NEWBERRY — The Pickens High School cross country teams competed in the state qualifier playoff races at the Newberry cross country course hosted by Newberry College.

The Blue Flame boys punched their ticket for the first time since 2007 to the state championship meet on Nov. 10 at Newberry College. The Blue Flame were paced by sophomore Chase Ashe (17:36), senior Jeremy Sisco (18:01), sophomore Adam Ellis (18:02), sophomore Liam McCall (18:16), and junior Parker Hendricks (18:56).

Wes Atkins and Kadan McSweeney will also be competing for the Blue Flame boys at state.

Meanwhile, the Lady Blue Flame punched their ticket for the second year in a row to the state championship meet. The Lady Blue Flame were paced by eighth grader Ella Tetor (21:07), junior Ella Harned (21:34), sophomore Emerson McCall (21:56), sophomore Grace Newman (22:11), and sophomore Lilly Kutilek (22:11).

Allie Kutilek and Emma Grace Kutilek will also be competing for the Lady Blue Flame at state.