Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy/Publisher
A pair of local runners finished in the top 10 at the AHSAA cross country state meet on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Oakville Indians Mounds Park in Danville.
Southside’s Evan Christopher (pictured above at left) placed sixth out of 250 runners in the Class 6A boys race with a time of 15:46.57. Hokes Bluff’s Ethan Patterson (pictured above at right) came in eighth out of 173 runners in Class 4A with a time of 16:58.13.
The area’s `only other top 20 finisher was Glencoe’s Dakota Ensminger, who placed 17th in Class 3A boys at 17:45.66.
In Class 4A girls, Ashville’s Allie Cone finished 29th out of 149 runners with a time of 21:25.40. In a field of 254 runners in Class 6A girls, Southside’s Lydia Kay placed 33rd with a time of 20:06.84.
Two Westbrook Christian runners finished in the top 40 in the Class 3A boys competition of 152 runners. Luke Pilotte placed 32nd with a time of 18:26.36, while Joseph Minkin’s time of 18:51.17 earned him 37th place.
Also competing for the Southside boys were Tanner Griggs (17:32.91), Levi Kay (17:49.03), Jackson Brown (18:13.90), Jonathan Russell (18:54.20), Keaton Yingling (19:32.79), Pranjal Sharma (19:36.82), Micah Little (20:04.84), Chase Hall (21:10.10) and Mason Borgersrode (21:32.60).
Also competing for the Southside girls were Marlee Tucker (20:49.09), Payton Ridley (21:07.52), Taylor Dortch (21:23.06), Lucy Valentine (22:30.38), Mallory Tucker (22:50.54), Adalyn Phillips (22:57.66), Riley Hulsey (23:15.36), Madelyn Chandler (23:16.97) and Laney Ridgeway (24:15.99).
Competing for Gadsden City in Class 6A boys were Adam Ghonim (19:01.19) and Freddy Hernandez-Perez (19:32.74).
Also competing for the Glencoe boys were Owen Beason (19:27.66), Braxton Fortenberry (20:24.00), Brayden Clifton (20:26.96), Aiden Gray (24:14.92) and Daniel Bradley (26:31.50).
Competing for the Glencoe girls were Marie Giles (25:16.99) and Crosby Smith (26:19.70).
Competing for Sardis in Class 5A boys was Braxton Jones (18:37.71).
Competing for West End in Class 1A-2A girls were Kenzi Nix (23:56.25), Emma Franklin (24:02.72), Carolina Rainey (24:08.76), Jada Wright (24:09.34), Karlee Tarpley (24:36.21), Tensley Young (24:53.17), Kennedi Nix (28:03.89), Kyra Brusaw (29:27.36), Lydia Murillo (29:59.49) and Miracle Ball (33:28.13).
Competing for West End in Class 1A-2A boys were Justin Smith (19:34.52) and Jarrin Vaughn (19:30.03).
Also competing for the Westbrook boys were Mason Glover (21:20.98) and Cruz Brennan (22:19.19). Competing for the Westbrook girls was Keidy Morski (26:12.79).
