By Scott Nickerson
Elmore/Autauga News
Both the boys and girls cross country team at Stanhope Elmore High School had strong performances at the Class 6A Section 2 meet held at Auburn High School on November 2. The SEHS boys cross country finished 1st overall, while the SEHS girls finished 2nd overall.
The Sectional Championship for the boys is the first in recorded history at Stanhope Elmore High School. 4 male runners placed in the top 10 at the event. Twin brothers Tristen and Dominic Jones finished in 1st and 2nd place in the 5000-meter run, with Tristen winning the overall competition by two-tenths of a second. Both finished with a time of 17:48.
9th grader Logan Barnes finished in 5th place with a time of 18:56 and fellow freshman Manny Peralta placed 9th with a time of 19:36. Additionally, Elliot Hansen (15th place – 20:26), Taven Cox (19th place – 20:57), Graham Baker (22nd place – 21:17), CJ Allen (30th place – 22:42), and Phoenix Dale (36th place – 23:57) all set personal records.
Further, 8th grader Liam Felio anchored the team, and finished 37th place with a time of 24:56.
The SEHS boys team finished in 1st place with Wetumpka coming in 2nd place.
The girls’ cross-country team at SEHS also had a successful day at Sectionals, finishing second overall just two points behind Pike Road. 5 female Mustangs placed in the top 10, with 10th grader Emily Peterson finishing 1st overall, and setting a new SEHS cross country record for females with a time of 22:29. Joanie Patton placed 7th with a time of 24:59, Bella Brown placed 8th with a time of 25:05, Jessie Patton placed 9th with a time of 25:36, and Juliana Peralta finished 10th with a time of 25:39.
Several female runners also recorded their own personal records, to include Gabby Brown (12th place – 25:55), Kendra Williams (22nd place – 28:18), Katie Haigler (29th place – 30:54), and Tiffany Edwards (32nd place – 32:22). Further, Maria Escobar had her best time of the season with a time of 28:42 to come in 24th place.
Head Coach Makenna Musgrove was excited with the team’s performance at Sectionals. “This has been an extremely hard-fought season with the team overcoming many challenges, injuries, and illnesses. The team’s and each student’s individual successes can be chalked up to each team member’s hard work and dedication. Each week, day in and day out, these students were out running or cross training whether it was a 112-degree heat index or raining at 65 degrees. They also created an electric team culture that was unmatched, encouraging one another and coaching each other through the hard days.”
“I also want to give a special thanks to our Assistant Coach, Brendan Patton, who volunteers his time to work with this team each day and has taken the lead in designing our training program. He has been instrumental to the success of the team and takes care to individualize the program to each athlete.”
The SEHS boys and girls team have qualified to compete in the State Championship meet that will be held in Moulton on November 11, 2023. Good luck to the Mustangs next week!
