PV cruises to title
- Updated: November 12, 2016
Raiders promised a cruise if they both got cross-country trophies; girls win (again), boys second
Bailey Dollar (L) and Skyler Mcleod came up with two of the biggest performances in Pleasant Valley’s success at the state cross-country meet Saturday.
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
MOULTON (Nov. 12) — Crank up the boat.
Pleasant Valley cross country coach Brad Hood promised his runners if they both brought trophies back to Calhoun County from the state meet he’d take them on a cruise.
After what the Raiders pulled off Saturday at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum the only question that remains is inside room or outside cabin.
The PV girls successfully defended their Class 3A state title this morning with an exceptional show of depth. The boys finished second to runaway winner American Christian, a feat just as meaningful to the coach as the girls’ repeating.
“It’s one of those things you can coach all your life and never get an opportunity to do this,” said Hood, now in his 15th year as an athletics coach.
A year ago Hood promised his girls team if they won the title he’d take them to Disney World. They won, raised the money for the trip, but then had to cancel due to Hurricane Matthew.
Let’s see … Disney World, a summertime cruise. What’s with a three-peat, a European vacation?
“As long as they keep bringing home trophies they can do what they want,” PV principal Mark Proper said.
The Lady Raiders, seeded third entering the meet, put four of their top five counters in the top 20 and all five in the top 22. They scored 70 points, ahead of TR Miller (86) and American Christian (92).
PV’s 2-3-4-5-6 finished ahead of runner-up TR Miller’s No. 3 and its 2-3-4 finished ahead of third-place ACA’s No. 3.
“They just ran the race of their life,” Hood said.
Hood looked as if he ran the race, too, his legs skinned and bruised from where he fell three times chasing the progress of the runners around the course.
The boys scored 107 points and pushed ahead of Bayside Academy by putting their 4-5 well ahead of the fifth-place finisher of what was expected to be their main competition for second, Montgomery Academy.
County champion Trinity Roberts led the Lady Raiders across the line with a third place finish (19:55.05). Rachel Faucett was their second fastest (20:45.51) and sophomore Bailey Dollar, who has shown steady improvement over the past few weeks, was their third (21:38.44). Dollar and her next five teammates all scooped up valuable points by finishing less than a minute apart, forcing challengers back in the field.
“I saw it coming just last week at practice,” Hood said. “I mentioned this morning to not be shocked. When they see Dollar speed up it forced the whole back half of our roster to speed up thinking that’s where they had to be. Dollar picked up the pace and it brought the whole back half of the roster up … and that’s where the race was dominated.”
“I guess I just was ready to get out of the 22s,” said Dollar, who allowed she had never been on a boat before. “I really wanted to be in top five again from last year. At the first 800 everybody was yelling ‘You’re No. 25,’ and then Emma (Hood) was up in a pack and I saw the first ACA girl so I wanted to pass them so we could win it. When Emma told me we won I was jumping up and down and screaming.”
The PV boys got a similar boost from Skyler Mcleod. The ninth-grader was in danger of not making the state lineup at the start of the season, but became assistant coach Rex McAllister’s special project and Saturday was their fastest finisher (19th overall). His time (17:57.32) was three seconds faster than his sectional time and a minute faster than he ran at the County Championship.
The Raiders’ next three counters filled the next eight spots and all five counters were among the top 30 point-getters, separated by 42 seconds. Interestingly, the Raiders finished second in the state as a team and not one of their runners garnered top 15 all-state recognition.
Hood had all his runners guess the projected time he had for them at state. Everyone but Mcleod was within 5-10 seconds of that time when Hood revealed it Saturday. Mcleod wasn’t even close.
“That’s really cool the one kid who didn’t guess their goal within 10 seconds before I told them their goal was the one who didn’t just meet it, smashed it,” Hood said. “He was just consistent every split. He ran his race.”
“I really wasn’t expecting a 17,” Mcleod said. “The only time I broke 19 was at the County. I just had so much adrenaline kicking that I finally got it. I just wanted to do it for the seniors so we could get a trophy so we could go on that cruise.”
The Pleasant Valley cross country teams stand with the trophies they brought home from the state cross-country meet. (Photo courtesy of Tara Hood)
CLASS 3A RESULTS
Girls Team: Pleasant Valley 70, T.R. Miller 86, American Christian 92, Bayside Academy 154, Brindlee Mountain 177, Montgomery Academy 178, Ohatchee 195, Pisgah 196, Colbert Heights 224, Lexington 230, Providence Christian 232, Prattville Christian 236.
Boys Team: American Christian 24, Pleasant Valley 107, Bayside Academy 127, Montgomery Academy 144, Houston Academy 156, T.R. Miller 162, Element 197, Pisgah 220, Ohatchee 224, Indian Springs 224, Brindlee Mountain 254, Lauderdale County 264.
Girls Individuals
Top 3 overall: Allie Nelson, T.R. Miller 18:53.29; Becca Billman, American Christian, 19:29.76; Trinity Roberts, Pleasant Valley 19:55.05.
Pleasant Valley (Top 5) (team points in parenthesis) 3. (3) Trinity Roberts 19:55.05; 11. (9) Rachel Faucett 20:45.51; 22. (17) Bailey Dollar 21:38.44; 24. (19) Emma Hood 21:40.81; 30. (22) Eva Bryant 21:57.55.
Ohatchee (Top 5): 29. (21) Brittany Caywood 21:54.54; 40. (31) Jayda Fair 22:35.72; 42. (33) Rachel Dunaway 22:36.29; 67. (49) Victoria McRaney 23:32.14; 84. (61) Skiler Caywood 24:06.43.
Boys Individuals
Top 3 overall: Taylor Ray, American Christian 16:34.68; Ernest Ladd, Bayside Academy 16:36.48; Brock Isom, American Christian 16:52.29.
Pleasant Valley (Top 5): 19. (15) Skyler Mcleod 17:57.32; 22. (18) Daniel Gladen 18:05.57; 27. (21) Isaiah Rodriguez 18:18.60; 29. (23) Balin Littlejohn 18:26.30; 37. (30) Jacob Gladen 18:39.19.
Ohatchee (Top 5): 20. (16) Gabe Hammonds 18:03.87; 34. (27) Blake Noah 18:36.48; 44. (36) Brennan Wink 18:55.17; 101. (72) Luke Fair 20:28.65; 104. (73) Christopher Cash 20:35.54.
Pleasant Valley assistant coach Rex McAllister shows off the one-of-a-kind shirt he made (in advance) to proclaim the Lady Raiders’ championship history.
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