Jets runner-up in opening meet

James Clemens sophomore Liz Holcomb led the Jets with a ninth-place finish and the runner-up trophy at the Montevallo Early Bird Classic Under the Lights. CONTRIBUTED

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

MONTEVALLO – After 11 weeks of Summer Base training, and a weeklong team camp in Brevard, N.C., the James Clemens cross-country team finally entered competition at the Early Bird Classic Under the Lights at the University of Montevallo.

The Jets girls, led by sophomore Liz Holcombe, placed runner-up behind Hoover in a meet that featured six of the Top 10 ranked Class 7A squads in the state.

James Clemens jumped from a preseason ranking of No. 9 to No. 3 behind Hoover and top-ranked Mountain Brook following the strong showing. The Spartans were not entered in the meet.

“The hard work paid off,” Jets coach Drew Bells said.

Meanwhile, the James Clemens boys placed sixth and moved from a ranking of 12 to No. 7. Hoover’s boys, ranked No. 1, placed first.

Holcombe finished the 5k in a time of 19:55 to place ninth among 7A runners. The next three Jets ran Personal Records — Kristin Day (15th place in a time of 20:14), Grace Williams (22nd, 20:48.13) and Sam Burns (23rd, 20:48.75).

They were followed by Adan Youngblood (29th, 21:27), Rachel Seeley (31st, 21:35), Makena Leathers (44th, 22:08), Emma Mattingly (47th, PR 22:20) and Ana Parker (49th, PR 22:34).

James Clemens raced only five boys, which is the number required to score, and four set PRs led by Jace Bell (19th, 17:04). He was followed by Alex Shah (29th, PR 17:23), Nicholas Holcomb (42nd, 17:47), Cannon Kvicala (51st, PR 17:57) and Elliott Kliesner (59th, PR 18:16).