Vestavia's Cross Country Season!

The cross country program enjoyed an exceptional season on both the boys’ and girls’ sides. Each varsity squad concluded the year by bringing home a state-level award: the boys captured the State Championship title, while the girls earned the State Runner-Up title. These achievements reflect months of disciplined training and collective dedication.

The season opened with strong performances at the Thompson 2-Mile meet, where both the boys’ and girls’ teams secured fourth place. Momentum continued at the Early Bird Twilight in Montevallo, where both teams earned first-place finishes. Although the team was scheduled to compete at Chickasaw Trails shortly afterward, inclement weather forced the postponement of the meet.

One of the highlights of the season was the team’s overnight trip to Cary, North Carolina, for the Adidas XC Challenge. The varsity boys placed third out of 34 teams, while the junior varsity boys finished 11th out of 44. On the girls’ side, the varsity squad placed 16th out of 33 teams, and the junior varsity girls finished an impressive fourth out of 33. For many athletes, this trip represented a memorable milestone in the season.

The team continued its strong showing at the Jesse Owens Classic, where athletes were divided into red, gold, and silver divisions. In the red division, the boys placed 10th out of 26 teams in a field of more than 300 runners, and the girls secured 6th out of 21. The gold division saw particularly notable results, with the boys winning by nearly 40 points and the girls finishing 4th out of 18. In the silver division, the boys placed 19th out of 50 teams (over 400 runners), and the girls finished 16th out of 41 teams (over 350 runners). Overall, the Jesse Owens meet was a significant success for the program.

The team next competed at the Husky Challenge in Trussville, where the boys finished sixth and the girls earned second place. Because of the earlier postponement of Chickasaw Trails, several seniors were afforded an additional competitive opportunity at the Last Chance Invitational in Scottsboro. The girls’ team placed first by more than 30 points. Although the boys did not have enough runners to score as a team, Jackson Mize claimed the individual title with a time of 15:49. The meet served as a meaningful and emotional final race for the senior athletes as they approached Sectionals.

For many runners, JV Championships marked the conclusion of their season, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams earning third place overall. Remaining athletes advanced to the Sectional meet in pursuit of state qualification. The boys secured first place by a margin of 20 points, while the girls finished a close second, missing the top spot by just one point.

Finally, athletes who qualified at Sectionals advanced to the State Championship only days later. Both teams delivered admirable performances, finishing the season with determination and pride.