Some that compete with the best in the state at the Georgia High School Association cross county championships get medals.

More than a few of them feel a sense of fear run down there spine as they line up at the start with more than 200 other runners.

But all are honored to be competing on the last possible day of the season surrounded by coaches, family and the grassy hills of the Carrollton City Schools Complex.

That is what Saturday will bring as teams and individuals from Greater Rome make the trip south for the annual title race.

“That is a demanding course at Carrollton,” Pepperell coach Dan Tibbetts said. “You just want them to finish the season strong and go down there and be competitive.”

Pepperell had three girls finish in the top six last week at the Region 7-AA meet at Georgia Highlands College to lead the Lady Dragons to the team title.

They’ll be one of eight area teams that will be in action Saturday when competition begins at 8:30 a.m. with the Class AAAAA boys.

The Pepperell boys, who came in second last week behind Rockmart in the 7-AA race, qualified, as did the Jackets, who won their fifth straight region championship.

“Both of them have competed well there before and I think that they’ll be better prepared this time around,” Tibbetts said of the Dragons and Lady Dragons.

He said that many of the kids lamented the large hill that sits in the middle of the state course and promised them they would see it before the meet this season.

Tibbetts made good on his pledge two weeks ago when they raced on the course at the Last Chance meet, hosted by Carrollton.

“I believe the kids are confident about taking it on again,” he said.

Darlington’s boys and girls each repeated at Region 6-A champions last Thursday at Berry College and will be anchored by region champions in their own rights, the Tigers’ Jesse Baker and Lady Tiger Ansley McDurmon.

McDurmon, a sophomore, placed eighth overall in the Class A race at last year’s state meet as the Darlington girls claimed fourth place and got to bring home a team trophy.

The Tigers, led by Baker, another sophomore, finished ninth overall in the standings.

“We’re looking to improve on those finishes but really, we’re looking to get on the podium,” Darlington coach Alan Parish said. “We’ve run three races at Carrollton already to gain experience and learn the course so they know it. It’s very challenging."

IF YOU GO

What: GHSA Cross Country Championships

When: Saturday, Nov. 7

Where: Carrollton City Schools Complex

Time: Class AAAAA – 8:30 a.m.; Class AAA – 10 a.m.; Class AAAA – 11:30 a.m.; Class AA – 1 p.m.; Class A – 2:30 p.m.

Who: Darlington (boys and girls), Pepperell (boys and girls), Rockmart’s boys, Armuchee’s girls, Coosa’s girls, Calhoun’s boys, Gordon Central’s boys, Model’s Taylor Phillips, Rome’s Sydney Champagne, Calhoun’s Mili Galvan

Admission: $5