North Sweeps the South in First Ever AHSAA All-Star XC Meet

What started out as a suggestion at the Spring Track Committee meeting came to fruition Wednesday with the first ever AHSAA All-Star XC Meet.  Athletes representing each classification and sectional area were placed on North and South teams and raced head to head on the Auburn University Montgomery campus.  

Athletes reported Tuesday afternoon and were shown the course during quick team practices.  After a meal and bowling, teams stayed on campus in the AUM dorms and readied for the race the next day.  

Considering athletes are only now beginning summer base mileage, times were pretty quick.  


The North Girls won the first ever AHSAA All-Star girls race. (Photo by Tim Loreman)


Girls - Grace Jensen (McGill) immediately took the lead from the start and continued pulling away through the race.  Jensen won the race running 20:02 and was the MVP for the South Girls.  Immediately behind Jensen was Hoover standout Sydney Steely (20:40) who finished first for the North All-Stars and was he MVP for the North Girls. The North girls defeated the South 20 to 35.



TOP 5 GIRLS

1Grace Jensen12 AHSAA South All-Stars20:02.891
2Sydney Steely12 AHSAA North All-Stars20:40.822
3Becca Billman12 AHSAA North All-Stars20:47.473
4Rachel Jones12 AHSAA North All-Stars20:49.074
5Lindsey Granier12 AHSAA North All-Stars20:52.965

Complete Results can be found HERE.


The North Boys won the first ever AHSAA All-Star girls race. (Photo by Tim Loreman)


Boys - Contrary to the girls, the boys ran a packed race (as much as possible) through the trails of AUM - less than 25 second separated the top 7.  Hoover's John McCrackin was the overall winner (17:27) beating Randolph's Matt Estopinal (17:31) - both were on the North All-Stars.  The South All-Stars Dawson Oliver (Trinity Presbyterian) was the lone South member in the top 5.  The North Boys beat the South boys 16 - 47



TOP 5 BOYS

1John McCrackin12 AHSAA North All-Stars17:27.811
2Matthew Estopinal12 AHSAA North All-Stars17:31.722
3Zack Howard12 AHSAA North All-Stars17:32.963
4Andrew Sweeney12 AHSAA North All-Stars17:35.474
5Dawson Oliver12 AHSAA South All-Stars17:50.365

Complete Results can be found HERE.