For the first time ever, an Asheville High School athlete has won a girls cross country state championship.

Sofi Alexander finished the N.C. High School Athletic Association 4A state championship race in 18:01.23 at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex in Kernersville on Saturday.

Alexander nearly cracked the 18-minute mark and finished about 1.5 seconds ahead of Ragsdale’s Elle Dawson, who placed second with a time of 18:02.74.Hoggard’s Amelia Medlin (18:09.92), Broughton’s Addie Oversmith (18:12.91), and Cuthbertson’s Colby McCollum (18:13.90) rounded out the top five in the individual race.

Cardinal Gibbons won its second straight 4A girls cross country state championship on Saturday, posting 62 points and running well ahead of second place. The Crusaders had three athletes finish in the top ten and another placed 12th.

Hannah Rae Shaffer finished sixth with a time of 18:14.12 to lead Cardinal Gibbons. Addy Mitchell (18:18.78) finished ninth, Maggie Whitham (18:24.94) placed tenth, and Kaitlyn Estep (18:35.42) finished 12th for the Crusaders.

Cuthbertson finished second in the team standings with 136 points, followed by Marvin Ridge (153), Myers Park (196), and Broughton (216).