James Clemens runs strong

James Clemens’ Liz Holcomb emerges from the muddy creek at UAH’s cross country course during the Randolph Cross Country Classic last week. CONTRIBUTED

By MIKE EASTERLING / For the Record

HUNTSVILLE — The James Clemens girls had a productive five days in cross country in their latest competitions, placing second behind powerhouse Mountain Brook at the Scottsboro Invitational and dominating the field en route to winning Randolph’s Cross Country Classic on the campus of UAH.

The Jets boys joined in the fun Sept. 20 at the Classic, also known as the “Run in the Mud.” The race twice takes the runners through a muddy creek that winds through the course.

In the girls race, James Clemens placed five runners in the top ten and six in the top 12 to score 32 points. Fort Payne was a distant second with 62.

Kristen Day led the way for James Clemens with a second place finish in a time of 19:19. The Jets’ Liz Holcomb was third (19:49). Buckhorn’s Amelia Harrison was first (19:13).

Joining Day and Holcomb on the All-Elite team were Samantha Burns, Grace Williams, Adan Youngblood and Rachel Seeley.

In the boys race, James Clemens scored 43 points to runner-up Albertville’s 71.

Alex Shah’s fourth-place finish in 17:11.30 led the Jets. He was joined in earning All-Elite honors by teammates Korey Shivley, Jase Bell, Nicholas Holcomb and Cannon Kvicala.

In Scottsboro, Holcomb placed ninth (20:12) and Day 11th (20:14) to pace the Jets’ runner-up finish to Mountain Brook, which has won 14 straight state championships.

Burns, Williams and Youngblood placed in the top 31 among 231 entrants to help the Jets lock up second place.