August 10, 2026 —  Every cross country race begins the same way. There’s a starting line, a burst of adrenaline, and hundreds of runners chasing the finish. For Harrison High School siblings Paige and Riley Comstock, however, the journey isn’t about simply reaching the end. Whether they're leading the pack on rural courses across Georgia or learning live production skills through Harrison's Event and Venue Management program, the brother-and-sister duo has made it a habit of staying one step ahead.

Paige enters her junior year as the reigning GHSA Class 6A Girls Cross Country Individual State Champion. After finishing second as a freshman at the state championships in 2024, Paige won her title last year with a time of 18:47.84 in the 5K race. Her performance was impressive under any circumstances, but especially so when not feeling her best.

“I went into the state championship last year struggling with injuries and some things that mentally were just kind of me beating down on myself,” Paige explained. “I wasn’t even going to get on the start line that morning, but I knew I needed to get there for my team. They needed me to score. So, I pushed through. I was in the back of the pack and moved my way up and somehow ended up winning, which proved to myself that I can do much more than I think I can.”

Paige’s older brother, Riley, can attest to what his little sister is capable of.

“Paige is a very good runner,” the Harrison senior chimed in. “Besides being state champion in cross country, she did very well at all the state meets her freshman and sophomore years. So, going into junior year, I think she’s bound for a really good season.”

Riley speaks from experience. He has placed in the top 10 in each of his three appearances at the GHSA Cross Country State Championships, finishing higher every year. He finished 5th last year and looks to improve once again in his final high school season. 

“Riley’s had very good freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons,” Paige confirmed. “He’s definitely a high leader on our team. I don’t know anyone who can run a 49 in the 400-meter and a 31-minute 10K. That’s really impressive.”

With all his success on cross country trails, Riley cherishes one in particular from his first season as a Hoya.

“My favorite win is definitely still from my freshman year at County against the soon-to-be state champion Joseph Minecci,” Riley recalled. “It was a sprint down in the rain. That was a really good one.”

Where Preparation Meets Performance

Great performances don’t just happen, though. They’re designed. Paige and Riley spend months preparing for moments that last only a fraction of the time, and they experience this within two separate environments. Whether it’s preparing for a championship race or a major event as part of the Event and Venue Management team, the process is remarkably similar. Each requires careful planning, attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to deliver when the moment arrives.

“I think it's a lot more stressful preparing for a huge event,” the older sibling declared, “because for a running championship, all I have to do is be ready to run. With the events, there's so much more you have to do. Everything has to be prepared ahead of time, and if there’s one little slip-up, everybody in the audience is going to be looking at you.”

Paige follows up on that idea much like the way she followed her brother into the program.

“For sure, there's definitely a lot of high-pressure situations in Events,” she said. “Like, with graduation events, especially if you have a big role that day. You have to think about it almost like you're preparing for a meet because you have to make sure you know what you're doing, and you are the one who has to prepare the content for it.”

Paige’s trade in the program is video production. She spent much of her summer editing Cobb Schools graduation ceremonies. Riley spends his time in audio production, working with microphones and venue sound systems. Both worked hard between school years in pre-production for the Leadership Kickoff and the District Kickoff Broadcast. Being a part of the Event and Venue Management program, they are learning all aspects of staging large events. 

“Graduations are definitely our biggest thing that everybody would know,” Riley acknowledged. “From the signs outside to the chairs that the graduates sit in to the audio you're hearing, including the prerecorded videos, all of it is from Events Management at Cobb County. We do other miscellaneous events, too, like the sporting events at Harrison. We’ll work the music and all sorts of stuff like that. There's a lot of technical aspects to it, like the video production, audio engineering, lighting, design, all sorts of stuff that can be applied to many different professions.”

It’s easy to see how growing within the Events and Venue Management program can also help the long-distance running siblings stay focused as they surge toward the finish line in competition.

“I think dealing with high-pressure situations in Events has really helped,” Paige offered. “Early in my career, I’d get really stressed out. Working in Events has helped me kind of calm my nerves.”

Riley agreed that their experiences in event production have helped their racing careers.

“A lot of the lessons that we learn in Events tie into running very well,” he added. “Some of the sayings like, ‘keep it simple, stupid.’ Just stay consistent. Don't go out and try crazy things to try and quickly get faster. Just stay consistent. Keep it simple with everything you do. Make sure you’re doing what you’re supposed to do, work hard, and you can progress like that.”

The Results Speak for Themselves

Paige and Riley’s progress in running is evident in their impressive athletic résumé. In addition to their successes in cross country, they have performed equally as well in long distances during the track season. During her two years at Harrison, Paige has had four top-five finishes at the GHSA Track and Field State Championships, including runner-up finishes in each of her two years in the 1600 meters. She also finished third in the 3200 meters as a freshman and fourth in the 800 meters last season. Riley is the reigning GHSA Class 6A Boys Individual State Champion in the 800 meters. He also has two runner-up finishes — in the 800 meters as a sophomore, and the 1600 meters last season.

As the 2026 cross country season gets underway, fans of the siblings might wonder what their secret is in fighting through the pain of long-distance running.

“I just keep going,” Riley said simply. “I don't think during a race, I just go. I just move my legs. And if it hurts, I just move my legs more.”

Paige expanded on that thought. “For me, there is one thing I do remember when times get tough. I kind of ask myself, ‘How bad do you want it?’ And that kind of pushes me to get through it.”

Every race still begins at the starting line with that jolt of adrenaline and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. For Paige and Riley Comstock, however, the finish line of the race has never been the only goal. They are building championship careers on the trails while learning to create moments that others remember from the stands. In running and in event production, the lessons are the same: Prepare well, stay composed under pressure, and keep moving forward. If their story is any indication, the next finish line they cross may simply be the starting line for whatever goal they pursue next.

h/t non-branded photos of Paige provided by Harrison High School, and non-branded photos of Riley provided by Jennifer Murphy