CORE Butte closed its 2025 cross country season at the CIF State Championships on Saturday at Woodward Park, Fresno, where senior Brianna Hayes and sophomore Luke Schooling represented the school in the Division V races. Woodward Park’s 5,000-meter course is the most competitive stage in California, drawing hundreds of qualifiers from across the state.

Senior Brianna Hayes placed 15th overall with a time of 18:20.0. Her finish placed her among the top athletes in the state and continued her season-long record of high-level performances. She has now qualified for the state meet three times, concluding her final high-school race with one of the strongest results in CORE Butte history.

The state meet followed CORE Butte’s successful showing at the Northern Section Championships, where the girls’ team won the section title, and the boys placed second. Those performances secured state qualification for Brianna and Luke and marked one of the most competitive seasons the program has recorded under head coach Ernie Freer.

The CIF State Championships conclude the 2025 cross country season, capping a year defined by consistency, growth, and postseason success for CORE Butte’s runners.