The Harlan County girls cross country squad picked up a win that has eluded them for quite some time, edging Middlesboro on a tiebreaker Thursday at Lynn Camp.

With both teams missing one of their top runners (Harlan County’s Peyton Lunsford and Middlesboro’s Mallory James), Lainey Garrett clinched the win for the Lady Bears by beating Middlesboro’s sixth finisher.

Cadance Ferguson paced the Lady Bears, finishing fifth with a time of 25:27. She was followed by Baili Boggs, who came in eighth with a time of 27:10. Rounding out the Lady Bears’ results were Caitlin Rice (11th, 27:25), Ariel Madden (12th, 27:32), Riley Key (13th, 27:45), Garrett (19th, 32:29), Taylor Clark (20th, 35:02), Peyton Griffin (24th, 41:16) and Kiki Dean (25th, 42:07).

Harlan senior Lucy Bryson finished sixth with a time of 25:29. She was followed by Emma Owens (16th, 29:18), Ella Morton (18th, 31:25) and Eliza Smith (21st, 35:29).

Middlesboro’s Grace Rose won the race with a time of 22:36.

Harlan County’s boys won for the fourth time in five meets, defeating second-place Corbin by 27 points behind another strong performance by Caleb Brock. The junior won the race with a time of 18:45.08.

The Black Bears had four other finishers in the top 10, as Daniel Joseph (19:50.08), Austin Crain (20:20.09), Matt Yeary (20:46.00) and Lucas Epperson (20:54.73) finished third, sixth, eighth and 10th, respectively. Also participating for Harlan County were Logan Hensley (11th, 20:59.48), Sean Cooper (13th, 21:19.76), Cooper McHargue (18th, 22:27.73), Andrew Yeary (19th, 22:50.52) and Breydy Daniels (27th, 23:58.65).

Junior Tristen Cornette finished 31st with a time of 24:40.09 for Harlan.

Harlan County Christian’s Olivia Kelly came in fourth in the girls middle school race with a time of 15:57.50. Harlan County’s Kaydie Coots (22:37.18) was eighth.

Nazareth Sanchez finished fifth with a time of 12:41.96 in the boys middle school event. Bradley Brock (13:55.81) and Kaden Boggs (15:29.41) finished 10th and 15th, respectively. Harlan’s Dylan Cox finished sixth with a time of 12:52.34, followed by Ethan Farley in 14th place with a time of 15:10.17.

Both teams return to action in an all-comers meet Tuesday at Harlan County.