The Henley Middle School Girls cross country team finished the 2026 season by winning the state team championship October 24 at Pole Green Park in Mechanicsville. The boys team finished the season in sixth place.
In one for the record books, eighth grader Della Smith broke Henley’s girls 4K record, becoming the first Henley Middle School girl to finish in under 15 minutes in the 4K, coming in 16th in a field of 289 runners at 14:58.6. The four other scoring runners on the championship team included: Claire Denlinger (28th, 15:26.6), Hannah Bessell (31st, 15:32.3), June Diggans (36th, 15:42.8), and Fae Modica (85th, 16:47.6). The girls team captured the state title with a team score of 80, 14 points ahead of Pacers Homeschool.
Henley Middle School cross country championship team, from left, back row: Coach Mike McCormick, Phoebe Wysong, Abigail Langley, Lola Dawson, June Diggans; front row: Hannah Bessell, Hannah Langley, Claire Denlinger. Submitted photos.On the boys side, out of 631 racers, Henley’s five scoring runners included: Oliver Shaffer (64th, 14:36.0), Andy Schwartz (65th, 14:36.1), Robert Wheeler (75th, 14:44.6), Jack Dunbar (98th, 15:04.4), and Everett Hill (115th, 15:10.6).
Henley Middle School boys team with Coach McCormick. Submitted photos.
