Cool weather and fast times finally made their way to Alabama this weekend for the Jesse Owens Classic. Over 5000 runners and 200 teams competed Saturday on the dry course in Moulton, AL. The fast times will play a huge part in making an argument for post-season accolades for many of the runners that competed here. Expect to see Gatorade AOY athletes from Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee among the runners at Jesse Owens.
GOLD GIRLS
Rebecca Story (Christian Academy of Knoxville) was the top girl again this year running 17:12. Story won the Chickasaw Trails meet earlier this season and also holds the course record (16:57).
15 girls went under the 19 minute mark with 4 of them going under 18 minutes. Lainey Phelps was the top girl from Alabama running 17:42 (improving her current AL#1 mark).
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | POINTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rebecca Story | 11 | Christian Academy of Knoxville | 17:12.03 | -- | |
| 2 | Niamh Schumacher | 12 | King's Academy | 17:18.27 | -- | |
| 3 | Annika Sleenhof | 11 | Ravenwood High School | 17:22.95 | 1 | |
| 4 | Lainey Phelps | 9 | Homewood HS | 17:42.61 | 2 | |
| 5 | Addi Coggins | 12 | Independence High School | 18:13.85 | 3 | |
| 6 | Emma McClellan | 12 | Riverdale High School | 18:26.66 | 4 | |
| 7 | Taylor Luthringer | 12 | Signal Mountain High School | 18:32.43 | 5 | |
| 8 | Taylor Cosey | 10 | Christian Academy of Knoxville | 18:39.69 | -- | |
| 9 | Shila Kapaya | 11 | Knoxville Catholic High School | 18:48.09 | 6 | |
| 10 | Abbey Weitenbeck | 10 | Huntsville HS | 18:53.17 | 7 | |
| 11 | Maggie Layer | 11 | Morristown-West High School | 18:53.64 | 8 | |
| 12 | Abbey Zane | 12 | Huntsville HS | 18:55.82 | 9 | |
| 13 | Harper McGowan | 9 | Auburn | 18:58.29 | 10 | |
| 14 | Hannah Bloom | 10 | Huntsville HS | 18:59.36 | 11 | |
GOLD BOYS
Brentwood Academy's Carter Cheeseman was the top runner in Boys Gold coming through the line in 15:28. Virtually beside him was Opelika's Ben Garner who also ran 15:28.
A total of 17 boys went under the 16 minute mark this year - (I had predicted more than that but Brentwood sent their A squad to Great American). 9 of those under 16 minutes were from Alabama!
| PLACE | ATHLETE | TEAM | RESULT | POINTS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carter Cheeseman | 10 | BrentwoodA Academy | 15:28.15 | 1 | |
| 2 | Ben Garner | 12 | Opelika High School | 15:28.20 | 2 | |
| 3 | Jack Rogers | 12 | Auburn | 15:36.53 | 3 | |
| 4 | John Ngaruiya | 12 | Hewitt-Trussville HS | 15:38.06 | 4 | |
| 5 | Will Stone | 10 | Homewood HS | 15:40.83 | 5 | |
| 6 | Jay Day | 12 | Baker | 15:43.74 | 6 | |
| 7 | Davis Holliday | 11 | BrentwoodA Academy | 15:46.27 | 7 | |
| 8 | Joshua Escoe | 12 | Auburn | 15:51.27 | 8 | |
| 9 | Cole Stidfole | 12 | Oak Mountain HS | 15:51.90 | 9 | |
| 10 | Georde Goodwyn | 12 | Knoxville Catholic High School | 15:52.97 | 10 | |
| 11 | Nathan Peterson | 12 | Wilson Central High School | 15:53.14 | 11 | |
| 12 | Davis Bove | 10 | Centennial High School | 15:54.78 | 12 | |
| 13 | Joel Barlow | 12 | Wilson Central High School | 15:55.92 | 13 | |
| 14 | John Elrod | 12 | Wilson Central High School | 15:56.10 | 14 | |
| 15 | Colton Smith | 12 | Scottsboro HS | 15:58.66 | -- | |
| 16 | Brandon DeMarcus Lee | 10 | Thompson | 15:58.83 | 15 | |
| 17 | Meyer Makemson | 12 | Independence High School | 15:59.80 | 16 | |
OTHER COVERAGE: