By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

OAKVILLE  – Sand Rock made history Saturday at the AHSAA State Cross-Country Championships, bringing home its first boys state championship while also earning a runner-up finish in the girls competition at Oakville Indian Mounds Park.

The Wildcats scored 80 points to win the Class 1A-2A boys team championship, finishing ahead of runner-up Cold Springs (88) and third-place Pleasant Valley (94).

Sand Rock was led by junior Brody Johnson, who captured the individual state championship with a time of 16:32.30.

The Wildcats placed three runners among the top five finishers. Dalton Oliver finished third in 17:07.82, while Bryson Cleere placed fifth in 17:11.63.

Sand Rock’s remaining scoring runners were Liam Loveless, who finished 43rd in 18:44.52, and Tanner Moses, who placed 51st in 19:11.32.

Carson Cleere finished 58th in 19:28.95, followed by Dawson Brewster in 59th at 19:29.99. Riley Walker placed 75th in 20:11.27, while Tim Snow finished 98th in 20:39.64.
The Lady Wildcats finished runner-up to Cold Springs in the Class 1A-2A team standings with 55 points. Cold Springs claimed the championship with 36 points, while Lexington placed third with 111.

Senior Katelin Stiefel led the Lady Wildcats with a third-place individual finish, crossing the line in 20:00.0.

Sand Rock placed four more runners in the top 20. Evelyn Ealy finished 10th in 21:19.3, Amelia Ford placed 12th in 21:23.2, Abby King was 16th in 21:43.8 and seventh-grader MyLeigh Frampton finished 19th in 21:53.5.

Anna King placed 23rd in 22:05.8, while Lacie Crane finished 34th in 22:51.7. Ayva Davis was 36th in 22:55.3, followed by Emma Swain in 38th at 22:59.3 and Madison Walker in 69th at 24:14.2.

CEDAR BLUFF RESULTS

Cedar Bluff also had several strong individual performances in the Class 1A-2A competition.

Senior Zach Jones led the Tigers’ boys team with a fourth-place finish in 17:10.88.

Senior Zyrese Wynn placed 18th in 17:57.00, while sophomore Will Warren finished 37th in 18:35.16.

Other Cedar Bluff boys finishers included Wil Davis (108th, 21:06.40), Luke Warren (110th, 21:07.12), Keondre Wynn (115th, 21:17.50), Max Richardson (118th, 21:26.07), Zane Matison (121st, 21:32.33), Isaac McCain (122nd, 21:35.13) and Grady Wheeler (128th, 21:50.22).

Freshman Vana Martin paced the Lady Tigers with a 21st-place finish in 21:56.30.

Seventh-grader Kandace Price placed 35th in 22:55.3, followed by freshman Jahleigh Dodd in 84th at 24:40.3 and eighth-grader Athena Nuccio in 90th at 25:01.80.

Kenzie Hall finished 107th in 26:07, while Pamela Bryant placed 123rd in 28:16.6. Kynlei Sanford finished 136th in 29:43.9, and Julie Roebuck was 143rd in 31:18.50.

COLLINSVILLE RESULTS

Collinsville was also represented in the Class 1A-2A races.

Eighth-grader Xavi Hernandez turned in the Panthers’ top boys performance, finishing sixth overall in 17:15.81.

Freshman Johan Patino placed 61st in 19:37.61.

In the girls competition, freshman Melany Velasquez finished 46th overall with a time of 23:11.80.