Both the men’s and women’s cross country team achieved historic firsts for the St. Michael Catholic High School athletic program, qualifying for the state tournament on the basis of their sectional performance in Loxley on Thursday.
The women finished third overall, paced by three top-ten finishers, Alison Boyd (3rd), Anna McBane (4th), and Betty Hemby (9th). Rounding out the scoring were Emily McDonald (21st), Emma McBane (26th), Trista Black, Rory Dembowski, Ella Tapscott and Gia Vollmer.
The boys finished 4th overall, doing it with depth. Scoring for the Cardinals were Nick Berrios (9th), Jack Phelps (11th), Luscher Mayhall (21st), Michael Garriz (23rd), Hunter Stephens (24th) and Dyson Crooker (27th). All six ran sub-20 minute times for the 3.1 mile track! Dominic Murphy, Mitchell Giedlin, Edward Cowles and John Davis also finished with sub 21 minute times. As a testimony to team depth and balance, no Cardinal finished in the bottom third of the race.
The Cardinals will compete at the State Finals Meet on Saturday, November 10th at Oakville Indian Mounds Park and Museum in Moulton, AL. The boys run at 8:50 a.m. and the girls run at 9:50 a.m. “Send off” from St. Michael will be on Friday around 10 a.m.
Congratulations to the cross country team, and to their coaches, Mr. Jon Hall and Mrs. Suzanne Lindley. Go Cardinals!