Jets cross country tops in Class 7A

From left, James Clemens High School cross country team members who won the school’s first sectional championship include Alex Shah, Zach Ellis, Jase Bell, Korey Shively, Cannon Kvicala, Nicholas Holcomb, Raleigh Schmidt, Aaron Beane and Andrew Patrick. (Contributed/Katy Solo)

By Mike Easterling

For the Record

MADISON – James Clemens ran its best race of the season on a gray, warm-for-November Thursday at Palmer Park and won its first Class 7A, Section 4 cross country championship.

The Jets, ranked behind two-time defending champion Grissom entering the race, cobbled together what coach Drew Bell said was the team’s top effort “on the day that mattered.”

Bell said the title was borne out of grueling workouts.

“They trained harder than any team this past summer and refused to lose on their home course,” he said after four Jets ran within 10 seconds of their personal record.

James Clemens had 57 points. Grissom followed with 63 and Sparkman was third at 71. All three teams qualified for Saturday’s state meet at the Oakville Indian Mounds in Moulton.

Only the top five finishers count toward the score for each team, but all 10 runners on the squad qualify for state. The Jets got All-Section performances at sectionals from Aaron Beane (5th place in 16:49), Raleigh Schmidt (6th, 16:50), Andrew Patrick (12th, 17:17) and Jase Bell (17th, 17:17). Korey Shively was 20th (17:32).

Bob Jones placed fifth. The Patriot’s Nate Santiago (3rd, 16:43) and Tim McCarter (4th, 16:44) were All-Section and qualified for state as individuals.

Huntsville won the girls’ race. Grissom, Buckhorn, James Clemens and Bob Jones followed.

The Jets’ Elise Sheldrick was 8th (19:56) and Liz Holcomb 11th (20:30). They were joined on the All-Section team by Bob Jones’ Lillie Robinson, Neda Mobasher and Lissa Miller. All five qualified for state.