Another high school cross country season is underway, with major reclassification changes affecting rivalries and competition across the state. Alabama moved to six public school classifications instead of seven, eliminating Class 7A.
Coastal Alabama counties eastward to the Wiregrass area feature a deep field of returning talent based on last year’s state championship performances.
Among the boys, Class 6A standouts include Henry Booth, Nolan Gandre and Gray Clarke of Fairhope, Jerry Diaz and Lincoln Strickland of Foley, Jackson Black and Timothy Cooke of Baker, and Noah McDaniel of Robertsdale. In Class 5A, Spanish Fort’s group featuring Samuel Wilber, Stone Tyler and Tyler LeMoine leads a field that also includes Saraland’s JP McDonald, Danny Doerr and Conner Fox, along with Gavin Brandt of Baldwin County and Nolan Langley of Gulf Shores. In Class 4A, Cohen Taylor and Aiden Wells of Satsuma headline a group that includes Aaron Tierce and Eli Haber of Orange Beach.
On the girls’ side, Fairhope’s Mariah Ruff leads Class 6A. In Class 5A, Saraland boasts a deep roster with Teresa Ye, Mallary Little, Abigail Sanderson, Kenley Wilson and Shi’Erra Jones. In Class 4A, Satsuma’s Kyla Blackwood headlines the field.
Private-school runners from Bayshore Christian, Bayside Academy, St. Luke’s, St. Paul’s, UMS-Wright, McGill-Toolen and Providence Christian are also expected to factor into the season’s top races.