHSAA state championship meet at Mississippi College.

The Lady Bulldogs notched a seventh place finish out of 17 teams with a score of 205, while the boys placed eighth as a team out of 23 with a score of 277.

Saltillo High won the girls race, and Brookhaven High won the boys race.

“I predicted we would finish that way, so seven and eight is not bad,” Bulldog coach Larry Wesley said.” Each team had their best seven runners there, so I feel great about where we finished.”

Promise Batteaste ran 25th individually as the fastest runner for the Natchez girls with a time of 23.98.90 out of 123 runners.

Isaiah Wesley had the fastest time for the Natchez boys, placing 22nd with a time of 18:24.70 out of 162 runners.

“All year long they have been running well,” Larry Wesley said. “I think being within the top 30 is good.”

Taliyah Harding, Shekinah Hoskins, Courtneana Beverly, Kyla Butler, Carmen Butler and Patricia Ware also ran for the Natchez girls. Alex Miller, Tyree Washington-King, Charles Credit, Damion Hawkins, Joshua Credit and Kendrall Robinson also ran for the boys.

“I think we had an outstanding year,” Wesley said. “They ran with character, hope and Bulldog pride. I’m really looking forward to next year.”