Putting on a show
- Updated: November 9, 2019
Calhoun County runners shine; Ohatchee’s Fair wins state title, White Plains’ Moore a runner-up, Jacksonville’s King finishes third
By East Alabama Sports Today
OAKVILLE — Calhoun County runners gave one of their strongest showings at the AHSAA Cross Country Championships Saturday.
While there weren’t any red or blue team trophies coming back from the Oakville Indian Mounds Course this year, the county did produce its second individual state champion, a state runner-up and a third. Eight runners earned All-State recognition.
Ohatchee senior Jayda Fair made history by becoming Calhoun County’s first girls state champion when she won the Class 1A-2A race that was the first race of the day (20:01.56). Jacksonville’s Ian Nelson became the county’s first state champion in 2006.
White Plains junior Jake Moore finished second in the boys Class 4A race (16:02.41) after being passed by race winner Joseph Perry of UMS-Wright (15:55.67) inside of the final mile.
Fair and Moore are county and sectional champions.
Jacksonville sophomore Olivia King, a first-year runner, was an inspirational third in the girls 4A race (19:58.71).
In addition to Fair, Moore and King, Ohatchee’s Luke Fair, Donoho’s Taylor Simmons, Pleasant Valley’s Cayden Nelson, PV’s Trinity Roberts and White Plains’ Kayd Hightower also earned all-state for their top 15 individual finishes.
The White Plains boys finished third in the team race, two points behind runner up UMS-Wright and surrounded by private schools. Pleasant Valley’s defending 3A boys team champion finished fourth, one point out of third.
’’Calhoun County’s representing,’’ PV coach Brad Hood said. ‘’It just makes everybody better.
‘’Look at our county meet, how competitive it was. I think overall the county was amazing this year.’’
On the cover: White Plains’ Jake Moore (L), Jacksonville’s Olivia King (C) and Ohatchee state champion Jayda Fair.
2019 STATE CHAMPIONS
(Team champion; race winner, time)
GIRLS
1A-2A: x-Whitesburg Christian; Jayda Fair, Ohatchee 20:01.56
3A: Saint James; Presley Miles, Saint James 17:48.56
4A: American Christian Academy; Kathy Hammond, LAMP 19:20.89
5A: Scottsboro; Molly Conway, Beauregard 19:03.70
6A: Homewood; Lainey Phelps, Homewood 18:14.69
7A: y-Auburn; Crawford West, Vestavia Hills 18:07.92
x-won a three-way tiebreaker with Cold Springs, Altamont.
y-won a two-way tiebreaker with Mountain Brook.
BOYS
1A-2A: Cold Springs; Nicolas Ulrich, Athens Bible 16:43.18
3A: St. Michael; Collin Mayfield, Geraldine 16:16.50
4A: Saint John Paul II; Joseph Perry, UMS-Wright15:55.67
5A: Scottsboro; Cooper Atkins, Scottsboro 15:50.16
6A: Homewood; Jon Fielding Stogner, Homewood 15:51.82
7A: Huntsville; Ethan Strand, Vestavia Hills 15:18.58
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