The MA Boys and Girls Cross Country teams competed in the Class 3A Alabama State Championship at the Oakville Indian Mounds Park in Oakville, Alabama on Saturday, November 14th.

The defending Girls team won their second consecutive Alabama State Championship by defeating TR Miller by two points. Top finishers and All-State runners were: senior Maggie Rickard, (4th 20:02.08), freshman Krisie Stakely, (6th 20:16.05), senior Jenny Wool, (7th 20:23.78) freshman Erin Budny (8th 20:27.49) and eighth grader Mazie Chambers, (12th 20:44.00). Sophomores Catherine Adams (16th 21:31.06) and Haley Parco (23rd 22:11.23), and seventh grader Emily Pierce (18th 21:48.41) helped to clinch the win.

The Boys team captured the Alabama State Runner-up position by three points defeating Altamont. Senior Jake Jacobs (8th 17:49.56) was one of four MA boys to place in the top 20 positions. Jacobs and Sophomore Will Canary (13th 17:58.18) and senior Fredrick Toohey (14th 17:59.36) were chosen for the All-State team. Junior Tucker Helms (16th 18:34.14) and eighth grader Hudson McEntire (32nd 19:03.47) rounded out the team’s top five finishers.

Only ten runners compete at the state meet per qualifying team. These runners received support by fellow teammates and MA faculty members Gene Johnson, John McWilliams and Cheryl McKiernan.

Both teams had a successful season with excellent results in cross-country meets held in Alabama, Louisiana, and New York at The Manhattan Invitational. MA also hosted the first Montgomery Metro XC meet at the Shakespeare festival with the girls and boys teams earning 1st place.

Head coach Kevin Weatherill and assistant coach Ashley Akins coached the teams to an exciting and rewarding season.