THOMASVILLE — Thomasville resident Sara Whetsell exceeded her goals at last week’s Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in Columbus.

“My goal was to win talent on my preliminary night and make top 10,” she said Monday. “I knew if I did those things I would be happy with whatever the outcome.”

That outcome was fourth runner-up in the pageant.

“I knew I had a chance for the crown, but that was not my goal,” Whetsell said. “I was thrilled. I was not expecting to make top five and, when I did, I was extremely happy.”

Whetsell, 17, is currently Miss Albany’s Outstanding Teen and was Miss Thomasville’s Outstanding Teen 2008.

She won Thursday night’s preliminary talent competition for her dance, en pointe, to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” This is her favorite part of the pageant.

Whetsell finished her preliminaries on Friday night and, on Saturday, the top 10 finalists were announced.

“When they announce the girls, you are hoping to get called,” she said. “They got to number eight and my name had still not been called so I assumed I did not make it. Then, my name was called as number nine. It was very shocking and very exciting!”

The teen rushed backstage to change and then repeat everything she’d done in preliminaries earlier in the week during that one night: talent, evening wear, fitness and on-stage question.

“No matter how ready you are, it’s still organized chaos,” Whetsell said. “It was very exciting to be in the top 10. The adrenaline was going and it was thrilling, but I was also nervous about doing my dance again since I’d won talent my preliminary night. I knew there would be expectations, but I felt good about everything at the same time.”

She also enjoyed the “amazing group of friends” she made at the pageant.

Whetsell will age out of the teen competition this upcoming year, but said she may try for Miss Georgia in a couple of years.

Miss Cobb County’s Outstanding Teen Brianna Godshalk was named Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen. Both state winners, Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen were Cobb County pageant titleholders. The franchise holds the distinction of having the most Miss Georgias and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teens.