Isaias Wipes Out Faith Academy Boardwalk Challenge as Alabama Cross Country Teams Juggle Rescheduled Meets

MOBILE, Ala. — Hurricane Isaias did more than knock out power and topple trees across south Alabama. It also scrambled the Alabama cross country calendar, wiping one Mobile meet off the schedule entirely and pushing others around the state to new dates.

The Faith Academy Boardwalk Challenge, set for Saturday, Oct. 10, the day after Isaias made landfall near Destin, Florida, was canceled and will not be rescheduled. The Run the Hunt meet in Huntsville was moved to Oct. 24, and two more Oct. 10 meets, the Dew It on the Trails and the Leeds Green Wave Invitational, were shifted to this week.

Plenty of racing still happened before the storm arrived, including the Alabama Independent School Association’s varsity state championship and a regional title meet in northeast Alabama. Here is a look at how last week’s Alabama cross country meets played out and what is ahead.

Storm-related schedule changes

• Faith Academy Boardwalk Challenge (Mobile): Canceled; will not be rescheduled.
• Run the Hunt (Huntsville): Moved to Saturday, Oct. 24.
• Dew It on the Trails (Decatur): Moved to Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Point Mallard Park, starting at 3 p.m.
• Leeds Green Wave Invitational (Leeds): Moved to Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Leeds Historical Park, starting at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 6: Gardendale Invitational

Oneonta and Brookwood were the only boys teams to post a team score at the Gardendale Invitational, held at the Gardendale Soccer Club. Oneonta won with 20 points to Brookwood’s 35. Oak Grove’s John Luke Bray took the individual title in 18 minutes, 17.23 seconds.

Oneonta was the only girls team to score, finishing with 15 points. Eighth-grader Joanna Hopper won the race in 27:22.86, just ahead of teammate Valeria Arreguin in 27:23.94.

Wednesday, Oct. 7: AISA Varsity State Championship

Eastwood Christian’s boys and Trinity Christian’s girls claimed team titles at the AISA Varsity State Championship at Kiesel Park in Auburn.

In the boys race, Eastwood Christian edged Trinity Christian 54-64, with Evangel Christian third at 70 points. Guardian Christian Athletics’ Chapman Bowers was the individual champion in 17:26.20.

The girls race was even tighter. Trinity Christian beat Eastwood Christian 49-53, and East Central finished third with 57. Elliette Jones of the Wiregrass Kings won the individual title in 22:03.00.

The AISA governs many of Alabama’s private and independent schools and holds its own state championships separate from the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Thursday, Oct. 8: Heather Bryan XC Invitational

Prattville Christian swept the team titles at the Heather Bryan XC Invitational at Frank Jackson State Park in Opp. The boys won with 25 points, ahead of Straughn (40) and Carroll (80). Straughn’s Quinn Dixon was the individual winner in 18:27.20.

Prattville Christian was the only girls team to score, with 15 points. Straughn’s Kaitlyn Bybee won the girls race in 21:07.80.

Friday, Oct. 9: Northeast Alabama Championships

Sand Rock’s boys and Plainview’s girls won the Northeast Alabama Championships at the ToKnowHim Trails in Pisgah.

Sand Rock got a 1-2 finish from Brody Johnson (17:51.65) and Dalton Oliver (18:00.29) and scored 51 points to beat Pleasant Valley (71) and Pisgah (91).

Plainview also went 1-2 in the girls race, with Jaxon Bruce finishing in 20:48.19 and Abigail Mays just behind in 20:48.21. Plainview beat Sand Rock 24-46, with Pisgah third at 103 points.

Saturday, Oct. 10: Volunteer Fall Classic

Results from the Volunteer Fall Classic at Central-Clay County High School in Lineville had not been posted at last check.

This week’s Alabama cross country schedule

Along with the two rescheduled meets, several midweek races are on tap, including one close to home for Mobile-area runners.

• Tuesday, Oct. 13: Hueytown Invitational, Hueytown High XC Course, 4 p.m.; Dew It on the Trails, Point Mallard Park, Decatur, 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 14: Mobile County Championships, Faith Academy Sports Complex, 3 p.m.; Leeds Green Wave Invitational, Leeds Historical Park, 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 15: Valley Cub Twilight Under the Lights, hosted by Alexandria High School at the Calhoun County Cross-Country Course in Anniston, 6:10 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17, brings a full slate:

• West Alabama & Tuscaloosa City/County XC Middle School and High School Meet, Munny Sokol Park, 8 a.m.
• Husky Challenge Meet, Hewitt-Trussville High School, 8 a.m.
• CCS #4, Covington County Track Facility, Andalusia, 8 a.m.
• Montgomery Academy XC Invitational, Auburn University at Montgomery, 8 a.m.
• Randolph Invitational, John Hunt Running Park, 8 a.m.
• 50th annual Athens Bible School Cross-Country Invitational, Athens Sportsplex, 5:30 p.m.

Why weather hits cross country hard

Cross country is one of the few high school sports that is routinely run in rain, mud and cold, but a hurricane is a different matter. Courses run through parks, wooded trails and open fields, where high winds can bring down limbs and trees and heavy rain can flood low-lying stretches. Even after a storm passes, debris on trails and the need for safe parking, travel and emergency access can make it impossible to host hundreds of runners from multiple schools.

Meets also depend on volunteers, timing crews and host schools, and in the Mobile area many of those families were busy preparing for Isaias or cleaning up after it. With power outages, blocked roads and a mandatory evacuation order for coastal visitors in place around landfall, south Alabama schools and athletic programs canceled or postponed most activities at the end of last week.

The rescheduling crunch comes at a key point in the season, as teams sharpen up for sectional and state championship meets later this fall. Runners and coaches in south Alabama now get a chance to get back on course close to home with Wednesday’s Mobile County Championships at Faith Academy.